Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain

On the main street through the center of old Cambados, Spain, you’ll find Esquina de Miega, a local joint where I enjoyed a nice lunch.

Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

This is a friendly place that serves the local menu of the day. Take a seat with the locals.

Inside restaurant Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

Inside restaurant Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

Started with a nice octopus and ensalada rusa, as part of the menu al dia, both of which you see in the next photo:

First courses at Equina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

First courses at Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

Moved on to the main course of roast pork with fries. Simple and tasty as you see here:

Lunch at Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

Lunch at Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

These plates would not have been complete without a nice bottle of albariño to enhance the experience. Here’s the one I enjoyed:

A bottle of albariño at Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

A bottle of albariño at Esquina de Miega, Cambados, Spain.

It was a great lunch served by friendly and cheerful people. It was interesting to hear “bachata” style music playing there. I usually associate that type of music with the Caribbean, but it seems it has spread in popularity. At any rate, more from Spain coming tomorrow!

Published in: on July 10, 2014 at 6:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago, Spain

Located approximately three blocks from the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, San Francisco Monumento is a great base to explore the town and all it has to offer. I spent three nights here, in a room on the top floor that looked like this:

Room on the top floor at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Room on the top floor at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

There’s wasn’t much of view because the windows were actually more like skylights. But no worries because I spend very little time in the room, which was comfortable in every other way. The bathroom was spacious:

Bathroom at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Bathroom at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

In fact I had to take a second photo in order to show the entire bathroom:

Bathroom at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Bathroom at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

There’s plenty of room there to spread out and keep your things organized while you’re getting ready for a day or night out on the town. The hotel also has ample parking, a great breakfast buffet, and cheerful staff that will do whatever they can to make your stay a pleasant one. Don’t forget the swimming pool:

Swimming pool at at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Swimming pool at at San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

There’s also a hot tub just out of the frame in the photo above. That was a blessing after all day walking the streets of Santiago. I can recommend this hotel as a great base of operations. While we were there, we also noticed a number of business functions and weddings happening, so it may be that you need place for either of those purposes. Enjoy.

Published in: on July 9, 2014 at 4:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Cathedral of Sanitago de Compostela, Spain

The Road to Santiago is a pilgrimage made famous in the middle ages, and it continues to this day. You’ll see pilgrims and tourists walking, riding bicycles, or driving the route from one beginning or another. They all end at the Cathedral of Sanitago de Compostela.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, June 2014.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, June 2014.

During my visit, there was considerable restoration work going on including what you see above on the facade. However, this did not detract from the experience. Inside, you’ll find magnificent sights including the many chapels such as this one:

Chapel within the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Chapel within the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

As well as this one to show just a couple examples:

Chapel in Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Chapel in Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

In these chapels you often find services held in individual languages. Remember this is a destination for people from all over the world. You can also pass by the many reliquaries.

Reliquary at Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Reliquary at Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

And I highly recommend staying for mass and watching the swinging of the botafumiero, which is something you won’t see in many cathedrals.

The botafumiero at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The botafumiero at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The music as part of the service is wonderful and very uplifting, much of it played on the pipe organ you see in the next photo.

Pipe organ at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Pipe organ at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

While the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela may not be the largest, it is among the most important and worth your time to visit in this part of Spain. As always, be respectful while touring such places of worship.

Published in: on July 6, 2014 at 1:56 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Tower of Hercules, Spain

The Tower of Hercules in A Coruña, Spain, is the only Roman lighthouse still in use as an aid to navigation. Of course, it’s had some work done since the Roman’s it built it a coupe of thousand years ago.

Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

There is a parking lot  located several hundred meters from the tower itself. Then you walk along a long promenade out to the tower itself where you pay a small fee and enter the lowest portion. There you’ll find ruins from various times of occupation as well as quite a few steps to get to the top. However, the view is worth the climb.

View to the north from the Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

View to the north from the Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

It can be quite windy here so secure your hair.

View to the east from the Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

View to the west from the Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

And be sure to hang on to your camera.

View to the south from the Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

View to the south from the Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain.

If you’re lucky you might see some ships or sailboats out there. After that long climb up the stairs, head into town for a great meal. You earned it!

Published in: on July 5, 2014 at 2:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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