5/27/2019
Started off my morning breakfast with a great surprise - my Canadian Compostela couples, Alf and Marg and Frank and Maureen, were still around. Over breakfast we compared notes on the wonderful day tour we took separately to Finisterre and Muxia yesterday, and very briefly (before the coffee kicked in) considered coming back to walk those last 100 miles to the lighthouse. (Must be those long-lasting endorphins kicking in). They are taking the same Aer Lingus flight as I am back to North America - I'll just be a day behind since I was longing to try this tapas tour tonight.
So glad Alf had his phone so we could get a quick pic of the ladies. I cropped out our feet because the toenails are X-rated and 2 of us can only stand to wear flip flops at this point...
Nice relaxing morning wandering around being a tourist. So easy to get lost in this country since it's a real challenge locating the name of the street (usually on only one of the buildings every corner - sometimes the same color as the building), let alone non-existent numbers. Makes me wonder how they ever get their mail.
Musicians this morning included an opera singer, more bagpipes and two harpists.
After getting lost several times trying to find our meeting place for tonight's tapas tour, I decided to grab a sandwich and some tinto, take a short nap and try again - this time with Google maps since our directions were extremely poor. Turns out it should have only taken me 13 minutes to walk the 1 km.
I arrived to Secretos Galicia about 20 minutes early and was glad I did - what a Mecado Gastronomico (a gastronomic marketplace)! Would have been great to discover this 9-month old converted factory a couple of days ago because I would have definitely hung out here for several meals.
There were 16 small shops with artisan cheeses and charcuterie, gelato, wines, craft beers, a coffee truck, churras, liqueurs, pastries, vegetarian specialties, olive oils, gourmet hamburgers, tortuffas and more.
The young woman who met me when I entered showed me her favorite part of the renovation - this long wall with the Camino shells. It was beautiful and difficult to convey in a single photo.
I must say I was quite impressed with this wall, which listed all the wines available for tasting.
Soon the 5 of us taking the tour - Jim and Leslie from San Francisco; Jeff and his daughter Stephanie from Canada; and me - met our tour guide for the evening, Juan Segade.
What a great time! It was just like a progressive dinner focused around the gastronomic specialties of the area with some history in between. Our first course, served at La Cueva del tigre rabioso (the cave bar where the university students hang out), consisted of spicy mussels and regular mussels (both fantastic).
Some walking to historic landmarks...
The founder of the university.
A Kodak moment of all the Cathedral spires
from inside the University Square.
The clock tower with 3 different bells ringing in succession every hour.
The star that led a single farmer to the area
believed to hold the remains of St. James the Apostle.
Juan's favorite corner in Santiago - symbolizing and summarizing the death of St. James and the origin of the Camino shell.
The first church erected in Santiago, where apparently the strongest energy has been registered electronically. This is why so many couples (including Juan's parents) choose to get married here instead of in the cathedral.
One last look at Cathedral Square.
The next course - no surprise here - was a potato onion tortilla, served at Restaurante Marte.
Then to Restaurante Abella for our pulpo (octopus) and false claims of crocodile (which really was thinly sliced pork served on top of potato chips (not worth a photo). Spaniards love their paprika and it goes so well with pulpo.
Last stop, back at the Secretos Galicia (3 hours later), was dessert. Of course it could only be Tarta De Santiago - the heavenly Camino cake - made from Mediterranean premium quality almonds, refined sugar, lemon zest, powdered sugar, 2 eggs and a liqueur.
Final touches were supplied by home-grown liqueurs. Fantastic evening!
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