Melia Araguaney Santiago de Compostela

... have been gathering for centuries to visit the tomb of St James. The Cathedral itself was magnificent, and the surrounding buildings where also very impressive. Shopping in the narrow flag stoned streets was a delight. We stayed at were given refreshments in a former hospital dating from around 1513 which is a listed building and is now a first class hotel. It was all very grand.

... the lobby. Dinner last night was quite exceptional. Paul had the duck confit and I had the pork chop....both were delicious.<br><br>So we left Ribadeo yesterday and took the coastal road. It was like I imagine Highway 1 down the California coast used to be in the 50s. We stopped at Cathedral Beach and I'm attaching the photos. Santiago is a big-ish city with lots of traffic and its accompanying exhaust. It's a university city so ...

We travelled through thick fog over and through the mountains on typically heroic Spanish roads. They cut through mountains and build viaducts over the valleys. We drove through and around weary looking Pilgrims to our campsite which was on the Camino de Santiago. It was closed. After some interesting encounters with some locals, one old man practically ran away when asked for directions, we found this camp site.<br><br>The centre ...

Liz decided she wanted to hike some of the camino, but Maureen and I were pretty tired from the past few days of traveling, so after Liz left, we went back to sleep for a while. By the time we left the hostel, it was around 1 in the afternoon, so we walked to Plaza Quintana to find a crepe place Maureen had read about. We sat at an outdoor table at this restaurant and ordered, including cafe con leche and cava, because hey, why not. After a salad, we of course needed ...

... and when the sculptor sent his finished work to the bishop, the bishop was displeased with the statue's ample bosom, saying it was inappropriate for a cathedral. So, the sculptor gave her a reduction and she was placed in the cathedral. However, the cheesemakers of Galicia were displeased with the bishop's decision, and decided that they would make the signature cheese of Galicia boob-shaped in the statue's honor. Gotta love the badass cheese-makers of 15th century ...

... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyJWqw7U v1U .<br><br>I&#8217;ve said it before, although Springsteen is my musical hero, there is one man who clearly had a phenomenal impact on the musical world as we know it: Elvis Presley. So imagine my happiness when I saw the gigantic Burnin&#8217; Love sign. It was collected by Springsteen, right after Steven Van Zandt said something to him &#8211; his influence? I&#8217;d like to think so &#61514; Hot requests ...

According to legend, the body of Christ's Apostle James was brought to Galicia. It is said that there was a time of intense shooting stars above the area and that when they excavated they found the tomb of St. James. In 813 the relicts were supposedly discovered at Santiago de Compostela where a cathedral was built in his honor. The city was named Compostela from -campus stellae- or "the field ...

... city...but not for three days. We reflected on the journey and found it to be good...but maybe too long. We decided that it would have been more fun with a group of people. We wished that we had just booked our tickets from Madrid instead of Santiago. Then we might have gone on and had more with which we might amuse ourselves. The idea of a pilgrim walk ...

True or False? Europen women don't shave. True! They wax! One word ¡Ouchy! Prepair to witness the worst experience of my life! (well, aside from the dumb idea of piercing my tongue that one time..or when I crashed over the handle bars of a moped) My wonderful Italian friend Vera got the great idea that I should wax before we go on Carnaval. So... dressed half way in our funky costumes- I started the first step to self induced torture!

These are some pics from my the week off I had for Semana Santa (easter). Went with two other teachers to the Northeastern most corner of Spain called Galicia. There is a town there called Santiago de Compostela that has been the destination for religious pilgrims for the last 1200 years. They say (with the popes backing) that the church there has the remains of St. James, Jesus first disciple killed after his death. There are ...