On the road trip across France, Spain and Portugal.. From Europe to the Atlantic Ocean

Saturday, May 9
Let Fisterra and the coast of death to go to Santiago, along the ria of Muros, which extends in the form of slit in the middle of granitic rocks, the road winds its way along a picturesque landscape with beautiful beaches and the lagoon.
As we approach we see the spire of the cathedral Santiago emerge from above the roofs, and when we are facing we remain breathless.
It is great, the Latin cross measuring 97 x 65 meters and sometimes rise up to 24 meters.
The main facade, the Congreso is in Baroque style, was erected between 1738 and 1750 in order to protect the porch of the glory from the elements, facing west is the main entrance of the cathedral, the third temple of the Christian world after Rome and Jerusalem and is preceded by a monumental staircase.
Flanked by two towers 76 meters high with the statues of the parents of Santiago, the mother in the tower das Campas, the father in the tower Caraca and center at the top stands the statue of Santiago, outline other statues, balconies and pinnacles .
After the portal you enter the front porch of the cathedral of ancient glory ended in 1188 after a job that lasted 20 years, is a masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture composed of three arches with over 200 figures carved on the granite, where the central column supporting the pilgrims hands asking for their prayers to be answered is consumed by the rubbing that over the centuries has left its mark.
The altar is surmounted by a canopy is a riot at its center stands the Baroque statue of St. James covered by a mantle of silver, is crossed by two steps one way, one goes down to the crypt of the church built on the foundations and in which the relics of the 'Apostle visible behind a small gate, before a prie-dieu where some pilgrims pray tired but happy, the other goes behind the altar allowing pilgrims to kiss the bust of the saint, in front of a stone statue that appears to have the features of Master Mateo, the 'architect who built the porch and see the glory of some young people to make a curious ritual, knock three times on the statue's head, a habit seemed to have come from university students as a sign of good wishes to have intelligence and luck in exams
On a portal in the bezel, is carved a representation of the court of the heavenly Jerusalem, at the top there are two large baroque organs, in the aisles are 4 of the 16 chapels in the cathedral.
From the dome hangs the ball engages the mythical Botafumeiro, a huge censer of silver that has ancient origins, in fact, its use dates back to medieval times when the scent was trying to mitigate the 'smell of pilgrims coming to the end of the road after many days which had little chance to wash
It weighs 62 pounds and is alto1, 60 m and is the largest in the world, it is loaded con40 kg of coal and incense reaching a total weight of about 100 kg, the rope that suspends the cruise is 65 m is 5 cm diameter and weighs 90 kg.
Previously, the strings were made of hemp or esparto since 2004 are made of plastic.
To move it there are 8 men called tiraboleiros dressed in red, they hoist the 22-m 's height and therefore a system of ropes and pulleys to impress a pendulum until it touch the ceiling at a speed of 70 km s' hours , is used only in solemn Masses and at del'anno saint.
Recently you can see it in operation at the request of groups of pilgrims paying 300 €.
Butafumeiro when not in use is replaced by another incense burner, known as "the Alcachofa" the artichoke.
The cathedral museum is divided into several areas are exposed to various sculptural works, collections of relics, of gold.
The royal pantheon, where you can see the tombs of the kings of Galicia, also comes from the transept is the cloister where there are several rooms that house important collections of tapestries, the butafumeiro when not in use and the library where books are kept by the value incalculable
We are now in Praza Obradoiro which overlooks the cathedral and is one of the most beautiful, surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the Pazo de Xelmìrez (Episcopal Palace), in front of the Pazo de Raxoi the town hall and most recently the president of the Junta of Galicia dominated by the equestrian statue of Santiago Matamoros brandente saber.
Left, the rector of the college of San Xerome, while the square is closed to the north from the Hotel dos Reis Católicos wanted in 1492 by the rulers Ferdinand and Isabella to accommodate pilgrims, now transformed into one of the most luxurious parador in Spain, the facade will pillars are decorated with sculptures and effigies of the Catholic Kings
Turned the 'corner of the cathedral we Praza del'Imaculada where we see the façade called the' Acibecheria and the monastery of St. Martin Pinario the most important now a seminar in Santiago, dominates the entrance a large shield with the image of Spain St. Martin on horseback carved elegantly between two columns.
We continue toward the back of the cathedral and we are in Praza from Quintana with the Holy Door or door of forgiveness, this is only open on the occasion of 'sacred year Compostela or when July 25 falls on a Sunday.
Following a well-established ritual, pilgrims come from the Holy Door and leave the porch Da Gloria, in the past by this door, there came only the sovereign, in the square facing the house from Parra and the monastery of St. Antealtares pair of windows with 48 closed by grates built by Alfonso II to guard the newly discovered relics of Santiago
Always turning around the cathedral we are in Praza Praterías Das (port of goldsmiths) for the many shops of silversmiths that looked out, here is the 'only external port in the Romanesque style dominated by the high baroque tower del'orologio 72 meters Berenguela named for its bell, all these squares together form the 'Galician Obrdorio word that describes the place where the craftsmen worked.
We continue our tour through the narrow streets and historic buildings, under a porch with a boy dressed in traditional plays the Gaita (Galician bagpipes), walking through streets with numerous shops selling clothes, souvenirs, objects connected with the journey as the staff and Veira (scallop shell), jet jewelry and silver statuettes so nice that we buy a dozen for friends and relatives.
Continuing to wander around the city we arrived in front of the church that houses the famous pantheon of Galicians and the monastery of Santo Domingos is now a museum of Bonaval do Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician people).
Once inside, what surprises us is the triple spiral staircase, we visit the rooms dedicated to the sea, crafts, the campaign to 'traditional clothing with exposed clothing that help us understand the Galician culture.
This city of an undisputed interest in religion, art, culture and history deserve much more than we did today we visit but time is a tyrant compels us to continue the journey

 

Combarro

We leave the city and take the 'autopista of Biscay in the Rias Baixas that brings us to overlook the' Atlantic, this is the most rural area of Spain, the water has carved a cost much rugged fjords and beaches to be molded in the beautiful coastline of the estuary Pontevedra, a few kilometers there Combarro where we find a room on the main road to the hotel Xeito (32 €)
While looking for a restaurant for dinner we visit the fishing village, we walk on streets paved with stone slope toward the shore where houses with hanging balconies overlook decks made ??of corn to dry and squares with Cruceros (ancient stone crosses arrived at the port we see a scene with groups of horreos overlooking the bay of the best preserved of all Galicia, some of these shops have become a wine tasting, the other local products
The horreos Galicians, are different from Asturiana, these origins are Celtic and Roman, are placed on pedestals, mushroom-shaped stone rectangular ventilation is permitted by grooves, pinnacles and crosses on the roof are a symbol of protection and fertility
All 'inside of one of these houses the restaurant is rustic antique furnishings with distinctive Alvarinas from old barrels and other traditional projections, eat a plate of mariscos (seafood) and drink one of the best wines of these areas, the' Albarino , we pay € 31 dinner.
Although today was a day full and satisfied we return to the hotel.

Vigo, Baiona, Sant Tegra

8.30 and we are traveling on the ria of Vigo an extension of the sea in front of the Cies islands, pass over the bridge of Rande and we head towards the mountain Do Castro 136 m high overlooking the city.
The first impression of Vigo is not beautiful, road works, construction sites that require us to turn like tops and fortunately given the early morning hours the traffic is inconsistent.
We see houses and buildings with dirty words (this alive, down to, te quiero I hate you) for almost all the roads we travel, arrived in the vicinity of the park of Monte do Castro parked and head towards the observation deck, in every corner there are no cards , bottles, cans, dirt, we also see the bay and the port from which ships sail and commercial vessels,
the 'city's economy is based on' automotive, metalworking and food processing and the preservation of fish and large shipyards, all these buildings on a mist that hovers familiar smog.
Quickly leave the city and go to Bayonne, which is located near Cape Siller, rocking on the water in the bay several vessels, including the replica of the caravel "La Pinta", which landed here in 1493, commanded by Martin Pinzon lieutenant of Christopher Columbus, announcing to the world the discovery of 'America.
The bay opens near the river Minor, on a rock stands the fortress of Montereale with three miles of walls on which you can walk among the bastions, buttresses, and guns, inside the perimeter of a church surrounded by a portico of the gardens while the core of the fortress has become a luxurious parador
About thirty kilometers away is A Guarda, the southernmost city in Galicia and the Mount Santa Tegra rises with panoramic views over the River Mino, the road is steep, but offers a phenomenal view of the bay.
During the construction of the road in 1913 was discovered a Roman Celtic castro composed of more than a thousand homes, there are numerous foundations oval and the reconstruction of a house must have been like in those days, going by the wayside, there are two stations of the cross, made of an old plain crosses, the 'other Celtic-inspired as those of Ireland and Scotland.
On top, the small shrine of St. Thecla, where it is exposed to the veneration of the faithful a small arm of the holy relic.
€ 0.80 to visit the museum where are exposed pieces of bronze age, iron, Roman coins, pieces of silver and stonework
The peak is called Pico do Facho (top of the fire) where once Bonfires were lit to warn the city of the 'arrival of the pirates, here there is a memorial cross and a magnificent view of the town, the port of La Guarda on the one hand, and the coast of Portugal on the other