DAY 18 23-MAY 22 Monday Ribadeo Galicia Region of Spain
Monday morning, typical breakfast buffet where we found our 4 new best UK friends the two Porsche drivers & wives having breakfast at the SAME dining room table that they enjoyed for Sunday evening’s meal and they were there Monday AM, I asked if they had slept in the dining room. No, but they were in good spirits despite the drizzle and low hanging clouds outside for their drive to Santander.
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| Cathedral Beach |
After breakfast we noticed some clearing of the clouds and intermittent splashes of sunshine should we go for a drive?? Nothing else is planned and by 1100 it has basically cleared, and we drove to the beach to see the rocks. It is very close to Ribadeo. There were about 10 camper vans and 8-10 cars parked to view the rocks. By this time Jane is desperate for an Aseo and dashes off by herself to find one! All of them were locked or chained up! Things are looking bad! Down the hill and back up the other side to what looks like a cafeteria. Not open, due to renovation work! Yikes! I threw myself on the mercy of the workers and they invited me in but cautioned me to be careful! I sidled past the guy on the ladder, cautiously slipped past the guy painting and made my way to the lady’s room! Sweet relief! I thanked the workers most sincerely and went exploring on some of the walkways. Could not see Paul anywhere! Of course, it is practically high tide but these cliffs are pretty awesome. Would love to see them at low tide. We both walked a long way though we did it separately! We explored a bit, took some pics and then left to find a coffee somewhere.
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| Cathedral Beach |
We were still feeling a bit sluggish after the previous days driving and decided to explore just a little bit in the pea soup rain showers. You know I have always said the Spain is a huge rock as is evidenced by the plethora of amazing Cuevas all around! Praia das Catedrais (translation ‘beach of the holy waters”) has been declared a National Monument by the Junta of Galicia. The features of the beach are its natural arches and caves that can only be seen at low tide. The wonders that the ocean and water can create are amazing! I cannot explain it all here. Google it, you will be amazed. We arrived after low tide, but the rock formations are amazing. That is true for that whole coast but just there …amazing.
Have a look yourselves: https://fascinatingspain.com/natural-park-of-spain/natural-parks-in-galicia/beach-of-the-cathedrals/
We had lunch at the Bar Rosa in downtown Ribadeo, just down the road from the Parador. Scallops and Raxo (pronounced Rasho), both excellent. We rested a bit before going back at low tide but although I made my way down the steps to the beach and the sand, I believe it was more spectacular where my feet would not take me! (BTW that was 52 steps each way!)
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| Cathedral Beach |
We eventually returned to the Parador and decided to search, as we often do, for a local place to eat. We like to go local when we can but perhaps, we should have stuck with what the less knowledgeable tourist does and stuck with the Parador! It’s what we do, and it has never backfired…until now! We stopped at a promising looking place, were greeted warmly and showed to a table. By the time we got served, about 10, obviously local people were greeted, seated and served before us! We said nothing, but one senior guy noticed and obviously had a word. We ordered and again waited! I had explained that I only wanted something small, Paul ordered Solomillo al punto (medium rare) we waited, eventually our food came! An enormous plate of scrambled eggs with mushrooms and ham, enough to feed a family of four! And Paul’s steak…almost well done! By this time, I am warming up my Spanish up for a bun fight! I was so pissed off, insulted and angry! And I gave it to him, the waiter I mean. Both barrels. The upshot was a free meal! We stalked out in high dudgeon! I feel we were treated this way because we were tourists and not as important as locals! I bet they were not expecting to get their asses handed to them by a touristica, in Spanish, no less! We went back to the Parador and our room and sulked a little with a glass of brandy!
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| Cathedral Beach |
Never ever been treated that way in Spain! They picked on the wrong couple! And so to bed watching Bohemian Rapsody which, strangely, soothed me. Damn Freddy Mercury was amazing!
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