Andalucia Diary – Seasonal Travel Notes

My recent love affair with the north of Spain continued with a brief trip to the cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela, the internationally famous destination
for pilgrims of all faiths.
Rafa had previously spent a week taking in a 100 km
of the “Camino de Santiago”; so this was his chance to introduce me to the
charms of the city. Although I  am needing to
travel on a road of redemption and rediscovery, following the exhausting move,
it was so much easier to take the quick Vueling flight from Malaga
to Santiago and stay in a cozy 4
Star hotel, a converted Monastery!
Spain never ceases to amaze me, and continue to confirm that it is impossible to
generalize about this nation. Despite my
desire some days to describe all Spaniards as lovely, good looking Latinos one
day and cheating peasants the next, this country is truly one of far more
complex contrasts.
Galicia is no exception. It’s a forested region, just north of Portugal. Sophisticated, yet rural.  Sleepy yet modern. The people are very different to Andalucia. Firstly, upon arrival you are
confronted by a very different, Northern European aesthetic. Clean motorways,
roads and streets blend into the natural and built environment, without the publicity boards that sadly defines some parts of Andalucia.
Secondly, the city is immaculately preserved. Coming from the lively south of Spain, the quietness of the city is also really noticable. Mellow, almost
introverted people walk the streets in hushed tones or chatting quietly to one another
in smokey bars. Exhausted walkers, arriving from days on the camino, sit in the square, reflecting silently on their achievement.
Food can make or break a holiday for me. Here in the
north, they have an attention to detail and flair with natural ingredients that
combine to create superb dining and great wines
. It’s possible to fly direct to Santiago from the UK and
I recommend it for a great cultural and gastronomic break!

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