Morning: breakfast. Of course. Showers were taken. Figuring out how showers work sometimes can be a challenge. I know it’s silly, but honestly, it takes me a while to figure out how to move from the hand held sprayer thingamagiggy (the technical name) to the overhead shower. This was one of those times.
After we got our things together we went down to the main square (Praza do Obradoro) to meet a tour guide. I signed up (just this morning) for a “free tour”. If you’ve traveled you’ve probably seen them. We were to look for the blue umbrella (I also saw orange and red). When we all had assembled our tour guide handed out the headsets so we could hear her. She was informative and fun. We saw many of the places we’d already visited, but she gave us new information. One bit was that Rúa do Franco wasn’t named after the dictator. Yesterday we had puzzled over the name, so we were happy to hear that bit. We went to all the squares we saw yesterday, plus a few new spots, and she took us back to the park we visited as well.
Our final stop was in front of a church which is now an Episcopal church. Funny story: the patron who paid for this church is included in the scene above the door of Mary, Jesus, Joseph, and the three wise men. Gotta love what money can buy!
Our guide said the doors aren’t frequently open but they were today, so before going to the market she pointed out we went inside the church.
Then we walked to the market.
Since we didn’t see anything at the market we would want to have for lunch, we opted instead to find our way to a place that sold empanadas. We took our time getting there, though. It wasn’t really lunch time in any case.
Even when we did get lunch it wasn’t quite lunchtime on the Spanish clock, but whatever. We eat when we eat (and you can quote me on that).
Then more rambling. That rambling included seeing this photo. If you look back at my park photos you see these two women there as well. Apparently they became rather popular and now if there’s a meet up and people say to meet at las dos Marías everyone knows just where to go. (The park, not this photo below!) You can read about them here.
In some cities I’ve marveled at the fabulous fabric stores. It’s so sad that they are disappearing in California. I wish I had an extra suitcase to fill with fabric!
More wandering took place (along with a stop to get coffee and the wonderful Tarta de Santiago. It’s an almond cake (and gluten free, actually). Quite tasty. I didn’t do a lot more photography: I suppose I was running out of steam since, aside from the coffee stop, we’d been on our feet since we went out the hotel door.
Back to our room we went. Siesta time!
And then we went back out … and so much happened!
First, we walked a new direction (funny that we really thought we’d seem a ton already!) ending up back at the church we saw yesterday. We went inside, but it turned out you needed a ticket and you couldn’t get it there. Such a shame since it seemed really wonderful from our brief look. Then we headed the other direction to look for a spot to catch a drink because … well … we needed to spend some cash to get change to tip the housekeeping for tomorrow! Yes, that would be the only reason to get a drink (and, as it turned out, some padrón peppers). Oh … and you can see pilgrims in identical shirts: that is rather common, although not every group does that. (I did tell Dan that if we do a Camino I think we should have matching shirts … I’m not sure he’s buying it!)
Photos up until then:
And then a wonderful thing happened. The two women next to us started talking to us. They had just done the Camino. It was so great to hear about their walks, and I just enjoyed their company tremendously. This is one of the joys of traveling: you run across people that are just so fun to talk to, and it just makes my heart happy. I do hope that Kathy and Shane look at this blog sometime so I can thank them for the great conversation! (And yes, I did ask permission to post their photo!) You two are fabulous, and maybe we’ll even see you on the train tomorrow since it appears we are going on the same one!
After spending a good amount of time in conversation they departed and soon after we did as well. It was time to wander and see if we could find a place for dinner.
We passed last night’s dinner location, and … well … the “obo” part … had to post a photo of that, right? I’m sure it was about the OBOE, after all. (Did I post one yesterday? Who knows? I’m too lazy to check!)
We found a place nearby that could take us even while we had no reservation. Whew! Food was great, and then we met another couple who had done the Camino as well. At this point I’m just so completely humbled, but also wanting to do a Camino! Maybe we oldsters could manage … time will tell! Anyway, conversation was fun, but the noise in the restaurant was so loud, and with my bad ear I was starting to feel a bit ill: noise seems to do that to me for some reason. But food was delicious so there’s that.
Every time we get back in our room and put a key in the slot that turns on the power the TV comes on. We are not TV people when we are on a trip: we never turn it on, in fact (even when it’s in English). Somehow TV just seems so unpleasant to us when we are out and about. But tonight I share this with you. Just because!
Then it was back to the hotel. Even late at night (22:00!) it’s still not completely dark, and it was quite pleasant out.
Oh … that man in the right hand photo about … he was working when we went by at 9:50 in the morning. He was still there at nearly 22:00 (10:00 PM). (Maybe he takes a long siesta, or maybe he just works very long days?!)
When we are on trips the TV never goes on, but at this particular hotel it goes on whether we like it or not: the minute our key card goes in the slot that turns on the power, on goes the TV. I quickly turn it off. But tonight I share this with you — I know my Spanish speaking friends will know what is being said. I sure didn’t!
And with that I say buenas noches or boa noite. You choose. Tomorrow we have a couple of train trips to our next city. Stay tuned!