A few weeks ago, Rajan and I drove up to the northern coast to see the beaches called "Os Catedrais" in Galego and "Los Catedrales" in Castilian, inspired by a trip we took last year with our friends, Terri & David. They are called 'cathedrals" because the waves have worn away the rocks and created caves like chambers in a cathedral, but it is only safe to go into them when the tide is out. This is what they looked like last year:
But on this trip, we did not get there at the correct time for going to the caves. We seemed to keep getting high tide. But we had a lovely time, since we love beaches anyway. We stayed at a nice hotel right on a nearby beach, walked to a restaurant we had enjoyed for lunch, and walked back, and took tons of pictures along the way. Here is what the cathedral beach looked like this time:
So we contented ourselves with photos from above.
Nonetheless, we loved the walk along the beaches and waterfront; sometimes along the road, back to out hotel, O Refugio. Here are some scenic pictures along the way:
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I particularly love the crazy architecture of the lavender house. It's actually a popular architecture in Galicia.
And there's a lot of pasture land away from the beaches.
Once back at the hotel, we enjoyed a glass of wine indoors and talked over our day. The hotel was very reasonable, perhaps because Galicia is reasonable, but also because we were off-season (it was still May) and mid-week (Wednesday night). But we had a lovely, clean, charming small room overlooking the ocean, and the management and staff were cheery and warm and welcoming, wanting to know all about us. Here are some pictures from the grounds:
The glass roof you see is the top of the outdoor part of the restaurant and was right below our room's window.
And this railing you see, above the glass roof was right outside our window.
Me after we got back from our long walk, and Rajan the next morning at breakfast, trying to read one of the Spanish newspapers. (You'd be surprised how much news we are actually able to glean now and then! 😊)
We also learned on this trip that one one of the beaches along a drive there is a small fishing village with wonderful reviews of the food. And at another spot along the drive, there is an ancient castro (and you know how we love ancient castros!) So that is on the travel list for our next trip to Galicia.
How about you? Do you love beaches? Fresh fish for dinner? Spooky caves?
Me after we got back from our long walk, and Rajan the next morning at breakfast, trying to read one of the Spanish newspapers. (You'd be surprised how much news we are actually able to glean now and then! 😊) 
Those beaches look inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful:) Glad you guys are having a great time!
ReplyDeleteSo clean. So clear. That's when a beach is still a beach, not a party scene... No wonder you have such a contented expression.
ReplyDeleteEven without the caves it looks blissful. Heartbalm at its best.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed pictures of your travels once again! I've gotten some pictures from my family in southern Spain, too, so I'm beginning to get a feel for the country from top to bottom. A beautiful place. Thanks for giving us a tour :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you all for stopping by.
ReplyDeleterichard, Inspiring is the word. There is something about beaches that makes me feel inspired I write a lot of poetry at beaches.
Thanks, Mark, for the good wishes. We've really enjoyed this trip a lot.
MIrka, "When a beach is still a beach" So well said! That really sums it up. There are tourists, but not the way we are used to tourists.
Elephant's Child, I really love your description: Heartbalm at it's best. Absolutely.
Kenda, from what we are learning via other friends who have traveled other parts of Spain, there is quite a difference everywhere you go. Yet all of the reports are positive. We haven't been to southern Spain, but we hear it is beautiful.
The Lavender House is quite extraordinary. The beaches look pretty amazing. Glad you are enjoying your time away.
ReplyDeleteI love being at the beach. One of my go to places to recharge and feel lighter. :) Loved your pictures! :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
What a beautiful place! There are cathedral rocks like that at some beaches here too, but I've never actually been there to see them. Maybe one day...
ReplyDeleteHello, all, sorry i have to answer "en bloc", but for two days I didn't have access to read your comments. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteRosi, that lavender house captured my attention so much, I actually took about five picture of it from different angles. There are houses like that here and there all over the parts of Galicia we go to.
Jess, I'm glad you liked the pictures. I always feel so restored when we go to a beach, too. Not one of the swimming/sunbathing beaches, but just those walk-olong beaches where it's you and the sounds and smells of the sea. Priceless.
Kate, it's interesting that there are cathedral beaches like that all over. There's something about sea and rocks together that creates such a lovely scene.
What a wondrous outing. The cathedrals are stunning.
ReplyDeleteGave Dragonella to the grands. I'm sure they'll enjoy it;)
Hi, Sandra. I'm so glad to hear you gave Dragonella to your grandchildren. Meanwhile, equally glad you enjoyed the pictures of the cathedrals. There's such a special feel to that part of the coast that I hope came through. Solitude, but not in a desolate way. A little wild.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a fabulous outing. I don't get out much right now. I'm sure I will one day, but right now, that's not the case. I suppose that's why I have to live vicariously through all my wonderful blogging friends and their adventures.
ReplyDeleteHi, Chrystal. I do some living vicariously through blogging friends' posts, too. Bloogging opens such wonderful worlds. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Yet another place I'd like to see. The world is so big, and time so finite. Clearly the next 20 years need to be spent traveling.
ReplyDeleteI just stopped by to say hey and have another look at these beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteHave a great one.
Rebecca, I think you would like this part of Spain. Everybody who goes to any part of Spain seems to love it, and we happened to find Galicia, which we love. We'd like to see other parts of Spain as well.
ReplyDeleteSandra, thanks for coming back for a second look. Hope you have a great day.
Beautiful beach photos! Glad you're having fun. Have a great vacation!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gwen. We're back, now (in Sacramento), but still enjoying the memories. (We will probably enjoy them even more next week when the projected triple-digit heat wave arrives.)
ReplyDeleteI love revisiting places to see how they look at different times. Missing the water. Kinda dry around here. Thanks for sharing, so many interesting sights!
ReplyDeleteHi, Tanya, we're back home now, in California, and Sacramento is pretty dry, too, despite the rivers. Apparently they had rain while we were gone, and all the plant life flourished, but you can tell the difference in the air. And the ocean water at beaches is special. I always find it soothing.
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