My New Favorite Place in All the World: Galicia, Spain

We went on a field trip to Galicia and visited the "End of the World" where it was once believed there was nothing left besides ocean. What a magnificently beautiful place! With a view like that, I'm honestly not sure why they felt the need to find out it wasn't all there was in the world. Anyway, I'm excited to share my experience and pictures of this wonderful trip with you all.

Hercules Tower and Finisterre in Galicia, Spain

We first went to Santiago de Compostela which is believed to be the burial place of the apostle Paul, known as Santiago in Spain. There is a huge cathedral built to him there, and this is where most pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago end. It was rainy and cold the day we were there, and I have to admit that I prefer the Catedral de León, but it was still an amazing experience to be there. There were "pelegrinos" (people who walk the camino) all around the cathedral, and the atmosphere was one of excitement and praise which I found refreshing. 

Catedral de Santiago de Compostela

We were in Santiago de Compostela the night of Halloween. It's not a commonly celebrated holiday in Spain, but they made a traditional brew for everyone which was supposed to protect them from the evil spirits. A brew of homemade alcohol, orange peel, and sugar was set on fire in a pot and allowed to burn while a young woman read a chant in Galego, a common language in the area. It had a blue hot flame that was both eerie and fascinating. Once it had burned a while, everyone was given a shot. I don't drink alcohol, but even if I did, I doubt I would have tried it. It looked like a urine sample to me, and one of the other students said it tasted like feces, so, no thanks, I'll pass! It was cool to watch it burn though, and I enjoyed the company for a little while. Then I went to bed and let those who had partaken of the antidote go out and face the demons. 

Galician Brew

The next day, I went to a small restaurant and had the best meal I've ever eaten in my life. It was SO good! Every detail was perfect. I don't know how, but the chef somehow managed to make everything absolutely perfect, and I really did enjoy every last bite, sip, and crumb. I had "pulpo a la brasa" which was octopus on mashed potatoes, "pasta carbanara de begovante y gambones de huelva" which was lobster and prawn on carbanara pasta, and "tarta de queso con infusion de manzanilla" which was cheesecake with chamomile tea. The octopus was flavorful with a nice texture, the mashed potatoes had a wonderful earthy flavor to them, the pasta was far and above the best thing I have ever tasted in my life, the cheesecake was perfect, and the chamomile tea had some kind of caramel-like smell to it that made it an amazing addition. I really can't say enough about how wonderful that meal was. Not sponsored or anything, but if you ever end up in Santiago de Compostela, be sure to stop by DeLito and treat yourself to a wonderful meal!

Delicious Meal from DeLito in Santiago de Compostela

That evening we went to Finisterre, Latin for end of the world, where we watched the sunset. We stopped at a little waterfall along the way which was beautiful, but it was nothing compared to the grandeur of the amazing view we saw at Finisterre. I can't even describe how awe inspiring it was. There was an air of majestic greatness in the way the soft sunset slipped in over the water and reflected from the choppy ocean bringing with it an array of gorgeous pink that infused fluffy pastel clouds with stunning fluorescent light in a way that no camera can capture. The soft, cool breeze and the stillness of the scene was enriched by the gentle arpeggio chords and soul-stirring vocal notes of a man singing calming Spanish hymns as the light slowly faded away. It was truly a magical experience that can be more easily imagined than described. 

Sunset at Finisterre - The picture doesn't do justice!

The next day, just as I was beginning to think that the world could not get more beautiful, we went to La Coruña, a costal city. While most of my classmates went to climb to the top of Hercules Tower, I explored some nearby hiking trails, and what an amazing view! The vastness of the ocean was mesmerizing as I watched the waves crash against the rocks and felt the spray of the salty water rain gently over me. There were boats sailing nearby, and the cool, fresh air was brightened by a beautifully sunny day. 

Hercules Tower in La Coruña

We visited an aquarium while we were there. It was a cool place. I've always liked aquariums, and this one did not disappoint. It had a lot of interesting displays, and there was a huge clamshell to admire. I always thought huge clams were only a figment of someone's wild imagination, but this one was definitely real. 

Huge Clam at the Aquarium in La Coruña

I enjoyed my time there at the aquarium before visiting a local restaurant where I ate "gula," an imitation baby-eel dish which looks exactly like worms. That was an interesting cultural experience. I don't need to have it three times a week or anything, but it was good for different.  

Gula - Enjoy your lunch!

I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity to visit this amazing land and see how beautiful God's great earth is. I haven't forgotten that I'm here because of the generosity of my friends and by the grace of an all-knowing God who has opened up every step of the way. My time here in Spain will be over before I know it, and I want to continue to make the very most of it. I'll continue to share as I discover more about this wonderful planet we call home.