7 August

Left at a decent hour after a poor breakfast, coffee and coussant (?) and from Cerido off to see the sea. What a thrill to see the Atlantic Ocean. Short lived as I was on the road from Ponteverdra to Compostella. I enjoyed a brief visit to Compastella, to see the "destination" for so many people, and the many people that had reached their destination. It was a strange feeling as these "pilgrims" collected their certificates, rejoiced, felt relief and many I think looked a bit bewildered but good on them. The bagpipes in the park added to my pleasure but I just did not have the time to see if they were gallican or scots.....I did hear the spanish pipers in a contest in Scotland and their pipe music is rather special. They play more notes than a scots pipe and can play descants (for those that know) or two matching notes but not the same......and that creates a special sound well it does for me. Then it was a wander up the coast round Muros and Cee wonderful wonderful rocky coastlines and sandy beaches.....as I headed for Coruna, which I did not enter, and looking for the north coast trusted my GPS, silly me......had to re-plot my course, but eventually a good road a bit like coming down the blue mountains in NSW with the windy road and the smell of gum trees......and found the town of Viviero and a Hotel in an unexpected place. A local Hotel I think and the tipica meal that I asked for I got. Soup of chick peas, ham knuckle, spicy sausage and tripe, and it was great. Followed by Squid fresh and lightly cooked, and Feta and quince jam........ Now I reckon that was a good meal. I did leave out the beer and tapas pre dinner, the cerveca was local and the sardine on bread I think also ! But who knows ? The pics. One was a walker on the trail. One was a guy with a dog selling phot opps for 1Euro. The Cathedral is "the" cathedral !