Its been almost 6 months since I've moved to Vigo, Galicia and while there have been ups and downs, I can definitely say that I've been enjoying myself. Yes, the weather is cold and rainy, but despite the rain there are bright spots in my life that are making this year as unforgettable as I had hoped that it would be. Here are some glimpses of what brightens up my new life in Galicia:
Churches
The famous
Catedral de Santiago de Compostela is the cathedral of St James and is the end of the road for the worldwide known pilgrimage called the
camino de Santiago. Thousands and thousand of travelers from all around the world make the trek starting from various points of Spain, France, or Portugal and all end up at that very spot where the picture was taken. Its powerful to stand there and think about what the pilgrimage meant historically for those who did it for religious reasons, and what it means today for those who do it for as sorts of reasons, ranging from religious, sport, fun, historical interest, self discovery, and more.
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| Santiago de Compostela |
However I'm a bit biased to the church in this second photo: the church that is outside my school, separated only by a few small cornfields (my school is in the countryside outside of Vigo city). I took this photo while waiting at the bus stop after school one day. One of my favorite things about this church is the melody that the bells play every day at the same time while I'm waiting for the bus. Its so beautiful to listen to, and always relaxes me, takes my mind off of the things I have to do that afternoon, and makes me enjoy a few minutes of country life.
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Cornfields and church bells
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Seafood cooking adventures
Moving to Galicia, I had heard that they are really big on the seafood. I decided to go in head first with the whole seafood concept, and what better way than to have some seafood cooking adventures?! Some of my most interesting endeavors have been: Octopus, clams, and crabs. All new but delicious experiences!
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| Our pulpo (we named him Jorge) before cooking |
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| Jorge after being boiled for 30 minutes |
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| Final product: Pulpo a la feira- YUM! |
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| Clams cooking in the pot |
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| Final product: Almejas a la marinera |
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| Crabs: before |
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| Centolla de la Ria de Pontevedra |
Views
I've always been a sucker for a good view, especially if there is water involved. Vigo is right on the water inlet that runs in from the ocean and is home to one of the more significant ports in the area. Because of being on the water inlet, at any given point in Vigo, if you are at a high enough altitude, there is a fantastic view of water. On top of that, because of the hilliness of the town, its easy to get that awesome rooftop view.
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| View from a friend's apartment |
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| View from my apartment |
New Friends
No new location would be complete without a new set of friends! I've had luck in stumbling across a great group of multicultural friends from all different aspects of my life here in Vigo; roommates, fellow English teachers, and random encounters. At social gatherings any combination of Americans, Brits, Peruvians, and Spaniards are all likely to be present, always making for fun and interesting times.
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| Americans' night out |
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| My special Spanish friend Iria |
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Day trip to Pontevedra
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| International Thanksgiving party: everyone has a reason to be thankful |
