La Coruna III
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Fri 29 Aug 2014 22:04
It was overwhelming inside. Mass was taking place to a packed congregation with standing room only. After listening for a while, we crept slowly and carefully around the corner to the main, very large, golden altar, and to the crypt below the altar which holds the relics of Saint James. I think for me it will be one of those memorable moments when you just have to pinch yourself that you are really there. The history of the place took my breath away, the significance of what I was looking at was incredible and I felt very lucky to be there. I said to the children they didn't need to understand, they just needed to remember.
Hanging down in the centre of the Cathedral was something I have heard about all my life from my mother - the most enormous incense burner "The Botafumeiro" suspended from a pulley mechanism in the dome on the roof of the church. It wasn't swinging today as it isn't a 'holy day' but just to see it was very wonderful and again, I felt very lucky.
It was dark and pretty heavy going inside the Cathedral, in stark contrast to the blazing sunshine outside with musicians, post card sellers, beggars, tourists and thousands of folk who have walked or cycled here. We did neither, we just sailed here.
Isabelle chose to have cockles for lunch, very appropriate as there were cockels everywhere for the symbol of St James.
Back to normality and tea on board Thursday's Child whilst we watched P&O Oceana slowly depart after her 12 hour visit to La Coruna (back to Southampton perhaps?!). She was moored alongside the Marina's outer wall for the day and dominated the skyline. We went out to the sea wall to watch her go and Harry was invited by a friendly local fisherman to have a go with his rod, the men were reeling in large mackerel all about us. Harry was delighted and of course then wanted to take his own rod...
Back to TC and Bol got Harry's ready and whilst the children were waiting for Bol to get his own rod ready, they managed to haul in a 2lb Mullet off the pontoon right by the boat! Bol has always said they are difficult to catch and the hook needs to be covered in bread as they have soft mouths so Isabelle had a go at covering the hook in bread; not long after there were shrieks of delight with a thrilled Harry and Isabelle and a very lively Mullet on the pontoon. You can guess supper but not until we had dissected it very carefully and had a good look inside. Scales and blood everywhere, but two very satisfied children who couldn't believe their luck. No Uncle Don, the children haven't dissected their own fish yet, but I have told them your message that they will have to do so one day soon!
So the end of two very long, interesting and exhausting days. We are enjoying La Coruna, there is something very appealing about the place, and I think it is because the Atlantic Ocean comes right into the heart of the City, we are in fact lurching about in the swell here in the Marina as I write. Throughout the city, wherever you look, you are reminded that the sea is very close by, and that is a very pleasing concept!
