Position: 43:2:05N 08:23:72W

Coruna  ..after crossing the notorious Bay of Biscay
..and Tee Shirts “We beat the Bay” are in print now!

A Coruna is a large town and they have a wonderful colorful fishing fleet in the Harbor. I wish the fishermen along the English South Coast could learn a lesson from this. It’s only a coat of paint after all!
The town has a mix of old medieval and baroque style architecture with lovely small lanes but it also has the bright new buildings and a new terminal complex for cruise ships.

There is a great large square with an imposing  statue of Maria Pita an amazon type warrior who was:

“..the undisputed central character in the history of A Coruña. Her acts of fearlessness and courage infused energy into the soldiers to enable them to carry on with combat and and cause their enemies to flee.”

It was also said she had four husbands! John and Bob cowered!

A Curona also boasts the world’s oldest lighthouse still in use.
‘The Tower of Hercules’ is the oldest lighthouse in the world that is still operational and was built by the Romans – and added to and added to.
It was most likely built 2000 years ago in the second half of the 1st century by an architect from Coimbra named Gaius Saevius Lupus. Its light has always been a reference point for travellers.  The current exterior dates from the 18th century.
This was an interesting tower to go inside and climb. You can see why the Roman Empire did so well!

On the last evening we ate at the local Real Marina Yacht Club. The best meal we ate here. Honestly, it’s not France here!

We hired a car and drove to the town of Santiago de Compostela to see the famous cathedral, “ The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela”.
It is considered “.. the most outstanding building of Romanesque art in Spain”
So there!
Today, with a thousand years of existence behind it the Cathedral is a complex series of spaces covering an area of around 10,000 square metres and,
 “..capable of rewarding with its powerful spirituality the faith of travellers, and with its beauty visitors from all over the world.”

Powerful stuff!

 It was truly an awesome day.
We were lucky enough to arrive and see mass. One of the highlights was the beautiful singing voice of one of the Nuns -  the acoustics were wonderful.

Thanks Bob ..for driving 300 kms that day.