43:22.064N 008:23.025W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Sat 4 Aug 2012 10:37
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"Rest & Recreation Day in Coruna -
1/8/12"
A very lazy start to the day, registration at the
marina office; breakfast; followed by a much needed long shower (it did not seem
unreasonable to use the 4 days worth of world water allowance which we had not
used during our crossing); refueling Whisper and moving to a more comfortable
berth as we had taken the first available pontoon when we arrived late yesterday
evening. These activities plus tidying the boat and our temporary crew
member trying to arrange a flight back to Italy seemed to take all
morning.
By lunch time we were ready to take a stroll around
the old city of Coruna and also to track down a Travel Agency as the method of
purchasing an airline ticket via the internet had failed and so far taken
at least one hour. We had not walked very far before we found a
lovely lively roadside cafe beside the old town wall, the aroma was
so enticing as we walked by that we had to stop and enjoyed a
delicious Spanish lunch of fried calamaris with a glass or two of local
wine.
On entering the old city one of the first things we
saw was the Musoleum of Sir John Moore who was killed during the
Peninsula Wars and is immortalised in the school boys poem "We buried him
darkly in the dead of night, the sods of the bayonets turning etc".
The walk around the narrow streets was
delightful, the shady squares a refuge from the hot sun. It very
much reminded us of the beautiful streets we have walked in many towns in Italy,
but the style of windows were different, regimentally tall square bays
hanging out over the street below. We meandered along until we
reached the main town centre, as the evening evolved so the streets filled
with families of all ages enjoying the evening. The atmosphere was vibrant
a music festival was in full swing, jazz bands played on street corners the
musicians young enthusiastic young men. if a drum was
unaffordable then a wooden box was sat on and masterfully
played!
It was a great day and well worth the unplanned
stop!
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