The ‘Rias Altas’ by Santiago Amado

Galicia is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful regions of Spain. Many people go there to spend their holidays every year, Santiago de Compostela and the Rías Bajas being the most visited places and spots.

I’m a lover of Galicia, and I have to be grateful for the fact that few tourists go to the North, in my own opinion considerably more attractive than the South and the Centre of the country.

Nature shows its wildest face there. The sea is not a bluish, bright, placid and huge lake like the Mediterranean Sea, but a furious and treacherous ocean, which shocks you just by looking at it. The waves hit the rocks with incredible strength, and the surf rises quickly up to spread down slowly, turned into thousands of drops. The noise reminds one of a husky and deep giant’s voice, that is only accompanied by the screech of the seagulls and the roaring wind.

Small-unspoilt villages are scattered along the coast. Towns such as Cedeira, Cariño or Ortigueira are really must-see. If you leave Ferrol driving to Cedeira by the road that runs parallel to the sea, you’ll enjoy stunning sceneries. Long and lonely beaches, surrounded with greens hills, invite you to have a stroll along them. But watch out for swimming; tides and currents can be really dangerous there.

Sheer cliffs drop to the sea below from many metres above, and from the top the sight of the greenish ocean is impressive.

        

                      

 

   

Cedeira 

Cedeira is an old fishing village on the seashore. It is located at the bottom of a “ria”, a very long inlet where the sea becomes calm and friendly. After wandering around the tranquil city, I suggest going to have lunch at the promenade; there’s a chummy and good value restaurant there, where you can taste the best fish and meat dishes, including seafood, accompanied by an exciting local wine. If you order clams in sauce and a veal stew, your mouth will water. Absolutely delicious!!

San Andrés de Teixido

 If I were you, I’d go to “San Andrés de Teixido”, a hamlet not far away from Cedeira.   he road that drives you there runs up among a forest that covers the path in shadows.

 Sometimes, a thick fog drops over the place and you are afraid that ghosts and witches (“meigas”) will appear at any time. Horses run wild all around, while cows graze and look at you sadly when you pass by.

 The view from the small village, on the top of the mountain, is spectacular. You’ll have the chance to visit the chapel dedicated to Saint Andrés. Many people go there taking copies of a limb (an arm, a leg, a hand…) made of wax, offering them to the Saint in order to thank him his mediation in a supposed miraculous healing of a relative’s body real part.

 If you are looking for a girlfriend or a boyfriend, you can pray and beg to the Saint, who will help you to achieve your aim. If you don’t believe in the Saint’s power, the inhabitants sell some small colourful crumb bread figures that said to have the desired effect in love affairs. In any case remember that, as the saying goes, “people who don’t go there alive, will do it when dead”.