[Travel Diary] Camino! A 1-Day Trip to Santiago de Compostela ✈️

Finally, my spouse and I have mastered an outrageous way to travel.

A one-day trip where we fly round-trip in a single day and sleep in our own bed at night 🛫🐙⛪️🛬😴

We found it while browsing for flight tickets on Skyscanner as usual.
Depart Valencia 5:45
Depart Santiago de Compostela 23:40
—what a godsend of a flight schedule!
The flight time is roughly one hour.
There is more than enough time for sightseeing.

I had never visited northern Spain before, and I thought it would be impossible to cover unless I took several days off, whether by car or plane.
But with this, we can zip over and back without spending too much time in one city! So, I booked it immediately—click.

Is the alarm going off in the middle of the night? Or early morning?

I set the alarm for 3:40 AM, and 20 minutes after waking up, we were off!
Despite the early morning flight, the airport was quite crowded.
(And many of the early morning flights are Wizz or Ryanair.)

The freezing cold of Santiago

Upon arrival, we discovered a situation that had been delayed.
It was "freezing cold."
I didn't just have goosebumps; my lips were turning blue like a schoolchild who just got out of a swimming pool.
Even though I worried about it so much, it seems I failed in my choice of clothing.

To the final destination of the Camino, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

~A little bit of homework here~

On the way there by bus, I also saw pilgrims.
There were already people in front of the cathedral before 8:00 AM, but it didn't seem crowded yet, so we headed to the market first.

Tasting fresh raw oysters at Abastos Market!

The variety of fish was abundant, and they looked like they had just been caught this morning, so the freshness was perfect.
I can clearly see why northern Spain is called one of the world's leading gourmet cities!!

I've been disappointed before by markets in Madrid that were aimed at tourists, with fried food costing 20€!!, but this place really feels like the kitchen for the locals!!

We immediately tried the raw oysters, which we could eat for 3€ each (0.5€ cheaper than in Valencia!), with some trepidation!

The meat was large and sweet! There was no fishy smell, and they were delicious.
Ah, I wish I could take these home and make fried oysters.
No, no, I'd rather just grill them simply and drizzle some soy sauce on them.
That's what I was thinking.
After all, the joy of eating is essential when traveling.

Unstoppable appetite in Santiago de Compostela

After walking around the market three times, having breakfast at a cafe, and warming up with coffee to ease the freezing cold, we took the Renfe to head to A Coruña.

...Fast asleep 💤

Extending our trip to A Coruña

There is only one reason we came here.
It is to visit the"Tower of Hercules (Torre de Hércules)", the oldest existing lighthouse.
Built around the 1st century during the Roman era, it is still in use today and stands about 55 meters tall. It is also popular as a scenic spot overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009.There is also a legend associated with the Roman mythological hero Hercules, making it a special place where history and mythology intersect.

That said, after arriving and transferring to a bus, we were starving.
For now, we had the three classic dishes!

I was surprised by how delicious the "Pimientos de Padrón" were, more than I expected.
They had a bitterness, and the presence or absence of large rock salt crystals provided a nice accent.
They were incredibly delicious.
If you visit, please don't just think of them as "just peppers" and give them a try.
I truly realized that salt is what defines the flavor of a dish.

By the way, our household uses salt we got in Mallorca last year.
There are potato chips made with salt from Mallorca or the neighboring island of Ibiza, which are perfect as souvenirs, so I recommend them.
I always use the potato chip bags as cushioning in my suitcase. lol

The road to the "Tower of Hercules"

"This looks far"
The sun was strong that day, and we were a bit tired from traveling since early morning.
I would have been happy just viewing it from afar, but
my husband is the type to fully conquer these things.
As long as he can secure a nap time after a meal, his stamina seems to be ♾️.
I'll keep up with him!

Trek, trek

It looked like a fairly new structure, so I wonder if it has been renovated?
A commemorative photo from the opposite side of the tower.

This is my favorite shot.
It was worth walking all the way to the tower to get this photo ♩

The reason for the "City of Glass" is here

Walking along Marina Street, I noticed a series of beautiful, characteristic buildings with windows covering the entire facade.
When I looked it up,A Coruña is also called the "City of Glass". The buildings with windows covering the entire facade are called"Galerías", and they apparently became widespread in the 19th century to adapt to the climate of the Atlantic coast, where rain and wind are strong.
With a practical design that lets in outside light while keeping out bad weather, the beautiful exterior of white wooden frames and glass was also attractive as an urban landscape.

At the very end, we had the vieira we couldn't eat at the market.
Even though there were so many, they were gone in an instant.
We split the delicious food exactly in half.
I'll eat plenty too ♩

After this, I spilled beer everywhere, washed it, and then dashed to catch the Renfe while still soaking wet.

Finally inside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

After finishing our sightseeing in A Coruña, we fell fast asleep on the Renfe again and almost missed our stop, but we finally made it to the final destination of the pilgrimage, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
You can usually enter here for free.

The interior is quite magnificent, as you would expect from the 'final destination of pilgrims.'
Its overwhelming scale and precision are likely unparalleled.
In particular, the front facade was created by the sculptor Francisco de Múñoz, and the glory of God is depicted in meticulous detail.
The altar is made of gold, and amidst the splendor, you can feel a dignity befitting the final destination of a pilgrimage and the burial place of the remains of Saint James.

With a believer shedding tears

Upon arriving at the cathedral, pilgrims perform traditional rituals to conclude their pilgrimage.
This time, I was able to experience a part of it myself.

Pilgrims pay their respects to the remains of Saint James housed in the crypt and offer prayers, completing their test of faith and purifying their souls.
Seeing believers shedding tears of joy at finally reaching their destination after a long pilgrimage made me feel the depth of people's faith and the historical background of religious wars.
Perhaps because Shinto is so deeply rooted in Japan, my own way of thinking about religion is a bit vague.
That is precisely why the strong faith of the people who were shedding tears, kneeling, and showing respect made me think, 'Do I believe in something enough to live my life by it? Even if I don't call it religion, is there a belief that acts as a conviction for me?'

Immediately after this, there is the tomb of Saint James.

After that, we touch the statue of the Virgin Mary that we saw from the front of the altar to pray for protection. The steps were worn down and indented from the paths walked by so many pilgrims before us.
With this, the pilgrimage ritual is complete. Those who wish can receive a pilgrimage certificate or purchase a tube to hold the certificate.

And, something I just realized recently: there was actually a path in Valencia with the scallop shell mark that serves as a signpost for the pilgrimage!
Ah, I forgot to take a picture of it, so please let me show it to you another time!

To a nerve-wracking, exciting Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant

For dinner, we went to our first Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant.
I was overjoyed to be able to eat fresh fish other than salmon and tuna!!
Silver-skinned fish are delicious, aren't they? I love them!

The photo descriptions are lacking, but please enjoy them with your eyes..

Home is the most comfortable after all~~!
Back home

As expected, the return flight was delayed by an hour, but in the meantime, I brushed my teeth, took out my contacts, and got ready so I could jump straight into bed once I showered.

I didn't get home until after midnight, but I fully enjoyed my first 1-day trip♪

The best part is that you don't have to pack for an overnight stay, so you can travel light!

Next, I'd love to go on a 1-day trip to an Italian city.

¡ Adios !