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Links to individual Bellatrovata pages
Bellatrovata and Paradoxplace are the creations of Adrian Fletcher All original material © Adrian Fletcher 2000-07 - The contents may not be reproduced without permission. Feedback and comments to Adrian Fletcher
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Bellatrovata
SPRING IN SPAIN, 2006 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA |
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After nearly two days of rain and wind, things took a dramatic turn for the better in the nick of time for Dom P - this is the (final) evening view in the newly arrived sun of the famous 1700s facade of the Cathedral. Sadly, unlike the interior, none of the old Romanesque facade is left. |
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The south side Puerta de las Platerias (Goldsmiths' Doorway) is the only 1100s Romanesque outside doorway left - and includes our old friends Adam and Eve (below) along with the waterproofed post pilgrims' mass Sunday throng. A medieval students' challenge to university freshmen was to climb the steps two at a time - an impossible task as there are an odd number of steps. |
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Sculptures in the central arch of the glorious late 1100s Pórtico de la Gloria. If there are not too many people jostling around, pause on the way in to the cathedral and have a closer look at the detail, particularly the outer ring of what you will see are instrument [players ..... |
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In the centre it takes two to play a - what? Well luckily visitors to the Cathedral crypt will know the answer, as there is a magnificent display of reconstructions of the medieval instruments in the carvings. And the answer is that this instrument is an Organistrum, which looked like this .... |
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and at the bottom of one of the late 1100s Pórtico de la Gloria entry portal columns .... |
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Dom P of course does have a few hundred more cathedral photos - all in good time, lunch first ..... |
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A plate of Buen Pulpo Gallego - boiled octopus garnished with oil and cayenne pepper - in Bar Los Sobrinos del Padre - "La Casa del Buen Pulpo" - run by Juan Masejo Rey and his son (also Juan) - dad shown temporarily without cigarette and complete with "pencil on marble" tablet bill computational technology. Note also the ceramic "wine glass" - another local tradition. Closed Monday.
O Dezaseis (Rua San Pedro 16, tel 981 56 48 80 - closed Sunday) is a large very popular medium priced restaurant which specializes in the local cuisine - particularly wholesome soups and casseroles!! Its size and popularity do not detract al all from the food or service quality.
For the "night out" with outstanding fish, shell fish, crustaceans and wine and a more significant bill, go to the Restaurante Marisqueria Fornos which is to be found at Hórreo, 24 - Bajo y Plaza de Galicia, No 3 (Tel 981 56 57 21) and is probably the top seafood restaurant around - try the scallops in a garlic sauce (not just boring garlic butter) and ....... over to you!!
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The Bar Los Sobrinos del Padre is just down the road from Dom P's outstanding hotel ( The Hotel Altair tel 981 55 47 12), a newly opened hotel in an old stone walled building that has been stripped out and superbly rebuilt with extensive use of wood and modern fittings (and incorporating free wi-fi).
The Altair and the nearby Costa Vella hotel (tel 981 56 95 30) are owned and run with panache by a sister and brother team - members of the Liñares family.
The hotels are relatively easy to drive up to (and will be even easier when they put a better map on their web site) and are, we think, optimally located on the (best) side of the traffic free centre of this attractive little town, just a five minute walk away from the cathedral. |
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and there's a bit of reading for the "monastery leg" of the journey piling up as well .... the book below left (A4 size) has great amount of map detail and a stunning collection of photos - including lots of out of the way places. Ideal for the "auto-pilgrim" - you just have to learn to read it in reverse!! On the right is the MSM book which one of the maps used in bellatrovata has been taken from - it is also well illustrated though not quite as useful on the road because of less detailed map links. |
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Links to individual Bellatrovata pages
Bellatrovata and Paradoxplace are the creations of Adrian Fletcher
All original material © Adrian Fletcher 2000-07 - The contents may not be reproduced without permission. Feedback and comments to Adrian Fletcher
|
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