MarkJ

Hi

My wife and I need your help. We just booked a "spur" of the moment trip to Santiago de Compostela, Spain for July 23-28 (so now we are trying to plan the trip)and have several questions that we hope you will be able to help us with. So, here goes:

Our reason for the trip is the Feast of St. James on the 25th. What other towns in the region should we visit as a day trip, and can we there there by bus or train (at this time I'm not planning on renting a car)?

Can you recommmend any resturants in the area that we should try?

Do you know of any guided walking tours?

Can you give us a general idea of what the weather should be like?

Will language (we speak little or no Spanish)be a big problem?

I know this is long but any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thnaks
MarkJ

Graziella

Hi Mark, we were there recently, great choice,....sorry I cannot help you too much but along the Camino there are many interesting places to visit...
I am writing only to recommend one place for food, a local friend took us there, Casa Elisa Restaurante, great for tapas, it is located in Franco st. where there are many others but this one is special because locals like it, and go there. Tapas are excellent.
For a big splurge we tried the Parador de los Reyes Catolicos, do not missed, having lunch there gives you an idea of the place although some areas are restrited to guests.LUnch was near 9000 pesetas worth it everypenny.
I guess you must be going at a time that everything willbe terribly crowded by for us it was very touching to stand at the back, back ,of the cathedral and be there at the actual moment that peligrims arrived ( we saw only two of them) , and put their right hand in the stone pillar in the center ...Buena suerte.

Maira

Mark----Santiago will be crowded, just as you expect. The Parador de los Reyes Catolicos is next to the Cathedral and worth the money that time of the year, but my guess is that is already booked. I have a very comprehensive list of hotels in Santiago by price range. E-mail me if you need details. Recommend you stop by their tourism office upon arrival to Santiago. A most serviceable staff, maybe to be expected fom a city that has been the destination of thousands of pilgrims since Medieval Ages. Their Pilgrims Museum is free and, although not great, it is interesting. Be forewarned, most peole speak Galician (?), sounds very different from Spanish.

As far as restaurants, I recommend a restaurant called "La Parrillada" open for meals after 12 noon (a blessing in Spain as you will soon find out...) Great food, good prices, friendly service. It is located on a side street away from the main sights area (Plaza).

As far as nearby day trips, Vigo is a nice town, a bit industrial but they usually have good weather and excellent cuisine.

If lodging becomes an issue, recommend you stay in Pontevedra and take day trips into Santiago. Pontevedra is a nice seashore town. For more adventure, go into Portugal (Green coast; Costa Verde; breathtaking!). If you plan to go into Portugal, I have a great recommendation for lodging in a town called Viana Do Castelo. E-mail me if needed.

There used to be a person who posted under the name of Covadonga who always had top-notch advice regarding the area of Santiago. Do a search and see what you can pick up. Also, Al has a lot of travelling experience in that area (maybe more Portugal...) and he has posted great advice as well.

The weather in Santiago is legendary for the rainy episodes. Go prepared.

It is a unique time to visit a unique city.

Mary

Camino Tours (www.caminotours.com) offers a variety of tours--biking, walking, golf, etc. We have not done this trip but would like to sometime.

Hope this helps.

wendy

If you have an extra day, take a trip into La Coruņa and head towards the lighthouse. The coastline there is breathtaking - if you can be there at sunset, all the better.
For dining, I recommend small bars. Order empanadas, usually filled with tuna - yummy!