Help with a trip to Galicia

[Ben]

I recently received this e-mail asking about a trip to Galicia, our answers will follow shortly, but can any of you guys help too?

We will be traveling to Rias Baixas in early June, and I wondered if you happened to have any tips or good information on restaurants and activities. We have our hotels lined up: they are one night at the parador in Santiago, two nights at the parador in Cambados, and two nights each at the paradors in Baiona and Tui.
We would really like to take a boat trip, either to see some of the islands such as the Islas Cies, or perhaps up the river Mino, but when I contacted the paradors for assistance, they informed me that boat trips don't begin until July. (Will the weather be too cold in early June??). Do you have any good ideas for getting out on the water?

Are there any not-to-miss sites, gardens, hikes, bicycle routes, or wineries to tour?

Do you know of any great restaurants? I am having a particularly difficult time deciding where to eat dinner in Santiago, as there are a number of choices that sound wonderful.

Do you know anything about the area of Tui, or that part of northern Portugal?

I know I have a lot of questions - and I greatly appreciate any help and advice you can offer! My husband and I are in our late 20's, we live in the Rocky Mountains in the US and are fairly athletic (lots of mountain biking, hiking, trail running, and snow skiing). We love great food and wine (especially seafood and Albarino!), and especially love to get a sense of where we are traveling and who the people are through their cuisine and dining habits. We have both been to Spain before, but never to Galicia.


All suggestions welcome!!

[Marina]

You are going to love Galicia!!!


For restaurants in little towns my advice would be to look for those ones that are near the ports, some of them might look like really simple restaurants but they are usually family run and you won't find fresher fish.

In Vigo, which is in the Rias Bajas I recommend you to have a look at the Oyster street (calle de las ostras) where the oysters are sold in street stalls. You can buy them there and take them to eat to one of the restaurants in the same street.

http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=57&stc=1&d=1147432669

Apart from lovely seafood and marisco there are other type of restaurants that are common in Galicia, las Churrasquerias. That is because there was a massive emigration from Galicia to Argentina and Uruguay just after Spanish civil war and when some of these emigrants came back the set up meat restaurants in the Argentinan way.

In June, the weather should be nice but take into account that it rains a lot in Santiago area, whereas in Rias Bajas the weather tends to be nicer. Usually at night the weather gets chilli.

There is a wine route for Albariño where you can visit their "bodegas", for that I would recommend you to check a guide for specific information and if visiting a bodega phone in advance to check their timetables.

Don't miss Pontevedra, you just need a couple of hours to wander throught the old part of the city and, if open, check the food market for it's incredible variety of seafood and fish.

http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=58&stc=1&d=1147432716



Have a wonderful time!!!
Marina.

[Marina]

I forgot to mentinon that we have 3 podcasts about Galicia. I suppose you have already hear them, but just in case here are the links:

Rias Baixas (http://www.notesfromspain.com/190/)
Santiago (http://www.notesfromspain.com/181/)
Lugo (http://www.notesfromspain.com/177/)

And here (http://www.notesfromspain.com/photos/index.php?cat=2) to see more pics