BLOG: Our daily adventures,
Week 34: Playa da Barrosa to Ferrol
August 27th to September 2nd
- Day 232: August 27th: Praia da Barrosa to Punta do Segano - 10 km
After a few km of walking up and down the hilly coastline, we reached the small cafe of the "Centro cultural Outeiro". We were low on water and the fountain here above we thought could be our saving grace was beautifully carved but didn't provide any water ...we sat there, at the cafe, for a good hour...and the locals just gave us free plates of Berberechos (Cockle /Cardiidae). Super lucky !
At last we took the time to pull out our chess board from Casey's backpack and played 2 games with a view of the beach where we just had our first dive of the day. Celine 2, Casey 0.
10 km done for a total of 2907+ 10 = 2917 km
- Day 233: August 28th: Punta do Segano to Muelle O Seixo - 12 km
Ruinas Bateria de Salgueira....abandoned fortifications and dating from Franco's era...tunnels carved in the cliffs leading to dodgy military barracks, blackberry bushes, Fern and ivy taking slowly back their territory....
..and some messages again...
12 km done for a total of 2917 + 12 = 2929 km
- Day 234: August 29th: Muelle O Seixo to Ferrol - 12 km
An abandoned house for sale had probably a former very narcissistic owner: he got done a sculpture of himself right in the front facade of his home..not so interesting for the future buyer.
"Education is a vaccine against violence": best school ever!
A very patriotic house which seems to be celebrating a perpetual Christmas all year round.
Ferrol busy harbour is equipped with these giant cranes and heavy machinery. We met 2 british guys, engineers apparently here for work, they are building an entire cargo ship destined to carry gasoline for the next 10 years. The cargo ship will belong to Canada...funny coincidence.
How to beautify ugly skyscrapers: an artistic endeavour that should be encouraged and supported everywhere.
Seems like we will be enjoying some concerts tonight :)!
Our go-to Cafe on the main plaza in Ferrol encourages multitasking and fitness!
We arrived right on time for a little celtic concert.
This creepy black metallic sculpture is standing there on the side of a main pedestrian avenue...this is what the spanish are wearing in the procession of the christian semana santa...a costume unfortunately taken over on the new continent for a whole different and gruesome purpose: No to the kkk!!!
Avocat = both lawyer and avocado in French. At the beginning of our trip, least to say that this led to very embarrassing moments when I asked for "abogados (lawyers)" instead of "aguacate" when looking for avocados in the grocery shop.
Little thoughts for my grandma.
12 km done for a total of 2929 + 12 = 2941 km
- Day 235 to Day 238: August 30th to September 2nd: Forced recovery time in Ferrol - 0 km
Our bodies are crying for help: Casey's right knee had started the bad habit to become painful when we walk above 15km (quasi every day now for the past 3 weeks); and the tendons under my right foot also begun to do the same at the end of the day. Despite the ugliness of Ferrol's harbour, we are forced to rest our bones for a few days. Luckily, Ferrol's walls are filled with beautiful murals: we had fun documenting/taking pictures of these multiple pieces of art all around the city: a little quest game for us.
Luckily, we arrived in Ferrol at the end of a music festival, we sat for its last 3 days, every evening at the same cafe to enjoy the music while resting our legs: it is at last "backpacks down time" after our mural quest of the day.
One of our best nights in Ferrol: as we were heading to our hidden camping spot, we heard a beautiful voice further down the road. A busker was singing a cover of Queen's song " Don't stop me now": one of my favorite. Very talented musician, I thought, his voice was quasi identical to Freddy Mercury's. We stopped at the adjacent bar to enjoy the concert: it was just one amazing cover after the other. The bar supported this beautiful artist by providing the juice to power his amplifier. A win win for the bar owner since the clientele/customers stayed until it was time to close the bar: the audience clapped and sang along the whole evening...I am longing to do the same when I will get back home: I've got the full equipment waiting for me in Alsace..
Little "parenthesis": A scientific experiment has been done to analyse the effect of different pieces of music/songs on the brain and on its release of neurotransmitters which induce euphoria/well-being. The researchers used a selection of songs of popular singers and observed the activation of the "reward system" in the brain of the study's participants via a live imaging of their brain (and if I do remember correctly), by measuring, in the test-subjects' blood, the concentration of neurotransmitters/hormones which induce happiness and a feeling of well-being (dopamine, endorphins, ocytocine). Results: "Don't stop me now" and its positive and empowering lyrics scored the best, inducing a powerful activation of "les hormones du bonheur": endorphins, dopamine etc....My prescription: if you feel depressed, play Freddy's song, full volume, and on repeat: the best anti-depressant!!!
Little "parenthesis": A scientific experiment has been done to analyse the effect of different pieces of music/songs on the brain and on its release of neurotransmitters which induce euphoria/well-being. The researchers used a selection of songs of popular singers and observed the activation of the "reward system" in the brain of the study's participants via a live imaging of their brain (and if I do remember correctly), by measuring, in the test-subjects' blood, the concentration of neurotransmitters/hormones which induce happiness and a feeling of well-being (dopamine, endorphins, ocytocine). Results: "Don't stop me now" and its positive and empowering lyrics scored the best, inducing a powerful activation of "les hormones du bonheur": endorphins, dopamine etc....My prescription: if you feel depressed, play Freddy's song, full volume, and on repeat: the best anti-depressant!!!
To keep a reasonable budget, we've decided to avoid staying in a hostel or an Airbnb while recovering in Ferrol. We' ve found the perfect quiet camping spot in a small park in the outskirts of the city. The only annoying thing: we have to pitch and un-pitch the tent everyday at the same spot and explore the city while carrying our heavy backpacks during the day. Luckily at our favorite go-to cafe "the Lusitania", the waiter offered to keep our backpacks there so we can roam in the streets doubly "free of charge".
Resting time: still a total of 2941 km