A Coruña or La Coruña, Spain. 12th Oct
Today was a late arrival. Very civilised to be out there watching the lovely sail in at lunchtime.
A Coruña is the provincial capital of the province and is a busy port on the Atlantic Ocean right on the top corner of Spain. It’s a distribution point for agricultural goods from the region.
It is another warm Mediterranean climate but has huge winds off the Atlantic.
It was originally settled by Artabrians, the Celtic tribe of the area. Remember this is where the Celtic people started. The Romans came here in the second century BC. Julius Caesar came here.
It was pouring rain before we sailed in. Then it stopped. Sail in was very pretty. Heaps came to wave at us.
We arrived and walked into Old Town and wondered around marvelling at the lovely building.
All the balconies are glassed in due to the high winds. The city is famous for them, known as galerías. , This was originally a naval architecture solution for challenging weather like the huge winds. So they started to build houses like the back of a war ship and added these glazed window balconies to their city-port houses.
City Hall forms one side of the town square and was lovely.
I sent a snapchat of this entitled ‘Spear Maiden’ before I realised the history of continual Viking attacks. Everyone had to be a Spear Maiden to fight off the attacking hoards.
We (with Ed and Hazel again) grabbed a taxi and headed off for a tour.
We went out to the peninsular. The Roman Tower of Hercules is a lighthouse that has been in continuous operation since possibly the 2nd century AD. It’s the oldest working Roman lighthouse in the world. The outside is no longer Roman – but their core is still there. But the internal structure and workings are original.
Celtic King Breogan in A Coruña.
The Original town was here but moved due to too many Viking attacks. In 1208 King Alfonso IX re-founded the city at the site of the new Old Town. Heaps of amazing buildings and twisty alley ways. We walked up many of them….and later drove down them in our taxi!
The main beaches has a sand dune made for the winter. The drier told us the waves get up to 13 metres and the road gets covered. I am hoping she meant feet! Or the town would be gone. And in the background is the big football aka soccer stadium where the local club plays teams like Rio Madrid and Barcelona!
The Millenium Tower. Built of crystal and lit up at night.
There were some great statues around including one for the surfers. Small fountains underneath made waves. 
We then went up to the high point. High and impressive.
This is the work of Spalax work. A blind subterranean mole rat. Little dirt piles everywhere. Didn’t see any of the ugly beasts though. Little dirt piles everywhere. But no hole in the grass. They just force the dirt up.
Not going in that maze. I’ve seen too many movies and know that nothing good happens in a maze.
Train Station. Our driver dropped someone there last week to catch a train to Lisboa. TO CATCH UP WITH THE SHIP!
And then down to the water front for a well urned rest.
They didn’t sell Blanco Sangria by the glass Only by the litre. So “life is good with one litre of Blanco Sangria. Could be tricky walking back to the ship”.
And then there was this problem……”I can see the ship. But can I walk that far? Lots of straight lines.”
And as I got onto the ship the skies opened up again and it poured. Thanks Coruna!
Fun Day.
That night I went to Sabor. The Mexican restaurant. Amazing. They come and make the guacamole at your table and it was sensationally delicious.
Yum.
And now another Sea day! YAY
13th Oct – At SEA
And what a busy day it was.
Started with the final of Progressive Trivia. And we won a medal! Yay.
Then a back stage tour. Good fun.
Dance practice for our ‘Flash Mob’.
C&A Lunch with an Officer. That was good. Sat with the head of staff – who started 15 years ago as a ‘dish pig’ washing the dishes.
The the final of the Karaoke. Opening act was our Flash Mob up on the main stage in the theatre. Was very interesting that earlier that day I had heard them talking about how it works putting on a show…then there I was being queued in and being shown out markers.
Then some time on the Diamond deck.
Didn’t go to dinner again. I have been to the main dinning room once and two specialties. Have been eating local food off the ship so no need for dinner.
The show tonight was the Zoots – 60’s music and was fantastic.
Then bed as tomorrow is early. NO I AM NOT GOING TO PARIS. There was a bomb in a car today. I’m off to Omaha beach and D Day things. Yay. ANOTHER 7 am departure and 10 hours on a bus!
Next page – Le Harve, France. Click below to go there.