A much less gloomy view over Baiona
Saturday saw the winds building again during the day so we decided to get the diesel (€1.51 per litre - ouch!) topped up before anything else, which all went very smoothly in Puerto Deportivo Baiona then back out to anchor. Then with the winds having increased, a slightly soggy trip ashore in the dinghy for a walk away from the town. A stream flows down to the beach behind us and the town has built a boardwalk path up the side of it as it flows down between the houses. It was a pretty walk, nice and shady under trees as the stream gently bimbled its way over rocks with dragonflies and butterflies flitting over deeper pools.
At the top of the boardwalk we carried on up the road as it headed up into more rural land with wider spaced houses and big gardens and allotments. We'd decided on another 10 minutes heading up when we came across a sign saying 'Petroglyphs park' (or words to that effect) 500m further on.
Off the road into the forest and we arrive at a clearing with platforms set about it. At each platform was a rock with carvings on them in varying degrees of obviousness. The best one was on a vertical rock face where you could make out carvings in the shape of animals as well as swirls and other strange shapes. They are 4000 years old so can't really complain if some have weathered away a bit. We were the only people there even though it was a Saturday.
Can you see the pictures?
Heading back down the road we saw a sign to some old mills which wasn't obvious from the other direction. We headed down to the stream and found one mill mostly complete but didn't go looking for any others as we were wearing open shoes and were getting fed up of being spiked with different bits of foliage.
After a forest fire last night on the hills to the east of the bay, tonight we saw the flames of another burning to the south. Either a lot of careless people playing with fire, or a very mobile arsonist or perhaps they are burning scrub?
Sunday 8th September
We decided against going back ashore last night as it was just a bit too lumpy so as compensation we decided on a farewell Spain lunch today. First we did the tourist bit and paid our €2 each to visit the lifesize replica of the Pinta, the first boat back from across the Atlantic to give word that Columbus had 'discovered' new lands. We were given mp3 players and headphones so that we could listen to the audio tour in English. It was a nicely done way of giving you an insight into the lives of sailors in those days and you could wander all around the boat without any annoying elf-an-safety notices telling you not to touch anything.
Wandering around the Pinta
Back in town after a detour to Virgin de la Roca to retake photos now the gloom had gone (see results above), we allowed ourselves to be persuaded by the restaurant man to eat at his having said 'no, gracias' every time we'd walked past the last 3 days. Perhaps it was him telling me my Spanish pronunciation was good when he asked where we were from that won us over, although I'm not sure I believe him!
Menu del dia of mussels to start for me and Caldo Galicia for Colin which turned out to be soup with cabbage and chickpeas - he doesn't recommend it! Followed by a huge paella which was nice but could have done with a bit more umpf in the spice department, we're hoping some Portuguese piri-piri will help with the lack of spicy food we've experienced in Galicia. Ice cream for pud, along with a bottle of wine and all for €20 total.
All being well, it's Portugal tomorrow so time to swap over dictionaries and guide books. Adios Espana, ola Portugal!