Camino de Santiago Part 4: The End
To walk the Camino is to walk towards yourself. The Camino has a romantic mythology around it and, honestly, I think it deserves to. It should be romanticised. It is transformative in the truest sense of the word. At least, it was for me. As long as you understand that the romance also involves handwashing your socks in a sink every evening and hanging your underwear off your backpack to dry, you will absolutely find it romantic.
Camino de Santiago Part 3: Crossing Galicia
The mornings always began early on the Camino. Up at dawn, usually before the sun had fully risen, quietly packing our bags in semi-darkness before slipping back onto the trail. Leaving Viladesuso that morning, from the guesthouse overlooking the ocean where we had spent the night, the route began with a familiar kind of comfort.
Camino de Santiago Part 2: Spring
Arriving in Viana do Castelo felt like a genuine breath of fresh air after the ordeal of the previous 24 hours. Set at the mouth of the Lima River, the city has one of the most beautiful medieval centres on the route, all grand squares, tiled facades and winding streets that lead out towards the water. After days of tiny villages and long solitary stretches of coastline, it felt lively in exactly the way I needed.
Ganbara, San Sebastián
You go here for the mushrooms. They sit in piles on the counter, ready to be pan-fried in butter and served with a silky egg yolk. And they are sensational. They absolutely live up to the hype. But in truth, it was the quieter, less-sung dishes that secured this meal as one of my favourite experiences in San Sebastián.
San Sebastián, Spain
San Sebastián had taken on an almost mythical quality in my head. It’s one of those Narnia-like places that every food-loving friend speaks about with complete certainty as the ultimate destination. I’d wanted to go for years, but with that came a real fear it wouldn’t live up to the hype. Thankfully, it did. Completely.
Bar Nestor, San Sebastián
When somewhere is as hyped as Bar Nestor, I get nervous. Restaurants spoken about in near-mythical terms rarely live up to the expectations that build around them. But my best friend Liz had assured me, with the same reverence she usually only reserves for Korean BBQ, that the steak here was the best she had eaten anywhere in the world.
Girona, Spain
An impulsive decision to book a girls’ trip to Girona, based entirely on one video we saw, turned out to be an excellent idea. We had no real plans beyond eating as much as possible and talking endlessly over cold white wine which, in hindsight, was exactly the right approach.
Seville, Spain
We took a short three day trip to Seville in April, mainly in search of some sun after a particularly bleak stretch of weather at home. It was my first time in Andalusia, and I immediately loved the warm and slow pace of the region.
El Camino, Palma
We were in Palma to celebrate my best friend’s 40th and, knowing how much we all love Barrafina, she kindly booked El Camino (their sister restaurant) as a thank you for coming. A very generous move and very on brand for her.