Expecting high winds, we started out early to A Coruña but were happy to find the seas were relatively calm. We had a nice sailing day, then after a hearty lunch on board, set off to explore the old city. A Coruña, located on the northwest coast of Spain, is a vibrant city of a little over 419k people known for its rich maritime heritage and iconic landmarks such as the ancient Tower of Hercules, the world’s oldest working lighthouse. With its bustling port, lively tapas bars, and scenic promenades, A Coruña seamlessly blends historical charm with modern urban energy.
Saturday was spent exploring the medieval old town. The highlight of the day being an invitation from some locals to join in their celebrations – a University reunion – drinking cider. (A local delicacy – that we joke tastes like cat piss!?! However, we learned that with proper pouring, it becomes much more effervescent and – the fizz obtained from the pouring process, in this case, a car battery used to shoot the cider a distance toward the side of a glass … just enough for a shot. The rest of the beverage is then tossed on the ground. Must watch the video below!) Couldn’t have planned for a better evening! We then headed to the Plaza de María Pita, a bustling plaza surrounded by narrow pedestrianized lanes, with lots of little shops and restaurants. We ended the day with a wonderful seafood dinner filled with langoustines, razor clams, hard shell clams, and squid.
