Briefing

This travel starts from Part1. Please go to Part1 section if you haven't.
[17:00] The fast ferry, Tarifa Jet departed. The ferry was quite clean and comfortable.

19th April. Tarifa and Algeciras

[20:00] Arrive Tarifa. After an hour cruising, the ferry arrived at Tarifa, Spain.

There was a free shuttle bus to Algeciras Ferry Port, took about 40 minutes. The bus didn't stop at the train station.

[21:45] Depart Algeciras. I arrived at the station just before the night train Estrecho departed. The train was too packed and everyone was complaining. I also had to ask the conductor to change a room as I couldn't sleep!

20th April. Madrid and Avila

[08:45] Arrived in Madrid. The night train arrived at Madrid - Chamartin Station.

I then went around Atocha to meet with my friend.

This is Museo del Prado. It is a nice place to take a walk even just the outside.

The weather was really nice, and everyone was enjoying the weather.

When I was walking, I found a liquor shop displaying really old bottles on the window.

There were also some stalls on the street.

I thought Madrid is quite nice city.

[15:48] I jumped on the train at Atocha. I was planning to take 15:45 Regional train to Ponferrada, but the train I took was going to El Escorial.

I realized that I took the wrong train, had to change to the 17:59 Regional Express train at Villalba de G.

[19:03] I arrived at Avila. Hopefully, the sun hasn't set when I arrived.

Walking down the city for a while, I found the place I was looking for.

Avila is very famous for its old city surrounded by the wall.

This is the Catedral de Ávila. This is the oldest Spanish Gothic cathedral. Amazingly, it is also a part of the wall.

Buildings inside the wall were really old, but those shops were really nice.

There are many churches and convents inside the wall. This is one of the famous one, Santa Teresa Convent.

I walked to the other side of the wall to see more views.

Crossed a bridge and walking to the direction to Salamanca, I found a nice viewing point at Los Cuatro Postes.

This is what I got at Los Cuatro Postes viewing point.

On the way back to the city, I found a nice lovely restaurant. Must come back when I get married...

It was already dark when I came back to the city center, so I quickly had a dinner on the way to the station.

[24:03] Depart Avila. The night train to A Coruña-San Cristobal departed.

As the ticket says T.Hotel, the seating was much better than other Spanish night trains, and comfortable just like other High Speed Trains.

The buffet coach was also nice, offering small bottle of wine for just €2.90.

21st April. Santiago de Compostela

[07:20] I jumped off the train because the train was already arrived at Santiago about to depart when I woke up.

The station is just few minutes away from the city center of Santiago de Compostela.

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the Region of Galicia. There are loads of churches to accomodate people coming for the pilgrimage.

The city seems very quiet compared to other cities.

This is the town hall at Pazo de Raxoi (Raxoi's Palace).

Around the cathedral is the historic centre, the UNESCO World Heritage designation.

The cathedral has a statue of Saint James in the nave, and his crypt below the alter.

Parador, the 5* luxury hotel, used to be a Royal Hospital to give shelter to the numerous pilgrims making their way to Santiago.

Next to Church of San Fiz de Solovio, Mercado de Abastos is the market where you can buy the fresh food.

Museo Eugenio Granell is the Eugenio Foundation and Museum, housed in the 18th Century mansion at Pazo de Bendaña.

Santiago de Compostela is always the wet city just like London. This is Convent and Church of San Francisco

I called my friend and went to her university to meet.

I then went to Cathedral again with her brother.

I also had a nice lunch at her house. Thank you!

[17:39] Depart Santiago. Taking a Regional Train to Vigo, my next destination is Portugal.

Travel Continues to Part4 in Portugal

Click here to continue to Portugal.