by Our guide lead us down steep stone steps to see the remains of Saint James. Like a carnival sideshow promising a three-headed chicken, the attraction didn’t live up to the hype. Instead of bones and gore, all we saw was a large silver box about the size of a small trunk. If Saint James was in it, he must have been folded in half. The rest of the cathedral was impressive, I guess. There was a gypsy sitting on a step on either side of the entrance and they had their pathetic beggar’s pose down. They didn’t move or make a sound. They just held their little cups with a few shekels in the bottom. They were pretty young, a male and a female. Later when we were assembled out in the square in front of the cathedral I had an opportunity to observe them from a distance when there were no tourists going in or out. I saw the girl say something to the boy and give him a quick smile as she reached under her rags for her bottled water. They probably make a pretty good living but I wonder how they managed to get their location. The competition must be fierce. Maybe they had to work up to it.
Spain is usually thought of in terms of its Mediterainian coast but it has a considerable Atlantic coast as well. I was impressed with the green country and mild temperature of northern Spain, the region referred to as Galicia. It was rural, lots of farms, and not densely settled like the part of Portugal we saw. There are demonstrations in Madrid over the state of the economy but all was calm where we were, at least on the surface. I was accosted several times by girls wanting me to sign what looked like a petition. I tried to read what it was they wanted me to sign but being in Spanish I couldn’t make it out very well. The girls were sincere but I had to disappoint them and decline to sign.
The cruise director said we can eat 17 times a day, if we want. We can board as guests and leave as cargo. The food is excellent and plentiful. There is also a great deal of liquor available. They even have daily AA meetings, I’m told. I try to pace myself.