Out to the Islands

Out in the Ria de Vigo are the Islas Cies, a nature reserve cum tourist destination. Visiting the islands with my daughter and her family, here on a visit, I got into conversation with a teacher accompanying a group of Spanish high school students. In his opinion, it is easy for those who live near a treasure like the Islas Cies to take them for granted and not quite forget about them but put off visiting until "another day".

So he feels that everyone should visit them every so often to remind themselves of what they have. He usually visits three or four times a year, whenever he has visitors and wants to impress them with the beauties of this part of Galicia.

We feel the same way and that was our intention on Monday, as well as wanting to visit one of the best beaches in the world - it must be true, the Guardian says so!!! The ferry to the islands has only just started running again on a daily basis. Throughout the month of May they have been on weekends only and from mid September to Easter no-one can visit at all.

So we took advantage of the fine weather and set off on the boat, having told them which boat back we intended to catch, information required by the ticket office in order to regulate the number of visitors at any one time. In June children under 12 travel free, a fact which pleased us with three children in tow. We were given plastic bags para la basura as no rubbish can be left behind; there are no litter bins there.

We arrived at the island and followed the path which leads to the only campsite (limited places, limited length of stay) and the small self-service restaurant where we intended to have lunch. En route we went past the lago, a lagoon in which no-one is allowed to swim in order to protect the marine life. The shoals of fish were impressive.


After lunch we headed for the beach, a wonderful expanse of white sand. The water was still a bit too cold for me to venture in much beyond my knees but there were hardy souls swimming out there with the fish.



As the afternoon wore on sea mist began to move in. Gradually the other island disappeared, then the boats moored in the bay and finally parts of the main island itself. It did not diminish our enjoyment, just added another dimension. And as we finally set off for Vigo on the return journey the island looked mysteriously tropical and strange.

Vigo itself was similarly shrouded in mist as the boat pulled in.

Away from the harbour, however, the sun still shone as we encouraged tired children to trudge up the hill to home, bath, supper and at last bed. Another good day!