Also as I ran I heard the mournful sound of a boat’s hooter. Something unseen was arriving or leaving. I guessed it was probably a cruise liner but it wasn’t until later in the morning that this was confirmed. In fact, not one but two boats were lined up at the Estación Marítima, one quite large, but not as huge as some that turn up here, and the other relatively small. It crossed my mind that the people on the smaller boat, which had to moor a little further back towards Bouzas might feel a little miffed to be tied up behind a bigger vessel. Did they feel that they had been sold an inferior deal? Who knows?
By the time we returned from Pontevedra early this evening, both boats were long gone. And now the sun is shining again. I suspect that the boats’ passengers only saw the grey and rainy Vigo, which is a shame because its aspect is much improved by a little sunshine. Mind you, if all you want to do is visit jewellery shops and other similar places, I don’t suppose it matters much what the weather is doing. You can look a bit foolish in your shorts and sandals, however, if it’s wet and cloudy.
We went to Pontevedra with a dual purpose in mind. Our son and his wife were moving on there from Tui and as Phil had missed out on lunch at Bar Puerto on Friday, this gave him another chance to have lunch with them. Also we were able to meet up with our friend Colin which may be the last time we can do so before we set off back for the UK for a while on Sunday.
So off we went, after very nearly missing our train and having had to get a taxi to the station. We had a very philosophical taxi driver. When I commented that time had run away with us, he declared that time never varies, it never runs but just plods along at its usual rate; it’s the human beings who vary their perception of time’s passing. How about that? Wise sayings and a ride to the station for under €5!!
We had an uneventful train ride to Pontevedra. The ongoing works at the station, in preparation for the eventual arrival of the AVE, the high speed train, are coming along. Several platforms have disappeared but it is no longer a dustbowl. Like at the former station in Vigo – the one near the city centre, demolished in order to accommodate something new and strange and ultramodern – the work seems to involve a lot of tunnelling and pouring of concrete. Maybe in a year or two or three we will see the results of all this industry.
We found Colin sitting under a sun umbrella in the rain in Plaza de Verduras, his usual lunchtime spot, and swopped comments on various news stories, principally concerning the Spanish royal family. The king has gone into hospital for surgery, presumably on the hip that he put out of action during his ill-fated elephant-hunting trip. Various newspapers are calling for his abdication, on the grounds that he will be out of action for about six months. Now, I know he’s always been quite a hands-on king but surely he isn’t essential to decision making in the running of the country. If a body is needed as a figurehead, there’s always Prince Felipe. Should he immediately become king? Thereby hangs another tale. Rumours are rife that all is not well between Felipe and his Letizia. Is a divorce imminent? Oh dear, it never rains but it pours. The house of Borbón is still having a bad time.
We, on the other hand, had a very nice time. Our boy and his lady had booked themselves into Hotel Ruas, just on the corner of Plaza de Verduras so they were able to find us without problem. We took ourselves off to a restaurant at Cinco Ruas, a bit of the old part of Pontevedra where five roads come together, hence the name, and tucked into a range of tapas – zamburiñas, croquetas, pulpo, tortilla, setas al ajillo – washed down with a bottle of Albariño. All good stuff.
Eventually we all said our goodbyes. The day after tomorrow the boy and his lady go to Santiago and eventually back to London. We, in the meantime, are spending the next few days running around finalising this and that before we also head back to the UK for a while.
The sun came out as we travelled back to Vigo on the train. Which is all good, as I need to walk out now with the computer to find a place with free wifi in order to post this blog. Another sunset photo coming up.
No, we still haven’t managed to set up a proper connection here in our Vigo flat. That’s another story which may or may not be told tomorrow.
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