We set off this morning from A Guarda on the fairly short walk further up the coast to to Oia.
A fairly large lunch yesterday meant no great desire for a big dinner so we had a couple beers sitting enjoying the view of the town and the harbour before heading up to a town square where a large screen was showing the French Open tennis and the Portugal vs Spain Nations League final. It was very much a family occasion with locals of all ages filling the square.
Due to its geographical location and the confluence of the Miño Riverand the Atlantic Ocean, A Guarda has both small river and small marine beaches. The beaches of O Muiño, and A Lamiña, are salt water when the tide rises and fresh water when the tide goes down.
As we walked out of A Guarda, and a last look back at the pretty town, we passed the Museum of the Sea (I tiny museum showing fishing gear and shells from around the world) and past a pilgrims statue sitting on the ever present scalop shell.
Even though this a short day, the path was still varied. We walked through some small hamlets, along the coast for a while the ascended up onto the hillside for stretches of walks through wooded areas and alongside a (not too busy) main road. We caught up with a group from Tasmania (Husband, wife and 2 sisters) that we talked to yesterday. He asked if we wouldn’t mind him walking a bit with us to give his ears a rest from the constant chatter of 4 women. We were happy to oblige and walked with him as far as the next cafe when duty took over and he went back to his group.
A few more spectacular views and we found ourselves in Oia where Whit Monday mass and celebrations were in full swing. The Mass could be heard from quite a distance outside town – we didn’t see but think the church gardens were also full of celebrants. There was a school band preparing to play and apparently this evening will be live music and dancing.
Today was short and tomorrow is only a little bit longer as we head further north to Baiona.
