Galicia: Spain's Hidden Gem of Witchcraft and Wizardry

To See is to Believe…

Galicia may not have a place on your list of upcoming destinations, but in a country still working through its identity crisis (Madrid wanting to be London, Barcelona just wanting to be alone), the autonomous region in North-West Spain has managed to carve out its own little niche as the land that time forgot. Relying upon its wedding to traditions of superstition and witchcraft to attract tourists, the region is able to differentiate itself from the rest of the country and it’s only a matter of time before it starts to pay off. Here’s why the region why Galicia may well be one of the most underrated destinations in Europe in 2017!
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The seafront town of Caion bathed in sunset

First off, let’s sort out that empty stomach!

Let’s face it, travelling on an empty stomach is not only undesirable, it may as well be impossible. Luckily, Galicia has you covered. It’s location along the Costa da Morte (coastline of death) may sound ominous but we like to think that it is your hunger that is being killed rather than the countless shipwrecks the rocky coast is famous for… totally makes us feel more at ease when jumping into the sea. It is here, in the most reclusive region of Spain that you will experience the true Spanish cuisine as restaurants such as the famous O Fogar do Santiso near Santiago serve up culinary delights such as octopus cooked in the traditional style of this maritime state. The only thing you may struggle with is saving space for desert!

Just a castle on an island in a bay

Liquid courage anyone?

I mean, what kind of holiday isn’t paired with a healthy glass (or three) of a local drink? With a rich history of wine production in the Rias Baixas, Galicia has you covered, all you have to do is decide white or red? If however wine is not to your fancy, be sure to take a swig of the locally produced orujo, a herbal liquor usually served after lunch to get you ready for the afternoon’s activities.

The land of witchcraft and wizardry

Hogwarts may be where they learn their craft, but Galicia is definitely where witches go to perform their spells! This superstition is perhaps best observed at the burning of the queimada, an alcoholic drink set on fire in a clay cauldron whilst a centuries’ old incantation is sung over it, calling for the drink to rid the recipients of the devil that threatens them… Think Macbeth, but with people videoing it on their camera-phones. Interestingly, this obsession with superstition, witches and owls goes hand-in-hand with the fervent religious sentiment in the region in which every village has their own Church, Saints’ holidays and Catholic practices. It is this blend of the two that makes the Gallego culture uniquely fascinating!

Wander-Lust

With a blend of both small cities (La Coruna, Vigo) and rural villages, it is perhaps no surprise then that Galicia is perfect for a small escape from the realities of a stressful life. However, while its water-filled forest areas such as Verdes and volcanic spa pools in Ourense (we promise not all of the water is from the rain!) are perfect for taking a relaxing hike in, it is in the Camino de Santiago that the region has attracted worldwide attention. Through the promise of good food, great wine and a true escape from reality, El Camino (the world’s 3^rd largest pilgrimage) attracts thousands of walkers every year to its romantic Cathedral where locals profess to have the remains of St. James buried. With various starting points that can make the route last anywhere from 5 to 35 days, the Camino de Santiago is the ultimate form of escapism, forcing walkers to live off the generosity of others in communal hostels and what can be attained in cafés along the way.

Bring your dancing shoes!

Great so you’ve had your fill of nature and food for the day and just want to dance… Perfect. Forget those dingy bars and clubs that you’re used to because Galicia in the summer has an ace up its sleeve. Throughout the summer months, every village has its own little party to celebrate the passage of time, bringing in a live band or two and an open-air bar designed specifically to get both locals and visitors dancing. Arrive around midnight to get a hang of the Latin flavour as well as a few early drinks in before jumping in. With many fiestas lasting until late morning the next day, it may be an idea to pick up some churros for breakfast before moving on!

The finishing line of the Camino de Santiago

The January Sales.. It's Time to Treat Yo'Self!

Back to normality? Pfft, not without these goodies!

So, with December coming to a close over the weekend, the January sales are well and truly underway. This means that, not only has a new excuse arisen to treat yourselves (as if we needed another!), but that it is also time to start thinking about those New Year’s resolutions and what destinations they will take you to! With that in mind we thought that we would give you a rundown of 5 travel goodies to pick-up this sale season!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and tumblr for all the latest goings on and let us know what your travel essentials are!

Not even a gloomy Hangzhou sky could ruin your holiday with these in your bag! 

4-Way USB Charger

Let's face it, we would be lost without our gadgets. While travellers of years passed would have panicked as they realised their only map had just been torn to shreds in their rucksack, our generation reserve that kind of reaction for when the warning, 5% battery left* notification pops up on our phones. This is especially troubling while abroad as, not only are our phones both a map and a source of information, but there is often a worrying scarcity of plugs to charge them at. This is where this little gem comes in. Having bought one for the Camino de Santiago where there is usually about 1 socket for every 15 people, it has quickly become my go-to charger, allowing me to charge up to 4 things at once through its various inputs and hey, don't need all 4? Offer one up to a fellow traveller and save them the heart attack the next day!

Can you imagine not having enough battery to take shots of sights like these?

Spotify Premium

Okay so you've got your gadgets charged up, now all you have to do is survivor that bus/ train/ plane ride, and here's where Spotify comes in. With the removal of ads and the ability to download playlists to your phone to be able to be played offline, not only guarantees to brighten up your journeys, but allows you to brighten up any day by providing the soundtrack to your adventure. Get bored of your songs? That's fine, just check in at a Wi-Fi hotspot and download a tonne more. Just try not to get too distracted and nearly miss your flight (we are urm totally not speaking from experience…).

Artwork works best with good company

Foldable raincoat

We all love to think that our travels are going to contain nothing but sunshine but, well unfortunately, rain is a bit of a thing. Despite this however we here at latte wanderer often forgot to pack a raincoat, opting to hope for the best than prepare for the worst (well that and we could just never find the space in our bag after fitting that second fancy shirt, just in case…). That was until we picked up one of these raincoats. Thin enough to fold into any space in your bag yet waterproof enough to protect you from the rain, coats such as these are sure to keep you out and about while the weather stands against you.

Not even the rain can keep you away

Quick-dry towel

As with the USB charger, this one is relevant to everyone as, no matter where you’re staying, you can always do with a towel. After all, according to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “a towel is the most important item a Hitchhiker can carry” (wow, we feel old right now)! However, unlike their cumbersome equivalents, these towels are both lightweight and able to fit into any small gap that may exist in your bags. Add to that their uncanny ability to dry in a matter of minutes and you have a perfect companion for any hiking trip or holiday where you may be taking your own!

Skyroam

Okay so with the towel, raincoat, charger and Spotify sorted you are now ready to go on an adventure. You’re prepared for poor weather, limited accommodation and troubling days which leaves only one thing... going online. While we love the feeling of checking out of reality while away from home, there are moments where an internet connection is needed (and not just to make friends jealous with your Instagram pictures)! With public Wi-Fi often tough to find and usually unreliable, Skyroam is a viable alternative. With pricing around $8 for a 24hr day-pass that provides an unlimited and secure internet connection, Skyroam promises to keep you connected throughout your journey as and when you need it.

Some pictures you just want to share ASAP

3 Simple ideas to Save Money on your Travels!

Attention: Adventures needed!

Travelling, I’m sure you know, is a hell of a lot of fun but, unfortunately, can also be extremely expensive. For this reason, we here at Latte Wanderer decided we would fill you in on a few different techniques you can use to shave a few pounds off of your next trip! After all, the more money you save on flights and accommodation, the more you can spend on the experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

As usual, be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the latest news as well as Rakbo, a new online magazine I write for full of articles and advice on topics from travelling to studying to interior design!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles:

Right so you’ve chosen your destination and already have an idea of what you want to see, now you just have to actually get there. The best way to get there often depends on where it is that you’re going. Within America for example the best way Is often to drive. Joining together with friends and driving across America on your holiday will not only save you money (especially when you factor in just how expensive planes are on that side of the world!), but can also be a great way to give you more freedom en-route, allowing you to take detours to other points of interests! Thankfully, in more connected continents such as Europe and Asia, you have a number of alternatives when it comes to travelling, including high-speed trains and low-cost flights.

By now it is fairly common for people to use price-comparison sites such as Skyscanner in order to find the best deals on flights but price guarantees and money-back schemes are often less-used. Companies like Expedia that offer to match your lowest price (and give you a voucher off your next trip) on anything from planes, trains and hotels are can be combined with money-back sites such as Quidco that give you cashback for going through them. It may only be few pounds but every penny counts, not to mention that you can earn miles with each purchase! Oh, it’s also worth doing your checking on incognito mode, sites that track cookies can tell if you’re looking for flights and are more likely to give you a higher cost…

For people in the UK you can also pop down to your local train station and pick up a 16-25 railcard that gives you 33% off train tickets (London to Edinburgh for less than £40? Yes please!).

Lake by the roadside in the Scottish Highlands

Accommodation:

Unfortunately, accommodation can often the most expensive part of a trip, adding up as the days go on. Fortunately for those of us who travel with the intention of our accommodation being solely a base from which we can go on our adventure, it becomes a lot easier to put up without the little luxuries on offer in hotels in return for more spending money! For people on a shoestring budget, hostels are definitely a good way to go, with companies like YHA (in the UK) providing an extensive range in accommodation throughout the country for cut-prices compared to their hotel counterparts. Alternatively, there is always Airbnb. As I eluded to in a prior article, not only can staying in an Airbnb be a far more interesting way to experience a new place than a standard hotel, but with many of them below £30 a night, it can also be the cheapest!

- Still need convincing? Click here to get £30 off your next Airbnb booking! -  

Courthouse in Oxford, Mississippi

Packing:

So you’ve sorted out your flights at a cut-price rate and snagged yourself some accommodation that doesn’t break the bank. The next step? Your bags. We all love having an outfit for every occasion, but how often do you ever actually wear it all? Airlines are notorious for adding on extra fees for every small detail of you trip, but none is more avoidable than the checked bag cost. It may not seem like much with prices from £20 for the cheapest checked luggage, but when you consider that it may well be half empty for a short city-break and that that price is only one-way, it becomes an avoidable expense that you could easily spend better enjoying your destination!

West Lake, Hangzhou

Why an Airbnb may be the way forward on your next trip

 Searching for accommodation for your next holiday?

So you’ve booked your flights, next step? Accommodation. Targeting a combination of tourists and business-travelers, hotels are undoubtedly the easiest and most luxurious way to travel, but personally, unless a resort holiday is what you want, we would book an Airbnb over a hotel 90% of the time. Yes, there is a little more research that needs to go into booking an Airbnb over a hotel (pictures, location, reviews of the property as well as reviews of the host themselves) but, staying in one can be so much more rewarding than staying in a conventional hotel and, for around the same price as a hostel, should definitely be strongly considered whatever your budget. 

Here’s why…

Location:

The general consensus is that hotels are dominant in ‘tourist’ areas, but what if you don’t want to be surrounded by tourist amenities? With a wealth of options that span the entirety of the city (spots in Mexico City range from city-centre flats to out of town villas), Airbnb properties ensure that you are never too far from anything you want to see. The fact that these are houses owned by locals also means that you have a higher likelihood of finding a bed on your more remote travels, something never more clearly seen than in the Scottish Highlands where a brief look in the area surrounding Smoo Cave shows a solitary SYHA hostel that seems to be fully booked from now until eternity or several close Airbnb options.

Think this dog fancies a game of fetch?

Price:

Now of course there are going to be luxury apartments on Airbnb in every city that are comparable to the prices of hotels, but in general it is fairly clear that prices on Airbnb are much more reasonable than their hotel counterparts. Take Edinburgh for example. A single night in the ‘cheap’ Ibis hotel in the city centre ranges between £65 to £130 for a room while an Airbnb would set you back £70 for an entire flat, fitting 4 guests. Add to that the convenience of having full access to amenities (a host in Memphis provided unlimited ice-tea in the fridge among other things) and a kitchen and the choice becomes obvious! Not only is this great as it saves you some pennies in your pocket, but it also frees up a lot more cash for you to spend throughout your holiday on the things that actually matter, the experiences!

 

Where better to relax under the stars than this High Desert House in California?

Expertise:

So this one will change depending on if you’re renting out an entire flat or just a room, but the expertise of your host cannot be ignored, after all they’re locals in the place your visiting! While all hotels will have a concierge service/ office staff there to assist you with your questions, you’ll rarely find them recommending anything different to the guides designed for tourists. Your Airbnb host? They’re experts in where the locals go. Best coffee shop to relax in? They’ve been there. Non-tourist bars? They drink there. A bipartisan opinion on an attraction? They’re your best bet. It is often when you go off the beaten path that you discover the heart and soul of the city and who best to show you the way than someone who is an active part of the local culture.

Dairsie Castle is where you go to live out your Game of Thrones fantasies?

Uniqueness:

Don’t get me wrong, there are some beautiful hotels around the world, but unless you are showing me the Hilton in Hawaii (it has penguins in the foyer, it wins in everything), they all kind of look and feel the same: glass structures with floor upon floor of corridor, each housing countless near-identical rooms, there’s just no character to them. That is where Airbnb steps in. Aye, many may be standard apartments but look beyond those and you’ll find yourself with the opportunity of staying inside a campsite in the desert, a cave-dwelling used in Pirates of the Caribbean, a dog-shaped house and even a Scottish castle… How many people can say that they’ve slept in a medieval castle?! 

This house is literally all you ever wanted as a kid...

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Travel with a Purpose: El Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago. The Way of St. James. “A Really Long Walk”. 

The route has been called by many names, but the journey to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain has been around for centuries. Officially the third most visited Christian site in the world, the popularity of El Camino has exploded in recent years, taking advantage of an upsurge in adventure-seekers and offering an experience unlike any other trip I’ve been on.

As always, be sure to follow us on instagram to keep up to date with the goings on over Christmas!

It’s going to hurt…

Now this may seem like an obvious fact, but it’s one that you must see. The Camino is not easy. You are essentially carrying enough clothes and necessities on your back for anywhere between a week (El Camino Ingles) and a month (El Camino Frances), all the while walking an average of seven hours a day, much of it on hilly mountain tracks.

… but it’s so, so worth it.

Stereotypical we know, but believe me, walking into the square in front of the Cathedral in Santiago is a feeling unlike any other. Described as magic by some and addictive by all, the otherworldly feeling of accomplishment and bliss that you feel as you realise that you have completed the journey will instantly make you want to do another.

Light streaming through the arch of an abandoned monastery, somewhere in Northern Portugal

Slum it!

In recent years, the huge expansion experienced by the Camino has meant that it has developed some more ‘comfortable’ arrangements including nicer hotels and paradors for peregrinos to sleep in as well as taxi services that take your rucksacks to your various nightly stops but honestly, unless you’re desperate, don’t do it. So much of the Camino experience takes place in the albergues. These cheap hostels may be devoid of many creature comforts (if it has plugs and warm water be thankful!) and there will always, ALWAYS, be a snorer who keeps the entire room awake, but that is one of the best parts of the trip. It is at these hostels where you create bonds with your fellow walkers, forming groups to go to the bars, sharing tales of unique moments that have happened along the way and, ultimately, goes some way towards creating the community vibe that makes saying goodbye at the end of the trip somewhat harder than it should be.

The Camino becomes a way of life to many of the locals who live on the route, Galicia

Don’t be a stranger.

So much of the joys of the Camino are because of the company you pick up along the way. Countless a rainy day has become a blissfully enjoyable walk largely thanks to the stories of my fellow walkers. These are not only your main source of entertainment along the way (lets face it your iphone is not going to last eight hours) but also encouragement to ward off the pain. Not to mention purveyors of information, on my last Camino I turned a corner to see a group of ten pilgrims all offering different forms of aid to a poor girl suffering a blister! Say hi to your fellow walkers and I can guarantee that your final photo album will be filled with random strangers.

Waking the fortress that separates Spain and Portugal

Learn the lingo.

No, I don’t mean walk around with a Spanish phrasebook in your pocket (although it would certainly be helpful with the route cutting through mostly rural areas where the majority of people will speak minimal, if any, English), but simply “Buen Camino”. The phrase, literally meaning “have a good Camino” will be imprinted in your memory by the end of the second day. Repeated at every coffee stop, church, hostel, shop and restaurant as well as coming at you from every local and pilgrim you see, the phrase begins to mean everything from “hello”, to “goodbye” and “have a nice day”.

Don't ignore photo opportunities, Spanish-Portuguese border crossing

Enjoy the scenery, Galicia

 

Finally, enjoy the journey!

Perhaps more so than any other form of ‘tourism’ – if it can indeed be called that, the Camino is all about the journey and not the destination so take advantage of it. Yes it isn’t a walk in the park but it’s not a race, enjoy it. Take a break at a fountain to take in the artwork, stop off at a small town to pose for a picture in front of a statue or monument, wander around a church, have a drink of the local wine and treat yourself, have that extra slice of cake! Santiago de Compostela is beautiful but it will be the dingy hostels, beautiful scenery and unique characters that dominate your stories as you bore your friends back home rather than pictures of the finish line.

Go out and explore the surroundings of your overnight stays, street festival in Pontevedra