Tales from the Sea - Part 1

Fresh crab with eggs

A long time ago, I kind of did the famous 'Camino de Santiago' also known as Way/Path/Trail of St. James, Route of Santiago de Compostela or Road to Santiago. This is meant to be a spiritual trip and all routes ( from Spain, France and Portugal) or Pilgrim roads lead to the shrine of the Apostle St James, in the awe inspiring Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, in N.W. Spain. You can also take it as a way to commune with nature as you walk or cycle across swathes of countryside and even as a personal challenge to yourself as you venture into an unknown landscape, away from technology and creature comforts. 

Ok, so mine was not the hardcore version, rather, it was to take the train and then the plane as the trip got further west, returning each time to Barcelona to pick up the kids, go to work etc but hey, I still did the trip and stopped at many places and ate THE most divine food...

So once Santiago is reached, for those for whom it is anticlimatic, you can prolong the trip by going about 80kms more, to a place called Finisterre or Earth's end. Not a very beautiful place as such but with a beautiful harbour and some excellent restaurants, a perfect way for a foodie to end this trip...

Finisterre

..and have what I had, a seafood FEAST! For Galicia is known for its seafood and oh my! This crab was raw and fresh and the eggs just popped in your mouth.

Crab heaven

Followed by razor clams which were small and so sweet, I could have eaten another serving easy peasy.

Razor clams

Don't you just love these variegated scallops (wonderfully called 'zamburiñas' in Spanish) grilled with a garlic/ parsley oil? 

Variegated scallops

Back in Barcelona, I continue my love affair with these wonderful scallops and had some 'smoked' ones with a tomato chutney - sublime!

Smoked scallops with tomato chutney

Talking of seafood, how, I mean HOW can I forget the wonderful mussels which I ate in Brussels, not just once but many times. 

Mussels in Brussels