Fiesta in Camarinas

Boats decorated for the fiesta at Camarinas

Tuesday 17^th July. We ended up motor sailing for most of the nine hour passage down the coast to Camarinas as there was very little wind. Set in a ria of the same name, Camarinas is a small fishing harbour surrounded by pine clad hills, rocky outcrops and unspoilt countryside. A bit like a Scottish loch, but warmer!

We were welcomed by a series of loud explosions and soon discovered the town was four days into a five day fiesta. The boats in the harbour had all been decorated with flags and greenery and there was a fair, street stalls selling clothes, food and gifts and two massive stages that wouldn’t look out of place at a rock concert.

Our friends Richard and Rowena had arrived earlier, and we all decided to go out in the evening and enjoy the festivities. We were soon tucking into succulent pork ribs that had been barbecued on a big open fire, with local bread and red wine to wash them down. After dinner we wandered back to the stages but at 11pm they were deserted, so we assumed that there wouldn’t be a show that night. We were wrong! The music, which was a mixture of pop and rock, started at midnight (when we were tucked up in bed), and carried on until 6am the next morning. The Galicians certainly know how to party.