Isla Cies and Bayona, Spain
A very interesting wild island off the Western coast of Spain is Isla Cies. A natural preserve since 1980, we saw a good number of endemic plants, many in bloom despite the very dry summer. The island has been visited since time immemorial by different ethnic groups and important historical people, such as Julius Caesar. The oldest settlement dates from the Bronze Age (between 500 to 100 B.C.); later, the Romans were there, and it is even suggested that Julius Caesar was in the vicinity of these rocky shores. Some time later, in the Middle Ages, the Normans arrived to the islands, followed by Benedictine monks and later the Franciscans. Even later, the terrible pirate Sir Francis Drake put in here, followed by Berber pirates, and the islands were abandoned for a long time. So we enjoyed different walks on the island, one way up to the highest lighthouse, another, a Botany walk.
After lunch, we repositioned to Bayona, on the mainland, and visited the lovely city with a great number of colorful small fishing boats like these, as well as an enormous parador or government hotel, surrounded by a very high crenellated castle wall. A good series of local food restaurants are to be found, with a seafood specialty. The weather cooperated with us all day, from a glorious sunrise and a pink rainbow, to a lovely sunset, with the sun glowing in a huge fireball.
A very interesting wild island off the Western coast of Spain is Isla Cies. A natural preserve since 1980, we saw a good number of endemic plants, many in bloom despite the very dry summer. The island has been visited since time immemorial by different ethnic groups and important historical people, such as Julius Caesar. The oldest settlement dates from the Bronze Age (between 500 to 100 B.C.); later, the Romans were there, and it is even suggested that Julius Caesar was in the vicinity of these rocky shores. Some time later, in the Middle Ages, the Normans arrived to the islands, followed by Benedictine monks and later the Franciscans. Even later, the terrible pirate Sir Francis Drake put in here, followed by Berber pirates, and the islands were abandoned for a long time. So we enjoyed different walks on the island, one way up to the highest lighthouse, another, a Botany walk.
After lunch, we repositioned to Bayona, on the mainland, and visited the lovely city with a great number of colorful small fishing boats like these, as well as an enormous parador or government hotel, surrounded by a very high crenellated castle wall. A good series of local food restaurants are to be found, with a seafood specialty. The weather cooperated with us all day, from a glorious sunrise and a pink rainbow, to a lovely sunset, with the sun glowing in a huge fireball.
