Buenas tardes or good afternoon. The weather started out rainy, but by midmorning it was sunny and warm with a gentle breeze.
My first stop this morning was the Igrexa de Santa María de Baiona, reputed to be a must-see for enthusiasts of medieval architecture. It dates back to the 13th century and is an example of the Ogival Romanesque style, which is defined as "a florid style of late Gothic architecture in vogue in France beginning in 1350 until it was superseded by Renaissance architecture during the early 16th century."
This harmonious blend of baroque and Romanesque art serves as the primary place of worship for Baiona's parishioners."
The most interesting feature of the Igrexa de Santa María de Baiona was the large rose window, with a sailing ship in the center.
The far more interesting church was the Chapel of Santa Liberata
Taken mainly from Meet Rural: The chapel of Santa Liberata was built in honour of the martyred daughter of Baiona and the first woman crucified in the world, Santa Liberata. It is in the Italian style and was begun in 1695 by popular subscription to provide a resting place for the mortal remains of Santa Liberata. Legend has it that in the year 119, the consul Catellius ruled in Balcagia, today identified as Baiona, on behalf of Rome. His wife, Calsia, gave birth to nine daughters at the same time, and fearing that this event would be interpreted as a sign of infidelity on the part of her husband, she ordered the wet nurse to throw them into the river Miñor. The wet nurse, disobeying the order, gave them to different families of villagers who educated them in Christianity. In a persecution against them, the nine sisters were brought before Catellius, and once they were identified as his daughters, he tried to convince them to abandon their faith, or they would be tortured according to Roman law. The girls repeatedly refused to renounce their faith, so their father had them martyred and finally killed. Liberata was the first woman in the world to be crucified, although there are legends that claim she was beheaded. Printed on a plaque on the façade of the chapel, I could read the names of all the sisters: Liberata, Xenebra, Victoria, Eumelia, Xermana, Xena, Marciana, Basilia, and Quinteria.
The main altar
The façade of the church features two towers on each side, with a niche in the center containing the image of the crucified Santa Liberata. The altarpiece is also presided over by the scene of her crucifixion and by a series of high-relief medallions representing the martyrdom suffered by her eight sisters.
I have seen these postmen and women all over Spain, delivering the mail on their scooters.
I have seen this brand of clothing in several places in Spain. I first thought it was pajamas, but it is a skirt, a matching blouse, a sweater, and there is even a puffer jacket in this print. Not so sure I like it.
I do, however, love these sneakers. The brand is LauraVita. They were on sale for € 130, which is approximately $151. I didn’t buy them.
Look at this cutie all dressed up.
This monument is dedicated to King Alfonso IX, founder, protector, and benefactor of Baiona. On the pedestal are the words translated as "I will put on you the name of Baiona” which he said as he signed the charter, making Baiona a city.
The plaque reads "HOMENAXE AO MARINEIRO,” which means homage to the sailor. Baiona is an ancient fishing village.
The real world got in my way today. I went to the laundromat. It was a tiny little place with two washing machines and two dryers. Glad to now have enough clean clothes for the rest of my journey.
The beautiful views from the tower of my hotel.
This one was my favorite - to the Glory of God.
Dinner was fabulous. The little white bowl featured those cherry-red olives, and the amuse-bouche was a tomato concoction that was ever so tasty. It was thick enough that it required a spoon. I kept thinking of Dairy Queen blizzards, where they hold the cup upside down. This would have passed the DQ test. Last night, I tried the sour olive oil on my bread, so tonight I chose the sweet one. I honestly liked both. The sweet might have been a tad lighter. I guess they won’t hire me as an olive oil taster.
For my entrée, I ordered Bacalao cacido, hummus y garbanzos fritos, translated as cooked cod, hummus, and fried chickpeas. I didn't think of chickpeas as being a gourmet-worthy food. Shame on me. That hummus was to die for, smooth, silky, and full of flavor.
But the star of the meal was the Coulant fluid aux amandes or tarta flutta de almendras. When I cut into the cake, for lack of a better word, it flowed like a lava cake into a puddle of richness, similar to hot fudge but not chocolate and not quite caramel sauce. The vanilla bean ice cream was the perfect foil. If downhill is the orthopedic's dream and uphill is the cardiologist's dream, then this was clearly the dentist's dream. My tongue wanted to sing the Hallelujah Chorus. It was honestly that good.
So I waddled back to my room, and now I have to get ready for tomorrow.
Good night and God Bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment