Galicia is defined by the sea and the granite rock which compose its environment.  The sea provides a bounty of food and a mild, wet climate which allowed prehistoric man to live comfortably by Galicia's rias (bays).  Palm trees live happily in an unprotected environment all the way from La Coruna to Vigo.   During August of 2003, the temperature hovered around 75 degrees and the sun shone 29 of 31 days.

Besides a natural backdrop for the coast, granite is used to build homes, streets, water systems, sculpture, and even vineyard supports!  The two constant themes of sea and rock create an atmosphere of gentle, solid living.  

The old live naturally beside the young, be they buildings, cities, boats, or people.  Archaeological remains such as the old town in  Combarro, pictured right, are surrounded by modern high-rise apartments and high-volume motorcycles and automobiles. 

The Galician people are industrious and prosperous. Our Spanish friends informed us that 70% of the dwellings in Spain are owned by the occupants, a statistic they claim is reversed in the rest of Europe.  We discovered a strong, emerging middle class which should provide both economic and political stability in the future.   

Stores, especially ferreterias, hardware stores which we visited regularly, were well stocked with quality goods.  No matter what we sought ashore in our broken Spanish, we succeeded in purchasing what we needed.  This included extra Mercury dinghy keys in Vigo, an item we have no idea how to purchase in the US. 

Living in an historically Catholic country, the Spanish family is the center of the culture.  Schools, "parques infantile", and children's shops were abundant, no matter how far off the beaten track we wandered.  Families return to their parental homestead during holiday periods to visit with family and party with friends.   Madrid is "out-of-business" from August 1st to September 15th.

August is traditionally a holiday period for the Spanish which means that residents of the larger Spanish cities flock to the coastal regions to avoid the interior's heat.  Each town or village hosts a Fiesta, which normally celebrates the patron of the village or area.  The resulting festivities can include required daily band processions announcing the day as a fiesta day, street markets, carnival rides, music and dance concerts and, most of all, fireworks.