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Galicia, Spain has several lighthouses along its Costa da Morte (Death Coast) in Finisterre to protect sailors and ships from wrecking on the wild beaches. After a two day visit to the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela, we traveled farther north in Galicia to visit friends in Camarinas. While there, our friends wanted to show us a couple of these historic lighthouses. One was the Cape Vilan Light which is close to their town ( which is a center of fishing and lacemaking). The lighthouse has an octagonal stone tower of 341' in height with a glass dome and lantern. It was begun about 1896. It is the oldest electric lighthouse in Spain. We arrived and the waves crashed on the rocks and the shore below the lighthouse. It was a wild area. Our friends wanted us to climb the spiral staircase - my husband complied. I knew that for some reason, my legs would “freeze” and not let me advance as had happened before in lighthouses so I politely declined. They ascended and went out on the top deck to wave to us. I was somewhat annoyed that I hadn’t gone but standing on solid ground felt good to me! I was told that the view was amazing and you could see for miles. The area was desolate and very beautiful. The lighthouse continues to protect the sailors and their ships. The Cape (rock) area is an ecologic treasure as there are many birds that nest in the huge rocks and there are many regional paints to see. The grounds are well kept and this is a great historic experience.

After mysterious lights led a 9th-century hermit to St. James’s remains, King Alfonso II ordered that a chapel be built on the site. Since the Middle Ages, the magnificent cathedral has been the destination of pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago. Stand outside to watch the peregrinos, exhausted at the end of their 800-kilometer hike, step briefly on a scallop shell embedded in the pavement, then enter the cathedral to visit the saint’s tomb and touch the foot of a statue of him.

If you ask anyone in town where you can eat the best fried octopus fillets, the answer will be: Casa Aleixo! Facing Campanhã train Station, you can’t miss it, and you shouldn’t! Founded by a gentleman from Galicia, it was later bought by Ramiro Gonçalves and is now run by his son, Ramiro Gonçalves. Mr. Ramiro Gonçalves (the father) came up with the idea of doing the fried octopus fillets and to ensure quality he would go daily to Povoa do Varzim (35km North of Porto) to purchase the freshest octopus. And the tradition is kept by his son! Every meal is prepared in the “laboratory” (the kitchen) and wine comes from the “pharmacy” (wine cellar) and at the end of the meal you’ll be asked to move to the “torture chamber”, where you’ll drink coffee and pay the check!

Visiting friends in Camarinas in Galicia, Spain, we toured the seaside town which is also a fishing port. We were given a tour of the sardine factory. This was interesting, but naturally smelly. We watched the ladies make their famous lace designs on beautiful linens as they sat outside their homes and caught up on the local news. We visited the factories where this traditional art is carried on. The speed with which the girls’ work is echoed in the click of their bobbins and reels. We watched several boats come into the port with their fresh catches (fish and seafood are on all local cafe menus). The visit to the shellfish market was very interesting as they hold the crabs and lobsters in large concrete tanks that have sea water flowing though them. The large crabs were succulent and we were told the tanks were the reason. We watched the women go to the town’s main fountain for water even tho’ all the homes have running water. It’s a social tradition. The women just like to do the traditional thing weekly just as their mothers and grandmothers did years ago. A real plus in travel is the opportunity to stay with and mix with the locals. You learn so much and experience that particular town or city in a fuller and more rewarding way.

Corcubión is a pretty little town on Spain‘s west coast. We originally planned on staying for a night before continuing on to Cape Finisterre, but stuck around for three. Corcubión has a number of excellent cafes and restaurants, a quaint downtown, and a beautiful harbor. After snacking on tapas and paella all afternoon, we took an evening stroll on the beach, and got a few lessons in beach fishing.

In the northwestern corner of Spain in the little fishing village of Camarinas (Galicia), there is an old tradition that has been passed down from mother to daughter since the middle ages. It is the art of bobbin lace making. In the middle ages, laces were used to decorate the clothing of mostly the wealthy. In the 18th century, lacemaking was an important industry in Camarinas. But by the 19th and early 20th centuries, lacemaking became less popular. For the past forty years or so (even though women in the village continued to produce lace for their daughters) there has been a huge revival. Historically, Spain produced lace fans and mantillas.Bobbin lace is an especially fine lace. The ladies of Camarinas use ancient designs of roses, fern, leaves,lattice, and more. The method is to place an oblong pillow in front with a cardboard stencil of the design. Then pins are pressed into the cardboard with linen thread (a product of the area). The bobbins are turned left and right and the design progresses. The job usually starts with 5 bobbins and can go up to 50 or more! The lace is very beautiful and delicate. A very interesting attraction where you can purchase lace doilies, pillow cases, aprons, mantillas, fans, place mats, table clothes, etc. There is a Bobbin Lace Museum (Museo do Encaixa de Camarinas) in town that carries samples of historic and traditional designs. There are also the bobbins of Camarinas, and a photo archive. Info: email- museo@blen.net

Grown in Galicia but available all over the country in the summer, ‘pimientos de padrón’ are little green peppers that are one of the most popular seasonal tapas in Spain. If you’re in Barcelona, one of the best place to try this simple-but-definite-sense-of-place dish is in Elisabets, just a couple of blocks off Las Ramblas, in the El Raval quarter. Anywhere in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella district is going to be crowded in summer, but in this unpretentious restaurant, you’ll find a mix of tourists AND neighborhood-residents. The tapas won’t be preciously decorated here, but the portions are generous and the prices are some of the best in the city. My wife and I were hungry, and knowing the usual size of tapas, began ordering a long list--when we got to the fifth dish, our waiter smiled and said “how about if I just get you these to get started, and then you’ll see if you want more.” He laughed as we thanked him later--the portions are about twice what you’ll find in many other tapas bars. The Spanish saying about these peppers: “unos pican, otros no"--some are hot, others not--you’re considered ‘lucky’ if you get one of the spicy ones...but even the not-so-spicy peppers are a flavor-revelation: fruity pepperiness, flash-fried and sprinkled with coarse sea-salt--the evocation of place and season is unmistakable... (Note: on menus you’ll see both “pimientos DE padrón” and “pimientos DEL padrón” printed--don’t let the grammatical detail worry you--the peppers are the same.)

The wind carried us up and past Cariño to Cape Ortegal, where we looked out over the end of the world (and clung to the lighthouse like scarecrow on a stick in the middle of a Tornado). Experiencing the cape in a relentless storm was something I’ll never forget - there were more than a few people unwilling to step out of their vehicles to brave the wind and rain that day - but it’s this view of little Cariño that I’ll never forget. I certainly won’t forget falling down the hill after taking this photo. A tumble never hurt anyone permanently.

The end of The Way, where pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago come to burn their boots and dive into the sea - I think. We didn’t see either, nor did we partake in said events, but it sounds like the sort of thing that would be fun if you arrived with a few bottles of wine. We had not brought wine, and since we had walked all the way from Corcubion, we didn’t feel like burning the boots we needed to wear for the walk back. Anyway, Cape Finisterre is beautiful, and it’s an important stop on The Way. The least you can do is check it out, and burn some of your threads.

Founded as a separate city by King Kazimierz the Great in 1335, Kazimierz became home to a growing Jewish population in the late 15th century, as Jews fled persecution in Western Europe and were welcomed by Polish kings. Today, the district is one of the most important centers of the Jewish diaspora in Europe, with as many as seven surviving synagogues to prove it. Every year in early summer, Kazimierz hosts the largest Jewish culture festival in Europe, drawing musicians and visitors from all over the world. The area is worth exploring year-round, however, as it’s also home to a variety of lively cafés, bars, and pubs as well as several trendy stores along Józefa Street.

Lincoln Center is an iconic landmark featured in TV shows, movies, and countless city tours. It is an artist’s mecca comprised of many buildings, including Avery Fisher Hall, the Julliard School, and The Metropolitan Opera. All of the buildings were designed by different architects. The focal point and largest building in the complex is The Metropolitan Opera which houses a pair of large paintings by Marc Chagall in its interior. While Lincoln Center is beautiful in day light, it’s true beauty is witnessed at night when the lights from inside the buildings highlight the columns and arches made of travertine.

Named for a Dominican-style fishing boat, this open-air restaurant and bar in Punta Cana’s elegant Marina Estates sits on a wooden deck built over the water. Whether you’re seated under the thatched palm roof or the open sky, you’ll have perfect views of the marina as you dine on fresh seafood like grouper ceviche and grilled Caribbean lobster. Also available are Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as caprese salad, spaghetti with pesto, and glazed lamb shank, as well as an extensive list of international wines.

A Ginjinha was the first establishment in Lisbon to commercialize the drink called Ginjinha. Ginjinha is a liqueur made with ginja berries, aguardiente (Portuguese brandy), sugar, water, and cinnamon. Francisco Espinheira, a Galician friar of the Church of Santo Antonio, put together all these ingredients, and the result was this sweet and very good liqueur. In Óbidos, the drink is served in chocolate cups, about the size of shot glasses. (They make a very nice gift.) You can eat the cup after drinking the liqueur, or just pour more into the cup. Before having a drink, visit São Domingos Church. It’s worthwhile.

Spend a night or two in the rustic stone country house at Casa de Lema. After a long day hiking or driving the coast, relax in the common rooms with a book or a movie, or book an authentic Galician dinner prepared with local ingredients by one of the owners.

Tucked inside a renovated former 19th-century factory near Passeig de Gràcia, this temple to Spanish gastronomy is housed in a breathtaking modernist masterpiece, with soaring vaulted ceilings, vintage lighting fixtures, ceramic tiles, and mosaics. Each of the four eateries inside has a distinct design and cuisine: La Llotja specializes in seafood; La Brasería is all about grilled and a la plancha meats; La Paradeta showcases Iberian cheeses and cured meats; and the buzziest spot, La Tapería, serves up hot and cold tapas. The central hubs are the Wine Bar and the Beer Bar, where you can sample a variety of local Catalan drafts. And at the intimate circular Oyster Bar, you can taste famed Galician oysters, as well as caviar, Norwegian salmon, and king crab.