Follow Craig's Journey in Galicia
  • WELCOME
  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • GALICIA
  • PHOTO ALBUMS
  • CONTACT

School's out for Summer

28/8/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
The first win of the season is always a cause for celebration.

‘Town have won,’ I announced, ‘1-0 away to Millwall.’

‘That’s nice dear,’ replied Melanie, trying to sound interested.

‘Do you fancy going out for a drink to celebrate?’ I asked.

‘That sounds like a good idea,’ replied Melanie.

Within half an hour we were heading off to the bar at Os Chancis. It’s not the closest watering hole, but it’s one of our favourites. We ordered a bottle of red wine and relaxed: sipping the wine and soaking up the scenery. 

Customers came and went. The evening slipped by and the sky darkened. From behind the distant mountains, the moon drifted upward into a cloudless night sky. Hundreds of feet below us, dappled patches of silver light danced on the dark water of the river Sil.

‘This is the best hour of the day,’ said Alex, as we stared out across this mystical landscape.

Alex, and his partner Keka, run the bar as part of an outdoor activity centre based in the nearby village
of Rosende. 

http://turismoenlaribeirasacra.com

He had just finished his final shift, captaining their luxury river pontoon. His small launch offers guests a far more intimate and personal experience of the river, than the larger river cruisers.

‘Do you know anywhere nearby that will still be open for dinner?’ I asked.

Other than tapas, at one of the bars in Sober, he thought not; but the mention of food prompted him to tell us about the Escola de Hosteileria in Rosende. 

http://www.fundacionbelarmino.com/

This educational academy provides training for those wishing to enter the hotel and restaurant trades. Throughout the academic year they hold public events, at discounted prices, to allow their students hands-on experience.

We were aware of the academy’s existence; there are signposts in the village, but not its exact location.

‘It’s opposite the lake in Rosende,’ said Alex.

Picture
Surely there couldn’t be a lake in Rosende, the village is situated on a high plateau, but Alex insisted. We thanked him for the information, settled the bill and headed home.

The existence of a secret lake in Rosende had aroused my curiosity. The very next morning we set off in search of this mountain reservoir. We drove through the village and past the church as Alex had
suggested. Before leaving the village we turned left and crept slowly down a narrow lane. A short way along, the asphalt ended and the surface became uneven and potholed. After another 50 metres the track opened up into a small parking area. The place was deserted. We parked in the shade and set off to
explore.

A flight of old, stone steps led upward and away from the car. The morning air was still and warm. A bead of sweat ran down my brow as, with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, we climbed the weathered steps. 
 
What would our climb reveal?

‘Look at that,’ I said in surprise, as I peered over the top step.

Like a mirage in the desert, our eyes feasted on an unimaginable site. A body of water surrounded by conifers and framed against a backdrop of lilac toned mountains, topped with a cloudless, pale-blue sky. 
 
We strolled around the edge of the lake, viewing its natural beauty from every possible angle. On returning to the car, we were greeted by another impressive site: a gracefully ageing Pazo (manor house). Nestled within its extensive grounds was the hospitality academy. This modern building fitted comfortably into its ancient surroundings.

Our doorstep discovery has left me eager for the school term to start and the opportunity to sample some gastronomic delights.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Craig Briggs - A bloke who wrote a book.

    Picture
    Featured Expat Blog
    Blog Expat: living abroad
    We Love Memoirs

    Archives

    December 2020
    October 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All
    Camino Secrets
    Camino Secrets
    Life In Galicia
    News
    Photo Blog
    Travel Articles

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.