The Magical Ortegal, A Journey Guided by Your heart.
The journey had been long and tiring, but the excitement of escaping the routine and stress of the city kept us going. With every kilometre north, we felt the weight of the last two years of work slowly lift off our shoulders. My partner and I, a paramedic and a nurse respectively, had been fully dedicated to fighting the pandemic. The endless double shifts and constant pressure had left us exhausted, with little time to enjoy life or spend with our young son, Sebastian.
Fernando Rodríguez - Belelle River - Neda
With so much work, the days and months seemed to melt away within the four walls of the hospital. But suddenly, without warning, we were presented with the opportunity to take a few days off. With no concrete plans, in the midst of tremendous emotional chaos and with an irrepressible desire to escape from the big city, we decided to involve little Sebas in the choice of destination. We asked him where he would like to go and his answer was direct and clear: "Mummy, I want to go to the forest".
That's how we decided to get in the car and head north, following little Sebas' intuition, not knowing where this adventure would take us.
We drove for 4 hours, stopping a couple of times to rest, refresh and refuel. Little by little, between one song and the next, almost without realising it, we arrived in Galicia, a land we had heard of as "a magical land" and they were certainly not exaggerating.
The road itself leads you through a very captivating itinerary from emerald green meadows to imposing forests of enviable lushness that stretch as far as the eye can see. In our eagerness to discover beautiful places, we decided to consult Google Maps to find the most northern destinations in Spain. It was then that we first saw the name "Cabo Ortegal" and decided to mark it as our goal, just 100 kilometres and another hour and a half away in our newly inaugurated "karaoke-mobile".
Fernando Rodríguez - Ortigueira/Cariño Ria
It seems funny how exhausted and drained we looked just a few hours ago and how much energy we were giving off now. "And no, it wasn't just the air, it was this land.
With 50 kilometres to go to the cape, the eucalyptus forests completely took over the hills surrounding the road. The eucalyptus trees rose up to form a green wall that danced to the sound of a gentle breeze, welcoming us and guiding us to our destination as they waved their branches. We rolled down the windows to let the delicious scent of the trees fill our lungs with fresh air, reminding us how far we were already from the city and how close we were now to the nature we so longed for.
Finally, we arrived at Cape Ortegal. It was a beautiful coincidence that the sun was on its slow descent towards the horizon, tinting the sky with warm and vibrant colours. The already stunning landscape then took on an even more magical charm in the evening light.
Before our eyes, the waters of the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay embraced each other infinitely and reflected the colours of the sky with warm tones. At our feet, 'Os Aguillóns', silhouetted between the waves, stood like guardians in the middle of the sea, adding a wonderful touch of mystery and adventure to the scenery. To the west, 'Cantís da Cova' rose majestically, covered with a green mantle and defying the sea with its imposing grandeur.
JayLorenzo - Ortegal Cape Lighthouse - Cariño
Amid that celestial spectacle were we, at the foot of the lighthouse that with its intermittent flash is the eternal lookout of the 'Paradise of the Cliffs', accompanied from the east by its indefatigable companion, the 'Estaca de Bares', both stoically guiding the navigators in the darkness.
In that instant, time seemed to stand still. There, under the spell of the sunset, all stress and worries vanished. All that remained was serenity, a connection with nature and a sense of fulfilment at being immersed in such beautiful scenery. I looked at my partner and Sebastian and their amazed faces reflected the beauty of that place and together we embraced, sharing the magic of that moment.
The sunset at Cape Ortegal left an indelible mark on our hearts, reminding us of the importance of stopping to breathe and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. It was a beautiful gift that we will keep forever in our memories, a reminder that even in the most difficult moments, nature always gives us light and hope and is ready to lend us all its energy.
We cannot forget to mention, of course, the true heart of Ortegal: its people. Warm, welcoming and full of hospitality, the Galician people surround you with their smiles and joy. Their love for gastronomy translates into traditional dishes such as 'Pulpo a la Gallega', 'Berberechos a la Cariñesa' or 'Caldo Gallego', delighting our palate and conquering our heart.
During that trip to the north of the north, we realised that Galicia is a place where time seems to pass differently and where the connection with nature and tradition is felt at every moment. Being in Galicia was like receiving a comforting embrace, finding a refuge for our spirit and an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the rest of our lives.
This is Galicia, a little piece of paradise on earth.
