Tapas Tour - Santiago de Compostela Spain (September 2024)

 

We signed up for a Tapas Tour in the evening we arrived in Santiago de Compostela. I thought we would be going to a place and tasting different tapas. I was wrong. We met Carlos, an architect, and he took us to visit four different places to try different tapas. On the way, he was explaining the historical significance of Santiago de Compostela. He was the city's spokesman and also an evangelist for the Galicia Region.

Carlos asked why people are coming to Santiago de Compostela from all directions. I thought it was an obvious reason for the action. But, he explained that in ancient times, the Finisterre was considered to be the end of the land, at least in Europe. So people who worshipped the sun wanted to come to see the setting sun. James came and walked from Padron to evangelize to those sun worshippers. 

One thing we found quite interesting was that the sun that sets in Finisterre is rising in Japan. Logically it was feasible on certain dates.

Like many other regions and states, Galicia used to be a separate kingdom, a lot larger than the current state territory. Galician people are the Celts, different from the Spaniards. So their ancestors are like Ireland, Wales, and Scottish people. Galicia used to be a lot larger in land size but was cut back after Portugal lost a war against Spain, during which Galicia stood with Portugal. Portugal means Porto da Galicia or Galicia's port. It made sense. 

Carlos took us first to a restaurant where we tasted red mussels with tiger sauce. We must have been hungry. We were too busy eating to take a photo. Here is a photo that is the closest to what we tasted. Tapa originated from something to eat that covered the glass of drink. 

The second place was to taste the green pepper of Padron. We tried it elsewhere but a whole dish full of green peppers was a different flavor. Each tapa was served with a drink.

The third place was to taste the grilled octopus tapas. It was quite tasty.

 

The fourth and last place was his own shop where we tasted almond cake with a shot of hard liquor. Almond cake is one of the regions's flavors not to miss, Carlos said. He offered four choices to choose from.

After tasting tapas and a dessert at four places, we felt quite full. It was a meal. We enjoyed the tour. - Jeffrey