Galicia is quite simply one of most picturesque areas of Spain I have visited

After residing for so many years in the dryer, hotter south, one really notices the change in climate, vegetation, atmosphere and old-worldy charm so similar to the villages of Ireland or a small hamlet in Britain.

Galicia has really everything to offer: it is clean and green; it offers a pleasant climate throughout spring and summer; the coastline is dotted with picturesque villages and small quaint harbours; most of Spain's best beaches are to be found in this area; and lush meadows and orchards are abound.

Driving around the countryside and coastline is a real pleasure, with fantastic views from almost every corner of the province, and of course a word on Galicia would not be complete without mentioning the incredible selection of super fresh seafood and fine wines on offer in almost every cafeteria, restaurant
and tapas bar in Galicia.

One of the prettiest towns in Galicia would have to be O Grove.

O Grove is one of Galicia's many charming fishing villages, and due to its situation on the eastern side of the headland which faces the mainland it is protected from the tidal force of the Atlantic Ocean.

It has a gentle personal charm endearing to all visitors, there are a good smattering of restaurants to suit all prices, and most of them with one thing in common: seafood. It's everywhere, and so fresh it basically walks onto the plate by itself.

As you walk along the beaches in the area as the tide recedes, you will come across cockles, clams, shrimps and small crabs laying in clean golden sands of the Rios.

Be careful though not to get the urge to fill up a bag to take away, as that is not allowed. This true treasure of the sea is jealously guarded by the ladies who work in the local cooperatives making their living cultivating this local delicacy.

One strange occurrence was that the locals understood my Spanish, Andalucian twang included, which is not always the case in other parts of Spain.

I would highly recommend a trip out into the Rios on one of the many comfortable glass-bottom boats that take sightseers out to the mussel and oyster platforms. Included in the trip is a plate of freshly harvested and cooked mussels washed down with a cold glass of Ribero (local young white wine) ... Delicious.

Situated in the middle of the Rias Baixas region, some 25km west of Galicia's capital Pontevedra.

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In other articles i have talked about lamprey and seafood, but apart from these kinds of fishes in the Rías Baixas there are also molluscs and common fishes. How you can see, we have a wide range of fishes and various gastronomy.

Among the mollucs, calamari and octopus outsantd. There is a speciality of octopus called "pulpo á feira", and should you know everybody who comes here to taste it, eventually they like it. The recipe is based on boiling the octopucs and then it is served in a wood dish salted with red peper.

Calamari is also very tasteful in this area. It is served in many diferent ways i am not going to enumerate them here. But if you come to Spain, overall to the south or to the north, try in the restaurants a "tapa" of calamari. I'm sure you could not stop eating it.
Finallly, i have to talk about common fishes as sardines, turbots, sea bass or monkfish. All this fishes live in the sea with the exception of the sardine. Some of them are more delicious than others but anyway not everybody likes the same, so one of them you would like.

Furthur information about Rías Baixas in the website www.riasbaixas.org

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