La Coruna! The first thought after leaving the beautiful city of Dublin was about the temperature change that we would have. In addition to the changing climate everyone was welcoming the sun and the heavenly blue sky on our sailing days.

The naturally well positioned harbor of La Coruna was used by the Phoenician, Celts and later by the Romans. The Romans build the Hercules tower, which is a lighthouse that is located in the north of the city and stands as a memorial of the ancient Roman times. In the 14th and 15th century the city developed into a major station of the famous pilgrim's journey by way of Santiago de Compostela. In the year of 1588 the Spanish Armada stopped in the harbor of Ferrol (La Coruna) and as a result of that Sir Francis Drake, from the British navy, attacked the city in 1589 and did not succeed.

Arriving at noon on a beautiful day we had a chance to leave our ship for a short visit in the late afternoon with our shorts and t-shirts put on to enjoy the mild climate. The first impressions of the city were the exotic palm trees growing along one of the main roads and the dramatic friendliness of the North Spanish people. Walking with friends through the small streets in the old downtown made it feel like a vacation. These are the times you remember: the difficulties you have communicating with minimum knowledge of the Spanish language and the complex street system that makes you sweat to find the right way back to the vessel.

Visiting the Hercules tower and having an amazing time at the beach on a sunny day is just one of many highlights we experienced, but our trip to the world famous pilgrim city Santiago de Compostela was incredible and definitely worth a mention.

Our forty minute train ride was a good way to get to see the magnificent Spanish landscape. We visited the well-known Cathedral in the city centre which amazed us with its inside and outside architecture and design. After Mr. Beatty said a few educating sentences we were free to spend our time as we wished until our curfew allowed us to meet in the hotel we stayed in for one night. This was for all of us very exciting; sleeping in a bed, not hearing the ship's generators noise and taking long and hot showers were now available for us! After the hotels breakfast we did the same hike that the pilgrims would do in which they would see the city of Santiago for their first time. After a few troubles finding the right way, an old local woman helped us out and we had a satisfying view on the end of our hike. The view over the valley in which the city was located was magnificent and I will never forget how we were sitting as a united group together on the peak of the hill by the pilgrim monument.

Walking through the small and shady streets from the medieval times in Santiago and enjoying the typical Spanish paellas are worth writing home about. Arriving safely home on the vessel and thinking back, I can for sure say that this port was a big success for each one of us.