Tui catedral and an error of timing

The Catedral de Santa María de Tui is beautiful and holds a dramatic position at the top of the hill from which the old city cascades.

Building began in the 11th century, resulting in a late Romanesque structure said to be modelled in part upon the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

The building was modified in the 13th century, adding the Gothic western facade (first picture above), said to be the first gothic work on the Iberian peninsula. The cloister was added at a similar time, the only Gothic cloister preserved in all Galicia.

The lower, internal supporting arches throughout the nave and transepts were also Gothic additions.

After getting my credencial stamped, I qualified for the slightly reduced entry price, which included audioguide in slightly stilted English, but it explained all one needed to know about the cathedral. Except, that is, the reason for the plastic baubles festooned across the nave, which didn’t seem to go with anything else.

After leaving the cathedral, I found a comfortable spot in a bar to try and catch up on my blogging.

I had been keeping my eye on my watch because my albergue was due to shut the external door at 10pm, and I set off back when I thought I had plenty of time to return in time.

What I had failed to factor in was that, unlike my phone, my watch was still on Portuguese time (WEST).

By 9.50pm WEST, it was in fact 10.50pm CEST in Spain. I was therefore too late to get back in.

After hanging about by the door and banging on the door, to see if anyone would come, I realised I was not going to enjoy the delights of the plastic mattress and paper sheet inside.

After my initial panic subsided, I looked at the options. There did not appear to be any hotels or similar in Tui with 24 hour receptions, or at least not that had any space. I realised of course that although it was by now after 11pm in Spain, it was still an hour earlier on the other side of the Miño/Minho, back in Valença.

Booking.com showed a couple of possible hotels which were still open, the closest of which was about 3km away, across the bridge. I tried to find a taxi or Uber to take me there but to no avail. I had little option but to set off, in my flip flops and otherwise bare feet. Whilst flip flopping back to the bridge and Portugal, I booked a room and gave my eta, which was accepted.

When I finally staggered into reception, I at least had my passport to hand and a phone charger but no other luggage - which was of course safely inside the albergue.

I then set about working out how to get back to the albergue in time to pack etc and get ready to leave before the 8am cut off. I booked a pre-ordered Uber, in good time to walk back if it failed to show.Read more