What to Do & See

I might be biased but...the area where we live is absolutely gorgeous. It is full of rocky coastline, mountains, pristine beaches, and Portugal is only an hour drive away.

Below is a google map with pins of places to visit nearby. A full blog post with more details for each pinned area to follow. We hope you enjoy getting to know our little corner of Spain!

Learn Spanish

This part of the blog is to teach our guests about some of the typical Spanish food and culture. Our hope is that when you are out exploring hopefully you can make sense of a menu, ask for drinks and order, if you find yourself in a place without much English.  

Each new word or phrase will be pronounced by Julio and we'll have a short conversation about it in relation to Spanish customs and culture. We hope you enjoy!  

Cies Islands

If you only do one thing while you are here in Spain, make it this,
 a trip to the Cies Islands. 

The Cies Islands are a national park, and protected islands with no residents, and no transportation. There is only one restaurant, one bathroom, and a small camping area. Most people bring a picnic lunch and spend the day. 

There are ferry boats that leave from both Baiona and Vigo which take approximately 1 hour. 

IMPORTANT: There are no trash receptacles on the islands, whatever you bring you must also take back with you!

There are tons of hiking trails, as well as one of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever seen, Rodas beach. For more information, such as ferry prices, maps, etc.. check out these websites:

https://www.spain-holiday.com/Vigo/articles/cies-islands-paradise-beaches-in-galicia
http://www.turismodevigo.org/en/cies-islands

https://www.mardeons.es/en/

Hair Fascinators - Tocados

Perhaps no one has made them more fashionable then the one and only Kate Middleton, but yes hair fascinators are a thing here in Spain too! Many guests, and immediate family members of the bride and groom wear fascinators at weddings, it's quite common. So ladies... if your feeling like getting your European style on get one, I mean where else will you get the opportunity to feel like Kate Middleton or Meghan Merkle for the day?!?!

Although maybe not like this... 

Or this...

Registry Live / Lista de Boda Activada

Our registry is now available online at the following link until September 2018:
Name: Julio
Surname: Perez Diego

Corte Ingles Registry - English 

Nuestra lista de boda esta activa y estará hasta septiembre de 2018
Nombre: Julio
Apellido/s: Perez Diego

Corte Ingles Registry - Español 

Marisco = Seafood

Buey - Brown Crab

Dayna with a Centolla = Spider Crab

Seafood is a BIG part of the culinary tradition here in Galicia, obviously because we are located right on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The fishing industry is also an important part of our economy and if you ask any Spaniard where you can eat the best seafood in Spain they will most likely tell you Galicia. 

Over the course of my 4 years here in Spain I've eaten so many things that I'd never tried before in my life, most of which is seafood and fish. Seafood is also a very important part of the Christmas & New Year's eve celebrations and surprise surprise Weddings... 

No Galician wedding would be complete without plates and plates of seafood. Galician people are extremely proud of the quality of their seafood and their culinary tradition. In fact, most people judge how good a wedding is by the quantity and quality of the seafood. 

Here is a list and photos of some of the seafood we will be having at the wedding. These pics are from our New Year's Eve dinner with Julio's family! 

Centolla = Spider Crab
Buey = Brown Crab
Langostino = Prawn 

Dayna with a centolla (spider crab)

Underside Buey

Dayna with buey (brown crab)

Santa Tecla

photo credit @turismoaguarda.es

Santa Tecla is a mountain on the Spain-Portugal border. It costs 1 euro and it's a 30 minute drive from Baiona, but it's definitely worth it. The panoramic views from the top are absolutely breathtaking, showing Spain on one side of the Miño river, and Portugal on the other.

photo credit @spainisculture.com

In addition to the spectacular views, there are also Celtic ruins that date back to the 4th Century B.C.! The remains were discovered in 1913 during construction for a new road. There is also a bilingual museum with more detailed historical information about the area from B.C. to modern day.

For more info (times, directions, etc...) check out these websites:

http://www.turismoaguarda.es/monte-santa-trega/?lang=en

http://museos.xunta.gal/en/masat

Parador - Baiona, Spain

Photo Credit @parador.es

Want to visit a castle that dates back to the 12th century? And the first place in Europe to receive the news of the discovery of America in 1493?

Look no further than the Parador in Baiona. Spain has converted many old castles into luxury hotels, spas, and restaurants. The parador in Baiona is one of many throughout Spain, but it is the only one with ties to Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America. For more information about the history click here. For more photos and videos click here. 

Dayna's Recommendation: There is a 2-3 kilometer walking path that goes around the outside of the castle wall, with beautiful views of the ocean. Or you can go inside the grounds and have a meal or an afternoon coffee in the restaurant. The meal or coffee will be expensive, but it is definitely not something you can do in the U.S., and the views must be breathtaking. Sadly, we haven't done it yet, but it is on our list! 

Fun fact: Julio and I walked around the castle at three o'clock in the morning after one of our first nights out. We got stuck in the rain, and our first kiss happened under the roof of the security area just inside the gate. It was magical...

Faro Silleiro

Photo credit @ http://vueltaibericafaros.blogspot.com.es

Faro Silleiro is the lighthouse right next to the hotel where we are getting married and it has spectacular views of the coastline. We are planning on taking pictures there during our "trash the dress" photo session with our photographers after the wedding. 

It has a 3,000 watt lamp that can be seen for 40 miles. Parts of it date back to 1862 and it was originally lit with vegetable oil! The majority of the structure standing today is from 1924. 

Definitely worth the drive up the hill to see the views if you have a car, or have a taxi take you up on the way to the wedding!

Photo Credit @ http://www.farosdegalicia.es/faro-de-cabo-silleiro-baiona/

Photo Credit @ http://www.turismo.gal/

The lighthouse is even more beautiful at night. 

Photo credit Diego Charlon Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/diegocharlon/

Above it there are some old remains of artillery batteries, canons and a military headquarters. During the day its neat to explore the old graffiti covered buildings and take advantage of the gorgeous views. 

Photo Credit @ https://www.flickr.com/ph

Café con leche

photo credit @ www.thespruce.com Lauren Aloise/ Spanish Sabores

Listen to our conversation about this word here:

The literal translation for this is "coffee with milk" but that definition doesn't really do it justice. It is similar to what Americans would call a latte, but it's got a little bit different flavor, and like all things European much smaller in size, typically 6 oz - 10 oz. It is my favorite coffee here in Spain and it's typical for breakfast, mid-morning, and in the afternoon. Prices usually range from 1 euro to 1.50 

Pro - tips: 

I usually ask for a "café con leche grande" to get the biggest I can! 

Unless you specify it will come with whole milk, to get it with skim it's "cafe con leche desnatada". 

The world of ordering coffee in Spain is quite varied with lots of options, for more coffee types and ordering info, check out this blogpost by Trevor Huxham, another American who did the same teaching program. He also has lots of great information about Galicia worth checking out. 

Our Lady of the Rock - Baiona

Our Lady of the Rock is a monument located on the outskirts of Baiona, the best thing about it is the view from the little boat in her hand. It might not seem like it from the picture but it is big enough to fit two people and you can climb to the boat via a circular staircase inside. 

There is a 3 euro fee to climb up but it is definitely worth it for the spectacular views of Baiona and the Cies islands. Below are some pictures from my trip there with Julio back in May of 2015. It was one of our first "dates" when we were getting to know each other, how time flies...

Views of Baiona from the little boat

Julio and I in the little boat

Dayna in the little boat, it was windy!

R.S.V.P.

Coming Soon...

Wedding Menu

Scallops - Hotel Talaso Atlántico

Food, food and more food. If you thought Americans know how to eat, you might be surprised that I think Spaniards eat more than Americans! Spanish weddings, at least in Galicia, are long and all about the food, typically a full service five course meal that lasts anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. Ours will be...

Appetizer/Cocktail Hour
Location: Ocean View Terrace (weather permitting)
5 cold appetizers and 5 hot (including octopus and grilled scallops)           
Beer, wine, and soft drinks 

Dinner
Location: Banquet Salon 

- Cold Seafood Course (crab, prawns, mussels)

- Scallops (baked)

- Sorbet

- Steak 

- Dessert

The north of Spain has some of the best seafood in the whole country. They know it, their proud of it, and they like to show it off. In fact, most Galician people judge a wedding by the quality and abundance of the seafood. Galicia is also very famous for its octopus. We will have both at our wedding. Some of the seafood isn't the easiest to eat, so be prepared to dig in with yours hands and get a little dirty!

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Do I need a passport to travel to Spain?
• Yes, you do! If you don't have your passport already, get on it, because it can take up to 6 weeks to process. For more information click here.

• Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
• No, you don't. The U.S. has a 90 day travel agreement with the European Union. For more information about entry into Spain and the European Union, click here. 

• Should I rent a car?
• It is up to you, but driving in Spain is nothing like driving in the United States. The roads are much narrower, they are not well marked (most street signs are on buildings), free street parking is difficult to find, or you end up paying for parking in a parking garage. 
• My two cents: If you are adventurous, prepared to pay a premium for an automatic car or know how to drive a stick shift and are good with maps, GPS, and parallel parking, go for it, if not I don't recommend it. There is plenty to see and do in Baiona that doesn't require a car and taxis are readily available.

• Do I need an international driver's license?
• It depends on the car rental company, some require an IDL, some don't. You can get one at AAA. 

• Is there public transportation?
•  There are fantastic transportation systems in Spain both private and public. ALSA is the most common private bus for all of Spain and Europe, as well as a public bus ATSA, which travels in our area, and the train . These options should allow you to travel nearly anywhere you want in Spain. 

• Do people speak English?
• It depends, in airports and major metropolitan areas like Madrid, Barcelona, and touristy areas like Santiago de Compostela and Baiona you should have no trouble finding people who speak English, not necessarily well, but enough to communicate. However, if you go off the beaten path to small pueblos the likelihood that people will speak English decreases dramatically.

• Can I visit Portugal?
• Yes, absolutely! Portugal is very close, less than an hour by car, and the borders are 100% open. If you rent a car, or take the train, there is no border check, making travel to Portugal very easy. Julio and I do it at least once a month if not more! Portugal generally has a good English level, higher than Spain, because their economy depends largely on tourism. Another benefit, is that it tends to be a bit cheaper than Spain because the average salaries there are lower.

• When are the Spanish meal times?
• The Spanish daily schedule is a bit different than the U.S. 
• Breakfast: 9:00 - 11:00 am
• Lunch (the biggest meal of the day) 2:00pm - 4:00pm.    FYI: Most stores and shops will close during this time.
• Snack: 6:30pm - 7:30pm (a coffee or a small sandwich)
• Dinner: 9:00pm - 11:00pm (lighter than lunch)

Registry

 

Although the greatest gift of all would be celebrating our wedding with ALL of our loved ones in Spain, we know that for many that simply won't be possible. 

For anyone who would like to send a gift we have thought of the following options:

  

1. Corte Ingles Registry  - available June 2018

This account will be available online starting in June 2018 and will stay open until September 2018. 

Due to the difficult of transporting items internationally, we won't have a gift registry in the U.S. Therefore, we've created one here in Spain at the department store called "El Corte Ingles."

-However, since the El Corte Ingles' registry's currency is in euros, and some banks/credit cards charge additional fees for foreign/international transactions, we have thought of a different option for those guests wishing to send gifts in U.S. Dollars. 

2. Gifts in U.S. Dollars 

We kindly ask that anyone wishing to give gifts in U.S. Dollars, please mail a check made out to Dayna Cleland to my sister's address in Saginaw, MI. 

You may address the envelope to: 

Dayna Cleland

c/o Shannon Robbins

11840 Gratiot Rd. 

Saginaw, MI 48609

We hope this information will be helpful to those who may be curious about gifts. But, as we said before, the greatest gift of all is being able to share this special occasion with all of you, whether it be from near or far!

Where to Stay

Where to stay depends a lot on if you plan on renting a car or not. 

We recommend staying in either: Oia or Baiona

Hotel Talaso Atlántico where we are getting married is beautiful but...there isn't anything to do or see within walking distance. The closest town is 10 kilometers in either direction, so if you stay here it is best to rent a car. 

However, you may want to stay there just the night of the wedding for convenience since the party will go until at least 2:00 or 3:00 am. Our guests receive a 20% discount on rooms the night of the wedding. If you would like us to block you a room, please let us know A.S.A.P because August is a busy tourist month. 


Oia - (Best with Rental Car)



 
Also known as Santa Maria de Oia, it is the tiny rural fishing village where I taught English my first year in Spain. There is a beautiful old monastery, two restaurants, a coffee shop, a small supermarket that Julio's brother in law and sister own, but not much else. Most people in this town speak very little English, so if you don't feel comfortable with that it may not be the place for you. Also, it is best for those who have a rental car and can go explore some of the nearby sites, since there is not much to do in Oia. Parking should be easier because it is a small town.  

Hotels & Inns - Oia  

Dayna's Recommendations:

Casa Puertas

Casa puertas is considered a "casa rural" or in English "rural house", comparable to a quaint rustic Inn. The owner is someone I know personally, and they have the best thick Spanish hot chocolate,  churros, and cakes for miles or in this case kilometers. It is in the center of the village so you can park the car and walk to the restaurants and monastery nearby. It is 15 mins by car, just down the road, to the wedding venue.

Hotel Glasgow

I haven't stayed in this hotel, however, it is 10 minutes from the wedding venue, has a pool, which Casa Puertas doesn't, and is more economically priced than the wedding hotel.


Baiona - (Best w/out a car)




Baiona is medium sized summer tourist town. It has a beautiful castle, beaches, a historic medieval city center, lots of restaurants, shops and cafes, and is walkable from one end to the other. Baiona is a sleepy town in winter, but the population increases ten fold in the summer, which is why we don't recommend having a car here.  It is an easy 15 minute taxi ride to our wedding venue from Baiona and 30 minute taxi ride from the Vigo airport. 

If you do decide to rent an apartment or book a hotel here with a car make sure it INCLUDES PARKING, there will be very little to no street parking available in Baiona!  

Hotels & Inns - Baiona

Dayna's Recommendations: 

Pensión Mosquito 

Best for couples or individuals, not families. This hotel came recommended by our wedding coordinator at the Talaso. Great location, prices and views of Baiona. If you are interested I recommend booking A.S.A.P. because Baiona is popular.

Villa Zoila

These are two bedroom apartments, with a full kitchen,  ocean views, and parking included. FYI: There is a three night minimum stay. Great location on the edge of downtown Baiona within walking distance of everything and 15 minutes by car from the wedding venue. Their website is only in Spanish, but all the reviews are excellent. If interested, I recommend booking A.S.A.P.  If you need help making the reservation contact Dayna.

Other Options:

www.booking.com

I use this site religiously when booking hotels and apartments in Spain and Europe.  This site reviews hotels and apartments on a scale from 1-10. 
FYI: In my experience anything under a rating of 8 can be sketchy, so be prepared.  

www.airbnb.com

I know many people love this site, personally I haven't used it yet. Be prepared that if you book through AirBnb it is with a private owner and most people don't speak great English here. Airbnbs don't typically have a standard reception desk, you will need to coordinate picking up the keys and check-in with the owner. 

Wedding

Date: August 25th, 2018
Time: 6:00pm
Where: Hotel Talaso Atlántico     
As Marinas - Mougas
36309 Oia Pontevedra, España 

Ceremony: 6pm - 7pm
Hors d'oeuvre: 7pm- 8:30pm
Dinner: 9pm - 11:30pm
Drinks & Dancing: 11:30pm - 3:00am

*times are approximate

         
        

Flights

There are two airports in our area Vigo, Spain or Oporto, Portugal.
The only direct flight available from the Michigan area is from Toronto, Canada (YYZ) to Oporto, Portugal (OPO).

Vigo, Spain
El Peinador Airport (VGO)

This is a small airport comparable to the size of Bishop in Flint, Michigan. It is approximately 45 minutes from the wedding venue, 30 minutes to Baiona, and 20 minutes from our house.  There are rental car options here, however limited and primarily stick shift. It will be more expensive to fly in to Vigo, however, if you don't want to rent a car, this is a good option, because it is a 30-45 minute taxi ride to Baiona where you won't need a car.

A typical flight pattern from Michigan is DTW>ATL>MAD>VGO  or FNT>ORD>MAD>VGO with two layovers.


Oporto, Portugal
Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO)

This is a medium sized airport, not as big as DTW in Detroit, but bigger than Vigo. It is approximately 2 hours from the wedding venue and our house. There are more rental car options here. There is also a bus Autna that goes from the airport to Vigo. It should also be cheaper to fly into than Vigo, and less layovers.

A typical flight pattern from Michigan is DTW>AMS>OPO with one layover.
The direct flight from Toronto, Canada (YYZ) to Oporto, Portugal (OPO) is with Air Transat a Canadian budget airline.

Invitations

Invitations have been sent! And should be arriving any day now...
Here's a little preview of what you'll find in your mailbox ;-)