Nodge's Travels

Thursday 11 September 2025 – Baiona to Vigo Our last day of walking. As is their way, Mac’s itinerary presented us with an 18 mile walk to finish the trip. Plus, another mile or so after to get to our hotel. Nope, we’re not doing that. Firstly, it’s too far, and secondly the last few miles will be through the boring suburbs of Vigo. We want to make it an enjoyable last day, so we’ll find somewhere to get a bus or taxi for the last part into Vigo. Once again, we leave the hotel in half light at around 8am. It just feels so weird to do that in September. It’s something you’d expect in December.   After a brief diversion to Carrefour, we picked up the coastal route and just headed around the bay. At Ramallosa we saw the ancient Puente Romana and had great views back across to Baiona. All very moody in the monochromatic light.     We walked besides Praia Panxon with its very distinctive golden sand. Cate got chatting with Gabriella a nice woman from Austin. She was ...

Wednesday 10 September 2025 – Oia to Baiona Woke up in the dark, and it’s peeing down outside, But, hey, that’s the least of our worries. Will our bank cards work? Otherwise, we’re in a serious bit of bother. The owner re-booted his card machine, and we tried again. First Direct Visa – Failed. Barclaycard Visa – Failed. And lastly Halifax Mastercard – failed. All using his Abanca machine. The owner generously took me in his car to a nearby ATM, and all 3 of the above failed again. Once again, an Abanca ATM. I called First Direct and Cate called Halifax, and both said that there had been no requests or attempted transactions. FD recommended that we added our debit Cards to our phones to use Google and Apple Pay. Again, both failed on his card reader. This was just crazy. Five cards had now failed, and I’m starting to think it maybe a problem at Abanca’s end??? Useless! The owner and his wife could not have been more helpful. Eventually they were able to give us the information (...