Surfers catching some waves by Playa de Matedero.

A Coruña

Felix Wong's avatar
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I spent a few days exploring A Coruña while my girlfriend Andrea, an emergency room doctor, took a super intensive 2.5-day medical course at a hospital there. We had been to Galicia’s most populous city once last year to go furniture shopping. But this was the first time that I could check out areas outside of IKEA.

Below are some of the things I got to do:

  • Eat a cachopín for the first time. A cachopín is half of a cachopo, an Asturian dish comprised of breaded veal, ham, and cheese. It would not rank as one of my top 20 favorite Spanish dishes, but it was not bad-tasting and fascinating to try.
  • Walk through the city center over to Monte San Pedro, where there were World War II cannons and projectiles. There were also excellent views of the city. I walked 25 km that day, or the farthest I had walked since the Camino de Santiago in 2017.
  • Take a bus the following day back over to the city center. From there, I walked over to the harbor and Hercules tower. The Hercules Tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009 and is the only Roman lighthouse in the world still in operation.
  • Saw a modern-day MG in Spain for the first time. MG returned to Iberia less than two years ago.
  • Run 23 km along the river southeast of A Coruña.

These were the routes of my exploratory walks in A Coruña:

Strava
Strava

Below was the route of the long run:

Strava

We also stopped at IKEA again. I’m a fan of both their food and well-designed furniture. Their cafeteria serves inexpensive yet semi-healthy and delicious meals, including their Swedish meatballs.

Andrea passed her super intensive course, which included 13-hour days and four hours of exams. I’m very proud of her!

Enjoying a cachopín with fries and a salad at La Cantina Sixtina.
Enjoying a cachopín with fries and a salad at La Cantina Sixtina.
A mural on a wall near the Santa Cristina beach that says "A diversidade é a nosa forza" (diversity is our strength).
A mural on a wall near the Santa Cristina beach that says "A diversidade é a nosa forza" (diversity is our strength).
Parque José Martí in Perillo was a great place to read.
Parque José Martí in Perillo was a great place to read.
The public hospital that Andrea took an intensive course at, as viewed from the Santa Cristina beach in Perillo.
The public hospital that Andrea took an intensive course at, as viewed from the Santa Cristina beach in Perillo.
A painting of a bicycle on a concrete pillar in the Santa Cristina area of Perillo.
A painting of a bicycle on a concrete pillar in the Santa Cristina area of Perillo.
The view of Santa Cristina Beach from A Coruña.
The view of Santa Cristina Beach from A Coruña.
World War II projectiles in front of an observatory at Monte de San Pedro.
World War II projectiles in front of an observatory at Monte de San Pedro.
View of a maze (As Roseiras), the Orzan Cove, and the city of A Coruña.
View of a maze (As Roseiras), the Orzan Cove, and the city of A Coruña.
A cannon and green space by the ocean at Monte San Pedro.
A cannon and green space by the ocean at Monte San Pedro.
Buildings and ships by the harbor in A Coruña.
Buildings and ships by the harbor in A Coruña.
A green statue with the Port of A Coruña in the distance.
A green statue with the Port of A Coruña in the distance.
A man reading in a chair with a view of the Castle of San Antón.
A man reading in a chair with a view of the Castle of San Antón.
Old ships docked at the Port of A Coruña.
Old ships docked at the Port of A Coruña.
City Hall in A Coruña.
City Hall in A Coruña.
Apartment buildings overlooking a greenbelt near the Hercules Tower in A Coruña.
Apartment buildings overlooking a greenbelt near the Hercules Tower in A Coruña.
The view of Aquarium Finisterrae by the water in A Coruña, with Monte San Pedro in the distance.
The view of Aquarium Finisterrae by the water in A Coruña, with Monte San Pedro in the distance.
Hercules Tower on top of a green hill.
Hercules Tower in A Coruña.
A black 2022 MG ZS.
A black 2022 MG ZS.
Surfers catching some waves by Playa de Matedero.
Surfers catching some waves by Playa de Matedero.
A bowl of shredded chicken, beans, tomatoes, jalapeños, and onions covered with a white sauce from the Gazteca restaurant in A Coruña.
I had a very tasty Mexican salad that was kind of like a burrito bowl at Gazteca.
The Rio Mero between O Burgo and O Temple south of O Coruña. There are many walking paths by it.
The Rio Mero between O Burgo and O Temple south of O Coruña. There are many walking paths by it.
white plate with IKEA Swedish meatballs, mash potatoes, peas, gravy, and mini Swedish flag
The IKEA in A Coruña has tasty, inexpensive food. I like their Swedish meatballs.