22 July 2005
| A | Feminine ‘the’ in Gallego (= ‘La’) |
| A rapa das bestas | The round-up of wild horses for mane and tail docking |
| Al paso | On foot |
| Alameda | Promenade. In Pontevedra, it is opposite the town hall. And is the site of the August fairground |
| Albariño | The grape which gives the (white) wine its name |
| Altas | High(er) |
| Amandi | A very pleasant red wine from the Ribera Sagrada area, east of Ourense |
| Arribada de Carabela Pinta | Arrival of the ‘Pinta’ galleon [Columbus’ ship] |
| Autopista | Motorway/freeway, with charges |
| Autovia | Motorway/freeway, free |
| Ayuntamiento | The town hall. In Pontevedra it's in Praza España |
| Bajas | Low(er) |
| Balneario | A town with thermal baths |
| Baroque | ‘Florid style of late Renaissance architecture, common in the 18th century’ |
| Barrio | Quarter. Suburb. |
| Biblioteca | Library |
| Bodega | Inn, wine cellar |
| Bruxa | Bruja. Witch |
| Cañon | Canyon |
| Carnaval | Carnival |
| Carretera | Road |
| Casa | House |
| Casco antiguo | The old quarter |
| Castro | Fortified village, normally on a hill top |
| Centro comercial | Shopping mall |
| Churrasco | Grilled/barbecued dishes |
| Churrasquería | A restaurant specialising in churrasco |
| Corrida | Set of 6 bullfights, usually from 7 to 9pm |
| Costa da morte | Costa de la muerte. The coast of death |
| Dolmen | French name for ‘cromlech’ – flat stones on upright stones. Prehistoric |
| Dos giras | Two tours |
| Entierro de Ravachol | The burning and burial of Ravachol – a large effigy of a parrot. Don’t ask. |
| Estrada | Road, in Galician |
| Eventos | Events |
| Fado | Exceptionally lugubrious Portuguese music. Ubiquitous in northern Portugal |
| Farmacia | Pharmacy, Chemists |
Feria
Feira. Fair or exhibition [ground]
Galiza Galicia
Gaita Galician bagpipe
Galerías Balconies framed by windows, for
sitting in during the rain
Gothic 12-15th century architecture of
western Europe. Main feature is pointed arches.
Guía Guide
Hórreo The little grain stores on legs that
look like tiny chapels. The rings at the top of the
legs are to stop rodents climbing
up
Meiga Witch.
Mercado Market
Mirador Look-out point
Mosteiro
Monastero. Monastery
Movida The (nocturnal) ‘action’
Municipal Municipal!
Neoclassical Late 18th to mid 19th century. Based on
Roman and Greek architectural styles
O Masculine ‘the’ in Gallego (= ‘El’)
País ‘Country’. Any wine given this title
should be approached with great caution. And a strong
throat.
Parador Mansion. Usually old. Now one of the
government’s imposing hotel chain
Parque Park
Pasado ‘Walking’
Pazo Mansion
Peña A group of (heavily drinking)
bullfight fans. Or opponents.
Peregrina Pilgrim, wanderer
Petroglifo Petroglyph. Rock carving
Platteresque Like silverwork.
‘Plata’ is Spanish for silver
Playa fluvial Beach along the bank of a river
Pórtico Gateway
Praia
Playa. Beach
Praza
Plaza. Square
Recinto ferial Fair/exhibition grounds
Ría Estuary/fjord/forth
Rias baixas Rias
bajas. The ‘lower estuaries of the NW coast, near Vigo and Pontevedra.
Pronounced
‘ree-ass bye-shass’ and
‘ree-ass ba-hass’
Ribeiro The grape which gives its name to
this white wine from the Ourense area
Río River
Romanesque Built in the Roman style that
predominated before the Gothic period began in the mid-12th
century. Thick walls,
simple vaults.
Romería Religious procession - usually of the
Virgin Mary; often down to the sea
Ruta Route
Sanxenxo Sanjenjo. Pronounced ‘sanshensho’ and
‘sankhenkho’
Tres Reyes Magos The Three Kings/Wise Men. The feast of the
Epiphany on 6 Jan.
Turismo The local tourist information office
Viaxa ‘Viaje’.
Tour, trip, voyage
Virxen
Virgen. Virgin
Xacobeo/a Jacobeo/a. Associated with Saint Jacob/Sant Iago
Xunta
Junta. Ruling body
Zona monumental Zone of monuments. The old quarter