25 reasons to live in Bueu

Hello again everyone! Today I am going to pull a special entry out of the bag: 25 reasons to live in Bueu. There is no place like home. Well, let's begin!

1. -The Climate. We enjoy a mild climate, throughout the winter as well as summer. It is not extremely cold nor are there high temperatures. It rains enough and on occasions a lot or too much, although it is known that winters are dryer than normal from time to time. Don't complain: would you be able to bear the mercury under zero or the forty degree heat in Ourense? The dew has a lot of charm and the sun always ends up leaving. Ultimately, with climate change Bueu is starting to seem like Costa del Sol. The topic surrounding Galicia (rain, rain, rain) consists in no distinction between the north and the south. Sometimes it rains throughout the whole of Spain and were are on the beach here. First point in our favour.

2. -Family and community solidarity. The group protects you during difficult times (and in the easy). The sentiment of belonging is a fundamental pillar. There are rituals in which "to pitch in" is practised as a positive attitude and for good vibes: to lower and to raise the Mayo rugs, to lend a hand in the harvest to your "brother-in-law", to help your neighbour in the killing of their pig, to collect the potatoes for someone else because they helped you to collect yours, to organise a battue "to take a plate". They give you gifts or you them; products from the sea and from the ground (my neighbour gave me some delicious pumpkins). We exchange favours; today for you, tomorrow for me. There are transactions and I pay "in sorts". Everyone gives what they can, and also receives.

3. - Prices. They remain moderate, in general terms. It is a quality that effects living, food, services. Everything is within reasonable limits if you buy it from other areas of Galicia and not Spain, let's say. Another point in our favour!

4. - Beaches. There are lots of them and they are very good. Each one has a particular charm. There a big, medium and small or inaccessible ones, for those that prefer to be alone and without any little shops, with sandwiches and water in your bag. Nearly all of them are safe; waters within the estuary make it safe to swim. Here we don't know the "red flag" of prohibitions or the yellow one for caution like the beaches with the open and dangerous sea. You can enjoy them throughout the whole year, and not only to walk your dog! The sandy areas are precious to walk and go to during winter. You breathe oxygen and take photographs. The most daring swim every day of the year, or nearly every day. With a wetsuit or without it. To conclude: the walk along the shore of Bueu is all a beach. It used to be called that.

5. -The Smallholding. This is often seen as a negative aspect. The smallholding causes all the pests in Galicia. Owning the land and the ground has big advantages for the inhabitants. They construct comfortable and spacious houses (which they are gradually making) that are prohibited in other parts of Spain. We have amenities and we have gardens. We can build up our own orchards. To collect a lemon or an orange from our fruiting trees is a privilege. From the tree, to the juicer or your mouth, without a middleman or refrigerated rooms. And it is free!

6. - Tranquility. Bueu is a very tranquil town throughout most of the year, except for the summer hustle and bustle, it is not as exagerrated as in other areas. Also it is well connected: Cangas and Vigo are very close and you can travel to Pontevedra by the new stretch of road. Awesome!

7. - Ecological product accessible. It is easy to find products free from pesticides and other contaminants. They sell everything and it is "local" in the market. If you want to get these raw materials, you can. Every Monday and every Thursday they sell potatoes, beans, vegetables, eggs, leeks, peppers, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, tomatoes at the stalls.

8. - Traffic. It is much more fluid than we think. The official summer (which is very brief) is the only exception. The streets and the car parks are very empty the rest of the year, except during designated celebrations, events or "holy days". During the market days there is movement but only during the morning. Some times "no dog looks at the streets".

9. -Walking. It is easy to move about by foot throughout all of the municipal. It is small and there is no long distances. To access parishes... There are short cuts and "secret" roads. You just have to discover them. If you get tired, take a taxi! Everything is close: the health centre, the institute, the church. Also the courthouse, the town hall, the police station. If you look, people walk a lot in Bueu, not only for the "cholesterol routes". Walk or bust.

10. - Security. In general, there are few incidents of public order. Children even play in the parks without us obsessing about watching them. The criminality is irrelevant, for statistical purposes. This natural security makes you more free.

11. - Mountains and forests. You can lose yourself in the middle of nature. It is there, in the palm of your hand. If you want to breath deep and hug a tree, you don't need to search or get away much. It is a huge privilege.

12. - Very little demographic pressure. The number of in habitants saves a harmonic proportion with space. You don't have to get in people's way. There are lot of square metres available for every one. Which makes your life more bearable and healthy!

13. - Ponds and fountains. Next to all of the parish churches you will find water springs. They are subjected to controls and you can select, according to your tastes and comforts. You don't have to buy bottled water in "plastic". It is easy to get a few reusable glass containers and fill them comfortably and without spending a single euro. Point of favour!

14. - Water sports. If you like them, you can practice them without too many complications. You have to respect the rules and play fair. In the estuary there is no sport that you can't do: swimming, rowing, surf, water skiing, jet skiing, spear fishing, fishing, sailing and... diving.

15. - Other sports. If you want to go paragliding, you have tall mountains to "take your jump". You often see amateurs jumping from Chans. Also, they practise motor flight, especially the most eccentric. I have seen them fly over the heads of the beach dwellers, who watched in astonishment from the sand. If the mountain bike is for you, you have it easy. If you want to ride, you can even try that. Every once in a while you turn around, warned by the hooves of a horse. In the summer, in the Banda del Río, the indoor football championships are held with lots of excitement.

16. - Shopping. It has everything and it covers all crafts. From the fair to the jewellery story. There are shoe shops, boutiques, opticians, computing stores, electrical domestic stores, perfume shops, bookshops. Warning to pirates: a video shop still survives! The only thing we don't have (to see who is excited! ) is an antique store.

17. - Services. There is a solution for every problem. No need to run, except to go to Montecelo urgently. I have made an impromptu list. Let's see if I forget anything. If a muscle hurts, visit the physio; if your dog walks around weird, you take him to the veterinary clinic; if you break a sole, you leave the shoe in the shoe rack; if the garden is disturbed, you call the gardener. If you are stopped by the car, you look for a workshop; if a tooth bothers you, look for a dentist. There are hairdressers, lawyers, agencies, speech therapists, glaziers, dry cleaners, self-service washing. There are day centres, nurseries, parks for children. There is a library, a retirement centre, a shipyard. We have notary's office, a few pharmacies, taxi stops. There is a music school, two co-working and a theatre company. And another thing; there are many, many bars.

18. -Traditional bakeries. They make the bread by hand. If you want, they leave it at your door every morning. They make you "empanadas" if you take them the "rustrido" (typical sauce made in Galicia). Can you complain?

19. - Market. It is celebrated every Monday and Thursday. It's a good reason to go out for a coffee and socialise. Everything is sold and everything is bought, sometimes at very good prices.

20. - The sounds. The church bells are still being heard. It is a communication code that has survived the passage of time. There are people who can not stand their tolling, but I think they are relaxing. You can listen to the sea if you are close and you almost always have it. Running water is music to the ears. Okay, the gulls spoil everything, it's true. On the Isle of Ons they ate my two Bimbo bread packages. But its shriek reminds us where we are. In Bueu, where else?

21. - Mycology. If what you like is to go out and look for mushrooms, Bueu is also up to the task. There are lots of Chantarellus next to my house, without going any further. You can go out and look for yourself just by kicking the bush or in a group. It's a hobby that has been growing. You will find different types of mushrooms according to the zones. Then you can prepare a good dinner based on tortillas, scrambled, empanada.

22. - North Wind. It's a cold wind that rises and falls when it wants. Blows periodically. Some years are very windy and others are not so much. The truth is that it sparks you. Here we say it "burns" all. It is true that you will have to put lip protector on. If it blows north, get ready and look at the good side of things: it's the best time to wash quilts and blankets.

23. - F. I. C. Every September, if you are a movie lover, you can enjoy the Festival of shorts, which is international. You have a whole week of projections with double pass, red carpet and free admission. The world comes to Bueu, and vice versa! . There is an awards ceremony and a closing party.

24. - Summer carnival. Unlike other towns and cities, in Bueu we celebrate two carnivals. Waiting for "the one of a lifetime" to arrive is long. Take out your costume and air it to come. Since it's not cold, (it's summer), you have fewer limitations. It is celebrated in La Banda del Río and its zone of bars. It is the party of the year for many.

25. - El Aturuxo. It is a very special concert hall bar, with activities all year round. If you come, you will find it in Pazos Fontenla street. Of the Aturuxo, at last.

And this has been my post for today. I hope you liked it. Provide another point about Bueu if you can find it. As you already know: share, comment, whatever you want.

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