Day: March 19, 2022

Actually the oldest extant lighthouse, a landmark in A Coruna. I walked up there today to climb it. It was a beautiful sunny warm day. Here is the walkway up to it.

I walk up there, up the steps and go to the entrance. Two people were guarding the entrance. A ticket booth was off to the left. I said I wanted a ticket and they said you can’t get them here, you get them at the kiosk as you enter the park. Okay I’m Camino guy, I can do that. Down the ramp, the stones on concrete are quite unpleasant to walk on. Way over to the kiosk. Two people there guarding the ticket booth. Wait for one guy. Use the disinfectant they require. Put on my mask. Go to the booth. They ask me what country I’m from. I get the ticket that is only good for 30 minutes. Guess what? It’s free on Saturday, but you still need a ticket, from the kiosk, at the entrance to the park. Walk back to the ramp. Walk up the ramp and the stairs and give her the ticket.

It is about 250 steps up, I counted. Standard tower steps, square, five steps a flight then turn 90 degrees. 20-30 circular staircase steps at the end. I’m the only one there. The views are great. Overall I saw them turn away 5-6 people with no tickets. I came back, not sure how many others did.

[enter snark mode] I’ve read 4-5 articles in the last year about the record number of pedestrian deaths and injuries all over the US. One even mentioned Albuquerque as having one of the highest rates in the country. I’ve been a pedestrian (aka “target”) every day in Albuquerque for several years and I’m happy to report that I am still alive and unmaimed even though I always carry a backpack that reduces my maneuverability and car dodging abilities. But lets be realistic, how long can my luck hold out?

The Spanish have come up with a clever solution to this problem that they call a paso de peatones, in English it would translate into something like ”crosswalk”. For Albuquerque residents unfamiliar with this concept here is what they look like.

Here’s the idea: people enter the crosswalk and the cars stop for them, every time. I know this beggars the imagination but it is really true, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Albuquerque could try this ingenious Spanish idea and reduce the pedestrian fatality rate and avoid bad press on the national media. [exit snark mode]