09/11/2008
Where am I? Confusing Place Names in Vigo
Vigo is a confusing city sometimes, especially, for someone who isn't from the city. There are lots of streets and districts that have similar names that cause confusion for a new arrival. For example:
1. Plaza de America and Traviesas:
A student tells you that they live in Plaza de America. Your lab. partner tells you that they live in Traviesas. And six months later (not quite), you realise that they live in the same place. Basically, Plaza de America IS Traviesas! Plaza de America has a stone monument with a fountain where the Celta fans celebrate their important victories. They jump into the fountain and break the lighting system and flowers in the process! The popular name of Plaza de America is Traviesas, whose name, we think, comes from the wooden beams that were used for making the railway track of the trams that were once the main form of transport in Vigo. The sports pavilion off Plaza de America is known by this name, too. Traviesas is a neighbourhood and Plaza de America is a square in the middle of this neighbourhood (or district).
2. Plaza de Industria and Plaza de Independencia:
Plaza de Industria has an iron monument dedicated to workers in the metal industry (Vigo has/had an important shipbuilding industry). The monument shows a worker with a hammer in his hand. What looks like a fag (British slang word for 'cigarette') in his mouth is actually a screw (or maybe it's a bolt?). The Plaza is near Torrecedeira Street ("the Historic Campus of Torrecedeira"). Plaza de Independencia is near Plaza de America. It is a pedestrian zone. It is in Avenida de Camelias half way between Plaza de America and City Hall (the Ayuntamiento/Concello). Incidently, Plaza de Industria is actually the old name for the plaza because the current name is Plaza Eugenio Fadrique although most people still call it Plaza de Industria!
3. Beiramar is the street that runs along the fishing port and shipyards. This street is also known as Orillamar which is the name in Spanish. Beiramar is the Galician name. The same happens with other place names, for example, Panxón is the neighbourhood/area along the coast just before Playa America on the road to Bayona. In Spanish, Panxón is known as Panjón.
4. Plaza de España and Plaza de America:
Plaza de España has a large iron sculpture. It depicts a group of horses "flying" up into the sky. It's pretty neat. The people of Vigo are fond of this sculpture. Plaza de España is near the General Hospital, the tall "green" building that you can see from practically everywhere in Vigo.
5. Travesía and Traviesas:
Traviesas is an area but Travesía de Vigo is a street. Travesía de Vigo is a long street that goes through a lot of different areas or neighbourhoods. The large shopping mall which has the cinema complex, Yelmo is in this street. This street is near the entrance/exit to the motorway to Santiago whereas Traviesas is near the beaches. In fact, Traviesas is on the way to the beaches Samil, Bao and Canido etc and several buses stop here on their way to the beaches.
6. Castrelos and Castelao:
Castrelos is an area which has a park and a street named after it. Castelao is a street which begins in Plaza de America and finishes in Samil beach. Castrelos Street also begins in Plaza de America but it doesn´t go in the direction of tthe beaches. If you like cycling, Castelao Street is a good route to take if you are going to the beach. Castrelos Park is fantastic for jogging, walking and playing football etc. It is near Celta's Balaídos Football Stadium. In the summer, they hold open air concerts here. Castelao passes through the neighbourhood of Coia.
7. Vázquez Varela and Velázquez Moreno:
Váquez Varela Street is in the town centre and is near the railway station. It is parallel with Gran Vía Street. The General hospital(El Xeral) is at the top of this street. Velázquez Moreno is also in the town centre. An important bookshop called "Casa del Libro" is on this street. It is perpendicular with Principe Street, the pedestrian street.
Alfonso XIII and Paseo de Alfonso XII:
Alfonso XIII is the street that goes from the train station down towards Policarrpo Sanz Street. Coming from town, if you continue along Alfonso XIII Street you end up on the motorway to Santiago. On the corner at the bottom of Alfonso XIII, there is an important church called Santiago el Apostal. Paseo de Alfonso XII connects Pi y Margall Street with the Puerta del Sol which is in the centre of Vigo. It has lovely views of Vigo Bay and there is an olive tree, "El Olivo" which is the symbol of Vigo. Up from the Paseo de Alfonso is the red light area of Vigo.
Cabral and Alcabre:
Cabral is near the airport and the zoo. The football club, Celta de Vigo has a stadium in Cabral where its second team plays its league matches. Alcabre is a residential area on the coast and has a beach called Alcabre. The Maritime Museum is in Alcabre. Vigo's only 5 star hotel is in Alcabre Pazo dos Escudos.
Tomás Alonso and Tomás Paredes:
Tomás Paredes is a wide street that connects Bouzas (a neighbourhood on the coast) with Coia which is the neighbourhood between Plaza de America and Samil beach. It is perpendicular with Avenida de Castelao. Tomás Alonso is a long narrow street which is a continuation of Pi y Margall street. It connects town with Bouzas, a neighbourhood on the coast. Part of Tomás Alonso is parallel with Torrecedeira Street.
Campus Lagoas and Campus As Lagoas:
Càmpus Lagoas is in Vigo. Campus As Lagoas is in Ourense.
La Alameda and Plaza de Compostela:
La Alameda and Plaza de Compostela are two different names for the same place!
Las Avenidas and Montero Rios:
Las Avenidas and Montero Rios are two different names for the same place! The most important marina in Vigo is in this area.
Gran Vía:
Gran Vía is divided into two parts. It's divided by the Plaza de España (the square with the horses). It is a long street. To refer to the part nearest the town centre people usually mention El Corte Inglés, the large department store which is on the left going up the hill from the city centre. The "other" half of Gran Vía stretches from the square with the horses down to Plaza de America. On this part of Gran Vía, you have the shopping mall Gran Vía.
Carretera de Baiona:
This is a street which starts after the roundabout at the end of Avenida de Florida and Avenida de Balaidos. Coming from town, the Citröen factory is on your left. A lot of car dealers have their showrooms on this street.
1. Plaza de America and Traviesas:
A student tells you that they live in Plaza de America. Your lab. partner tells you that they live in Traviesas. And six months later (not quite), you realise that they live in the same place. Basically, Plaza de America IS Traviesas! Plaza de America has a stone monument with a fountain where the Celta fans celebrate their important victories. They jump into the fountain and break the lighting system and flowers in the process! The popular name of Plaza de America is Traviesas, whose name, we think, comes from the wooden beams that were used for making the railway track of the trams that were once the main form of transport in Vigo. The sports pavilion off Plaza de America is known by this name, too. Traviesas is a neighbourhood and Plaza de America is a square in the middle of this neighbourhood (or district).
2. Plaza de Industria and Plaza de Independencia:
Plaza de Industria has an iron monument dedicated to workers in the metal industry (Vigo has/had an important shipbuilding industry). The monument shows a worker with a hammer in his hand. What looks like a fag (British slang word for 'cigarette') in his mouth is actually a screw (or maybe it's a bolt?). The Plaza is near Torrecedeira Street ("the Historic Campus of Torrecedeira"). Plaza de Independencia is near Plaza de America. It is a pedestrian zone. It is in Avenida de Camelias half way between Plaza de America and City Hall (the Ayuntamiento/Concello). Incidently, Plaza de Industria is actually the old name for the plaza because the current name is Plaza Eugenio Fadrique although most people still call it Plaza de Industria!
3. Beiramar is the street that runs along the fishing port and shipyards. This street is also known as Orillamar which is the name in Spanish. Beiramar is the Galician name. The same happens with other place names, for example, Panxón is the neighbourhood/area along the coast just before Playa America on the road to Bayona. In Spanish, Panxón is known as Panjón.
4. Plaza de España and Plaza de America:
Plaza de España has a large iron sculpture. It depicts a group of horses "flying" up into the sky. It's pretty neat. The people of Vigo are fond of this sculpture. Plaza de España is near the General Hospital, the tall "green" building that you can see from practically everywhere in Vigo.
5. Travesía and Traviesas:
Traviesas is an area but Travesía de Vigo is a street. Travesía de Vigo is a long street that goes through a lot of different areas or neighbourhoods. The large shopping mall which has the cinema complex, Yelmo is in this street. This street is near the entrance/exit to the motorway to Santiago whereas Traviesas is near the beaches. In fact, Traviesas is on the way to the beaches Samil, Bao and Canido etc and several buses stop here on their way to the beaches.
6. Castrelos and Castelao:
Castrelos is an area which has a park and a street named after it. Castelao is a street which begins in Plaza de America and finishes in Samil beach. Castrelos Street also begins in Plaza de America but it doesn´t go in the direction of tthe beaches. If you like cycling, Castelao Street is a good route to take if you are going to the beach. Castrelos Park is fantastic for jogging, walking and playing football etc. It is near Celta's Balaídos Football Stadium. In the summer, they hold open air concerts here. Castelao passes through the neighbourhood of Coia.
7. Vázquez Varela and Velázquez Moreno:
Váquez Varela Street is in the town centre and is near the railway station. It is parallel with Gran Vía Street. The General hospital(El Xeral) is at the top of this street. Velázquez Moreno is also in the town centre. An important bookshop called "Casa del Libro" is on this street. It is perpendicular with Principe Street, the pedestrian street.
Alfonso XIII and Paseo de Alfonso XII:
Alfonso XIII is the street that goes from the train station down towards Policarrpo Sanz Street. Coming from town, if you continue along Alfonso XIII Street you end up on the motorway to Santiago. On the corner at the bottom of Alfonso XIII, there is an important church called Santiago el Apostal. Paseo de Alfonso XII connects Pi y Margall Street with the Puerta del Sol which is in the centre of Vigo. It has lovely views of Vigo Bay and there is an olive tree, "El Olivo" which is the symbol of Vigo. Up from the Paseo de Alfonso is the red light area of Vigo.
Cabral and Alcabre:
Cabral is near the airport and the zoo. The football club, Celta de Vigo has a stadium in Cabral where its second team plays its league matches. Alcabre is a residential area on the coast and has a beach called Alcabre. The Maritime Museum is in Alcabre. Vigo's only 5 star hotel is in Alcabre Pazo dos Escudos.
Tomás Alonso and Tomás Paredes:
Tomás Paredes is a wide street that connects Bouzas (a neighbourhood on the coast) with Coia which is the neighbourhood between Plaza de America and Samil beach. It is perpendicular with Avenida de Castelao. Tomás Alonso is a long narrow street which is a continuation of Pi y Margall street. It connects town with Bouzas, a neighbourhood on the coast. Part of Tomás Alonso is parallel with Torrecedeira Street.
Campus Lagoas and Campus As Lagoas:
Càmpus Lagoas is in Vigo. Campus As Lagoas is in Ourense.
La Alameda and Plaza de Compostela:
La Alameda and Plaza de Compostela are two different names for the same place!
Las Avenidas and Montero Rios:
Las Avenidas and Montero Rios are two different names for the same place! The most important marina in Vigo is in this area.
Gran Vía:
Gran Vía is divided into two parts. It's divided by the Plaza de España (the square with the horses). It is a long street. To refer to the part nearest the town centre people usually mention El Corte Inglés, the large department store which is on the left going up the hill from the city centre. The "other" half of Gran Vía stretches from the square with the horses down to Plaza de America. On this part of Gran Vía, you have the shopping mall Gran Vía.
Carretera de Baiona:
This is a street which starts after the roundabout at the end of Avenida de Florida and Avenida de Balaidos. Coming from town, the Citröen factory is on your left. A lot of car dealers have their showrooms on this street.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario