North Pole in Santiago? 1965, a photo from La Coruna, Galicia

Photographer's Note

Another photo from my archives, again from my first ever venture out of Britain in the summer of 1965 on a cruise organised by schools aboard the MS Dunera. And this photo was also from Santiago de Compostela during a wander around the area of the famous cathedral.

I'm not sure quite what made me take this particular photo. Perhaps it was the presence of the little girl whose mother or elder sister, standing in a doorway on the right, might have been shouting to her, I don't know. But, now looking at this image for the first time in nearly 55 years, I see that a sign hanging above the lady's doorway reads "POLO NORTE - VINOS y COMIDAS". You can clearly read the sign if you look at the larger version of this photo.

And, if you check out my map references and follow Google's little man, you can see that this "North Pole" bar, selling wine and food, still exists - except the sign is now slightly different, additionally reading "BAR"!

I certainly never entered this bar so have no idea what it was like (and, of course, I was only seventeen at the time!) but present day reviews do not appear to be very good.

Like the others, this was copied from a Kodachrome transparency taken with my little Voigtlдnder Vito B camera.

Here is a larger version of this photo:
https://i1.trekearth.com/photos/48186/img_m5.2225.santiago_bar__1965.jpg

pajaran, holmertz, Royaldevon, ikeharel, jhm, jean113, ricardomattos, COSTANTINO, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139298) 2020-04-24 15:32

Hi John,you did a really good search, worthy of a detective! You were exceptional in finding the same bar after 55 years on the map, a great job. I was interested in it, because as you know I also have a bar for 36 years, but the history of my place dates back to the mid-1800s. So this photo of which you don't remember why you took it has become a precious element, it would be nice if the bar owners could see it, given that you have read the reviews, you will surely have an email address to send it to. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

Nicou (193806) 2020-04-24 20:00

Hello

Quelle йglise et vue que cadrage avec ce eux jeunes en premier plan l’ancienne voiture et la ruelle du fond et ce clocher qui ressort en latйral superbe ancienne vue
Bravo et amitiй
Nicou

jemaflor (147184) 2020-04-24 23:35

Hi John,
A good vertical photo, interesting to present this monument, good management for the contrast of light, interesting old photo, tfs.

holmertz (102732) 2020-04-25 1:06

Hello John,
I really want to believe that you took this photo because you realized that the two girls made the view of the square and the church so much nicer. I am not so sure what would have mattered to me 55 years ago, but today there is no doubt they are the stars of the show. But looking closer at the enlarged version I discover the men doing some work in the street in the background. They should have required a closer photo, but I am sure that at least I would have been too shy to take such photos at that age. Examining the large version I am again amazed that the Voigtlдnder (and you) managed such fine sharpness. The Kodachrome has kept its colours very well for more than half a century,
Kind regards,
Gert

emka (158198) 2020-04-25 1:09

Hello dear John, What a discovery in your archive. I can imagine what an unforgettable trip it was. And with your small camera you took very good photos. Amazing quality after all these years. I also took pictures they time, with Smena, Russian camera, but they were all black and white still and the quality is VERY poor. very nice scene. This small girl and the lady in the door are the main attraction. There is also an interesting small car. Have you recognized it? But how great that we compare your picture with the exact the same view 55 years later. In the building next to the church, there is a hotel now. Nice detail are the green windows above the sign.
Brilliant!

Take care and have a nice weekend
Malgo xx

Silvio1953 (221659) 2020-04-25 1:44

Ciao caro John, great perspective on fantastic Church, lovely composition with nice youbg girl in FG, wonderful colors, excellent perspective, good clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Royaldevon (85932) 2020-04-25 2:09

Hello John,

It is amazing that you went to this place, so long ago. I have only heard of people travelling there on long pilgrimages. I saw a whole programme about the journey undertaken by a few celebrities, a few years ago, and I know someone who actually undertook the pilgrimage, to support a friend. It was arduous!

What a treat that you have records of such a beautiful place, when huge tourist groups were not so frequent!
This is a well scanned photograph, both in clarity and colours. Did you have to play with it in PS, maybe to reduce the shadows a little?

There are some lovely little details that only become apparent with close observation.
The little girl, pretending to be a dancer, is of course, the focal figure. Then her mother is a good link, maybe wondering what foreign boys are doing with cameras, photographing her bar!!

But, why are there buckets, shovels and a lump hammer discarded in the street!
Have they something to do with the man, on his knees, further up the street!
It appears that a second man is approaching with a wheelbarrow, possibly with more buckets, hammers and equipment!
Oh, it's such fun to observe and speculate and you probably cannot remember anything about the people who were there! I'm sure I cannot remember people accidentally included in old photographs!

Keep safe,
Bev :-)

Tue (92402) 2020-04-25 5:32

Hello John,
A beautiful photo of this charming corner of the quiet town. I like to see the faзades of the church and of the houses with their lovely small balconies and the play of light and shadows around them is very appealing. It's really nice that the bar still exists, who knows maybe that little girl is now the proud (or maybe not very proud, given the bad reviews) owner of the place.
Lars

jhm (211736) 2020-04-25 6:10

Hello John,

This is real a old picture, but perfect scanned
The church frontage ar wonderful.
Little girl and sister or mother are a nice addition.
Splendid contrast image too.
Nice sharp and clear picture with pleasant colours.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

ricardomattos (17460) 2020-04-25 13:37

Hi John,

Muito interessante esta foto tirada a 55 anos atras e saber que o bar ainda existe. Parece cena de um filme e vale a pena conseguir um contato com o atual proprietбrio para que pendure esta foto na parede. Muito bom trabalho meu amigo.

Parabens

Ricardo

jean113 (27887) 2020-04-26 7:35

Hello John, this is such an interesting shot, and even more so with the two girls, they really complete the composition.
I love the discarded buckets, hammer etc., in the foreground; I imagine that they must belong to the man working in the shadows.
You did well from this point of view to include so much of the church, dome and bell tower.
The light was very well managed.
Thanks for sharing, regards Jean.

Energysavingelk (7834) 2020-04-26 8:41

Hello John!

Girls and people as they used to be in the sixties.
But you forgot to mention the car, which I would never have expected in Galicia! It is a Glas Goggomobil, a microcar of Bavarian brand which was later taken over by BMW. With a length of 3.03 m, it might perhaps have take up four Spanish people, but only with their chins directly above their knees...
Fine document of those days, tfs!
Sven

COSTANTINO (116542) 2020-04-27 22:17

Hello my friend
your archives are really rich because thes
old photos have a great value for all
of us after so many years ago....
delicate photo with the little
girl looking at you and here mother who
might have been shouting to her
welldone
regards
costantino

macjake (98456) 2020-05-02 17:19

Hi John
what a great photo! its as if the girl is posing for you with her leg stretched out like real models do :)
and that car in the bg...what kind is that? A little fiat? what a great addition the smaller elements make...the little car, the little girl, the mom/sister looking on the right,yet so many other elements in the frame are so large. what a great shot! super post, and to think that girl is not 60 years old! cheers
Craig

jmdias (115208) 2020-05-03 15:36

john

I visited this town twice. the girl looks like dancing to you in the street. haha.
nice details of the architecture, looks very similar that one you will find in the northern part of portugal, showing borderlines are closer. very beautiful image if you think it was very old, took by a teen.. mines in that age was a disaster.

take care

jorge