Santiago de Compestela - Spain 2016

Well today was the day.  I planned an early start and I was able to start walking by 7:30.  Unfortunately there was no way to beat the rain since it was raining buckets.  On top of it, there was lightening.  Not the best to start with.  I ended up walking most of the way with an older woman from California.   She was another one that did most of it. I'm pretty sure it ended up raining more then half of the time today.   And the crowds were getting bigger as you got closer.  

As usual, it took longer once you saw the entrance to the city.  A lot of weaving through the streets. The streets and buildings in Santiago are beautiful.  It's definitely a city you want to stop and see. As I got closer to the city the rains were really coming down hard.  I can't begin to say how wet my pants were.  

Once I got o the city, I had to find where I have my credentials reviewed.  It was not in the most obvious place.  Would you believe it took 90 minutes?   After I got mine, I think the line behind me was going slower.  I'm sure it was taking more then 2 hours after me.  One thing I was told was that just before I started my walk in O Cebreiros, they actually had snow there.  I'm glad I missed that. 

Well I can now say I completed a part of the Camino.  It definitely was an adventure.  I think meeting all the people and discovering where they are from and where they started was really interesting. Plus discovering Galacia which is so different from Andulcia was wonderful.   Between the cities, farms, food and wine, there was so much to take in.  

So enjoy these final pictures of my last day in Santiago. 

Pedrouzo -Spain 2016

Today is my second last day on the Camino.   If I'm lucky I might be able to miss the rain.  Galacia is well known for its unpredictable rain showers. I've walked in one bad rain shower already but missed yesterday's.  I asked Bruno to drop me off at the end of town in the morning. One thing I have to comment on is that Spanish drivers are fast drivers.  I was really getting concerned as he sped up around the curves in the road.  Luckily I got to the start in one piece.  

The scenery on this Camino was mostly passing farms and walking through forests.  I'm afraid to say I don't have any photos.  I was lucky to walk it again with John and Tom from New Jersey.  We all ended up in the same town at the end.  Mine was a pension and I was the first one in.   I could use the rest of the day to rest.  

I thought I would comment on some of the things I brought. 

For me poles were essential.  I noticed some had them, some didn't and some only had one pole. For me they were helpful especially through some of the up hills or rocky sections. 

I should have used a car service to move my bag.  I heard it was anywhere from 3-7 euros for them to move your bag and this would have made the walk easier. 

A raincoat was essential.   I wore it in the morning to stay warm and it kept me dry during the rains. 

For me I should have brought more ibuprofen.  I had no blisters and my Solomon shoes were great.  But I could have used more ibuprofen for my foot aches. 

Bring a smaller camera.  I need to get a mirrorless or a bridge camera so I'm carrying less weight and it's accessible. Carrying my slr was weight I didn't need to carry.  

Otherwise I backed everything I needed and there wasn't anything I had to throw out. 

Arzua - Spain 2016

Talk about a perfect day to walk the Camino.   No rain predicted for today and the way should be a good trail to walk. I left my albuerge around 8am sine I'd be only walking 14 km or so today.  My least amount of distance I'd walk on the whole Camino. In hindsight I probably should have walked to Arzua yesterday but I was in no hurry to get to my next destination. 

After getting a cafe in Melide, I started out of town and ran into two guys from New Jersey. It was so pleasant to walk with them whole way today. They both told great stories and were interesting to hear more about them.   We parted in Arzua but I hope I find them tomorrow. I also hope they reunite with a friend who dropped back a couple of days ago after getting sick. Once again, you don't have to be the fittest to do this walk because it can hurt anyone who walks it.  It's how you adjust to its impact that keeps you going.  

The way today was great.  A lot more to see including a few beautiful churches.  I ran into a number of people from yesterday which is so cool.  It's really neat to see how we are all walking this in our own way. 

Since the walk today was short I thought getting to my rural house would be simple but it wasn't. Here the web site for Casa da Igrexa gave me a room when none was available.  Jose told me to wait to be picked up and I just thought he found room for me at my place.  Instead he found a place for me at another rural house.  I wasn't sure what to expect.   He was kind enough to to drive me to Lar da Mota. It turned out to be a charming property.  I really think these rural homes are a true gem in Spain. The hosts are so helpful. They offer to wash clothes for you.  You can sit outside with a drink.  They have a restaurant onsite that serves local "farm to table" food.  Just a perfect way to experience Galacia. They will even drive me back to Arzua to start my walk again on tomorrow.  What a wonderful way to take breaks between my walk. 

So enjoy some of my photos from Galacia.  

Melide - Spain 2016

All my long hiking days were over. At this point I'm hoping to enjoy the walk better since my last few days are no more then 12 miles.  After being dropped off by Maria, I could tell this would be more interesting. The trail was in relatively good shape except in a few places where yesterday's rain sunk in. It was definitely a more rolling and flat route. 

Today I walked with a couple from Miami. The husband told me how they found his father's house in Spain and ran into a cousin on their trip.  I also met yesterday a mother and daughter from South Africa who were doing the whole thing.  They apparently skipped a few hard sections. I've heard from other pilgrims who picked out a strategic route in order to make sure they could finish.  Even yesterday I ran into a doctor and his wife who quit his job to do the whole way. So everyone has their story which I loved hearing. 

So below are a few pictures I took. Most of the way was through forests but I found a few interesting buildings including the last one which is the house I'm staying in.  It's another great choice I made. I'm sure there are some bad places to sleep in but all of mine have been spot on and great choices. 

Palas de Rei - Spain 2016

I'm sorry to say there isn't much to be said about this day. The day started out promising as I made my way through the forest near Portomarin.   Unfortunately it didn't last.  I know Galacia is known for its rain but this was relentless. I was only able to stop at one temple but I couldn't rake out my camera because of the downpour of rain.  Even talking to other pilgrims who were on the Camino longer felt it was pretty miserable.  

The one great part of the whole day was it stopped raining when I got to Palas de Rei.  I called the owner of the rural house where I was staying and she picked me up.  I love staying in these out of the way houses. They take such good care of you.  I don't have a picture of the Casa Blanco but here is my room.  Not only did she do laundry for me but I had a wonderful Galacia dinner.  Just a perfect way to end my day. Luckily I have one more of these places in two days. 

Portomarin - Spain 2016

What a day it has been.  The sun was shining and everyday I feel fresh to walk the Camino. After a good breakfast at Hotel Alfonso I was off. The trail is definitely better than the last two days of hiking.  I think there was only one hill going up as being steep and one rock climb at the end that was a little unusual.  Otherwise it was a rolling trail with some muddy spots. I'm a little amazed at the few spa airs who bike ride it. A bit of a challenging route. 

The sun was shining and this day was filled with a lot more pilgrims.  There was much more unlike before Sarria which in some ways is good.  You don't feel like you are the only one out there.  The trail was more rolling with a few areas where the rain made it challenging.  I love the different places you can stop for a bite to eat or drink. I think some places just decided to go with it and open a cafe because their on the route. It's busy enough where they can do good business. I know I stopped for a cafe and later for a tortilla, one of my favorites. 

You hear many of the romantic languages on the trail like French , Spanish and Italian. Plus I like seeing what gear people are carrying you can almost guess where they are from based on the brand names. 

There aren't as many churches on this route which is disappointing but I loved the first one where this old man was there to stamp your passport.  Some of these old churches had beautiful cemeteries where the whole family is buried.  They are beautiful to see. 

But in the end I loved ending up in Portomarin, a small hillside town along a river.  You have to hike to your pension but it is so worth it. I'm at a place where you can't value enough that you can have a hot shower and blow dry your hair.  They even have a restaurant where you can have a good dinner. A complete package.  

Anyway, a good day of hiking all around. Below are a few of Sarria and along the way to Portomarin. 

Sarria - Spain 2016

There are two ways out of Tricastela.  You can go via Samos which adds 7km to your walk or take the very hilly trail through San Xil. Well after the first day I wasn't sure if I was ready to do 25 km today.  So I opted for the shorter hills route. Besides I read it was quite beautiful.  I'm glad I did since the countryside is so green and filled with many farms.  I was worried it was going to rain but it ended up a great day for a hike. 

I walked part of this route with two women from the Phillipines. They were so well travelled.  This hike proved equally challenging. I had no idea there was so much rock in this part of Spain. No wonder they have stone houses. Often the trail was filled with rocks that had been almost stripped by mining.  At times it was hard not to slip.  It seems everyday the trail is different. 

I'm glad I booked all my hotels ahead of time since I never have to worry about where I stay. I think a lot of pilgrims leave early so they have a choice of albuerge in the next town. I ended up at Hotel Alfonso which is a large hotel but then Sarria is a big town. Most pilgrims complete the Camino from this point on.  

Well tomorrow is a longer hike but I'm hoping its flatter.