Route Translatio

A day finally dawns when we are not up with the dawn! It feels odd indeed to not wake up and walk.

All we need to do is wait for the boat we've booked, along with dozens of other pilgrims. The ship will take us to Pontecesures, a route known as the Translatio because it follows the path that the remains of the Apostle Santiago were ferried down the River Ulla.

A unique feature of this journey is that it's also known by another name, the Via Crucis Maritimo Flvial - the only water route of stone crosses. We will see 17 on our trip.

As we board, we meet several others we already know and have seen along the way. The mood is subdued excitement, everyone is anticipating the imminent end of this journey, which carries relief and sadness both.

A very interesting tour begins with a close up view of the Galician mussel harvest industry. Second only to Canada in world production, we are informed.

Gliding gently along we see the first of the stone crosses. They are simple, and striking. Eventually we pass the Catoira Towers, all that remains of a first century fortification built to defend from marauding Vikings.

Arriving in Pontecesures, our little band promises to meet in Santiago for a beer together. Contact infos are exchanged, impulsive invitations issued. We may never see any of them again, but I have a bit of newfound faith and trust in the universe. If our paths are meant to cross again, they will. If not, I have gained something from every interaction, passing comments to deep discussions.

Brad and I have the day in very nearby Padron to explore before we're back on the road tomorrow. Cathedrals are seen, my favorite type of ancient street warrens abound. It's truly enjoyable to stroll the streets with no agenda! I love the playgrounds here, they are so clean, with well padded surfaces and interesting equipment. So well used, so we can hear the little voices as we find ourselves the best gelato.

Over a glass of wine, we watch a dating show in rapid Spanish and try to figure out the results of the meetings. We're pretty good at this....body language is universal 😅Read more