Camino Santiago de Compostella

Over 3 years in planning, delayed 1 year by COVID I am humbly embarking on a 500 miles Spiritual and Religious Pilgrimage walking the Camino Frances route Read more

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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
D
June 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
So I checked with Google Maps and saw that coming out of Ponferrada it's a straight run from one little suburb town to another to my albergue instead of going back up into the mountains and the treacherous Trails of Camino
so I thought that I take that shortcut and now moving through the little towns that's where I saw the sign on one of the cafes of the little town that I passed...
By the way I have been playing tortoise and Hare with one lady from Kalamazoo in the last couple of days and she categorically denies that the Elvis lives there....Read more
TravelerSo are you staying off the treacherous trail?
6/13/22Reply
TravelerI did on this section but it is not always available as an option
6/13/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Camponaraya
June 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
At first it almost look like driving through Bensalem or something but apparently there are still a couple of things that I was able to find and take some pictures
Obviously the storks are back...
Now, I say this house definitely has possibilities 🤨Read more
TravelerHow are storks different from Herons? Does the United States have storks? (Why don't I know this?)
6/13/22Reply
Travelerof course we have storks who do you think brings all American babies!? 🤣 seriously apparently they used to be in the same class but not anymore. I believe main difference is that herons are water fowl and storks are not
6/13/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Albergue
June 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
This is a very nice albergue; quite spacious
I was the first one in so had time to pick my own bunk and take care of all necessary things before other pilgrims started trickling in

The sign is in Dutch and basically translates to
Life is not to (for) work, work is to (for) life

It has a restaurant attached so don't have to go too far for dinner and it has a very nice Garden to relax

Considering that I had a quite late desayno numero uno, I decided to have very plain desayuno numeral Duo after I took my shower 😇

Leif from Sweden who I met 1st time in Aya y Alla albergue on day 3 and afterwards we were moving more or less together for approximately first eight or nine days
he was the one that was traveling with Belgian and Dutch ladies and none of them are on the Camino anymore ...😔
Paula is from Germany and she did the Camino in stages throughout the many years, last time five years ago, so this time she is picking up in Ponferrada which means that she started today and is going to attempt to walk as much as she can in about 1 week

And finally where is that post where I said Gee did I really already walked 200 km?
GEE,...is it really only 200 kilometers left????Read more
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
2
Dinner del Dia
June 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F
Peppers stuffed with seafood
and just cause I was worried that you would ask me tons of questions here is a bisection
pork loin with...you guessed it...patatas fritte
rice pudding
TravelerThe loin & the rice pudding look terrific! I'm not so sure about the peppers stuffed with seafood.
6/14/22Reply
Traveleragreed. of course my curiosity was peaked so I tried it. a little unusual but palatable
6/14/22Reply
Traveler Arroz con leche ?
6/14/22Reply
Travelersi Senor
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
(Oh) Hot Summer Day
June 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
.. (Hot summer day)
Please carry me along
Hot summer day
Carry me along
To its end Where I begin
Long summer dreams (Long summer dreams) Sliding round my mind
Those long summer dreams (Long summer dreams)
Are leaving me behind
Hot summer day Carry me along
To its end Where I begin....

Very hot scorching day 99 degrees for high...
dropped to 96 by 8:00pm... and went back to 99
probably another one tomorrow
thankfully another short leg coming up and I am going to take my nightly rest now

And BTW I am in CamponarayaRead more
TravelerRest well, enjoy your day tomorrow 👍
6/13/22Reply
Traveler🙏
6/13/22Reply
TravelerSleep tight.
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Quiet morning in Camponaraya
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Getting an early start before the heat kicks in
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginias
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Tell me that it doesn't look like as if we are on Blue Ridge Parkway?!
TravelerBRP has lots of trees
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
2
A
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Leif caught up with me ... I thought he was long gone
He took picture of me walking in front of him
TravelerNice to catch up with friends!
6/14/22Reply
Traveler😁
6/14/22Reply
TravelerIt looks like a beautiful forest just ahead.
6/14/22Reply
TravelerI would not go as far as calling it forest; more like a n outcropping...they just pop up here and there
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Breakfast at Casabelos
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Desayuno numero uno
See translation
TravelerLooks yummy.
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Wine press
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
No Looocie and Ethyl here.....
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
B
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Santiago 198km straight
Albergue 50m to the right
Why not take a break?! 😊

And shortly after that... no vegetarian here
TravelerRabbit Stew anyone?
6/14/22Reply
Travelerwhat rabbit? we didn't see any rabbits 😁
6/14/22Reply
TravelerThere hare.
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Area de Descanso
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Rest area for Pilgrims
We munched on grapes, cherries and apples while enjoying the shade...
It was beginning to get hot..
TravelerSounds delectable!
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
C
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
Back to beautiful mountains views and...
Yup...Camino Provides 🤣
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Villafranca del Bierzo
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Villafranca del Bierzo is a village and municipality located in the comarca of El Bierzo, in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain.

Totally cool history please check

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villafranca_del…

The Peninsular War (1807–1814) of course was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars.

Which is where one of my fave song quotes comes from
Oer the hills and oer the plains
Through Flanders Portugal and Spain
King George commands and we obey
Oer the hills and far away...

And of course there is Bernard Caldwell's Sharpe Rifles series and PBS TV ones with young Sean Bean...

Be it that this is the end of my stage and I was waaaay too early fir my albergue check in, we took another break before I walked Leif to the other side of Plaza Major and wished him a fond Buen Camino.... he's moving on for another 10km

And not counting fideua in Burgos this is my 1st true pasta dish so far (carbonara)

Later in the evening the pilgrims and locals gather on Plaza Mayor for dinner and

Iglesia de San Francisco I probably would have climbed up but it's too late in the day and still too hot for me to do that so that's the only picture we getRead more
TravelerGood that you are taking your time and taking it a little easy.
6/14/22Reply
TravelerTrue but as stated I could have done a little more!!!
6/14/22Reply
TravelerThe picture you got is great. Thanks.
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Albergue
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F
Very nice place....
I grabbed a corner niche Lower bunk....almost like a private room
And right across from the window
So hopefully I will get some fresh breeze tonight and a good sleep

Oh and that's Suri the boss

It is 98 here now...😮🥵🌡🔥Read more
Don't forget to hydrate!! [Matt]
6/14/22Reply
TravelerYes, take in plenty of water. Prehydrate before leaving in the morning also 👍
6/14/22Reply
Travelerguys no worries. I drink I have 3L camelback 😊 and let's remember Day 25 on Camino, yes?!
6/14/22Reply
TravelerRight, you're an old pro now. :)
6/14/22Reply
Travelerand will be even older pro in 2 weeks 😄
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
2
Dinner at El Casino bar
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F
Requestor de Gulas
Merlusa
YougurtCrema y fruita

Adrian just started from Ponferrada
He was born in Barcelona and now lives in Germany. We've been in the same albergues for 2 days.

Steffi is another blast from the past.... I have not seen her since Pamplona...

With Sanchez also staying in the same Albergue this has been somewhat a reconnecting dayRead more
See translation
TravelerReconnections are refreshing.
6/14/22Reply
Traveler What’s the dessert?
6/14/22Reply
Traveleryogurt with fruit-kind jelly. was quite yummy
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
And there was evening,.....
June 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
So, as stated short leg of only 14km or so....the morning was more than fine and if not for already made reservation I definitely could have done another 5, possibly even a little more... oh well...
I am Thankful for what I accomplished.

Another 16km is planned for tomorrow, partially breaking the big climb to O Cebreiro into 2 stages. Looks like I will be more or less in the middle...and might even escape incoming rain

BTW 89 Now and 97 expected tomorrow ....

en general creo que prefiero estar en barcelonaRead more
TravelerEven though you felt like you could have done another 5km, I'm glad you had the chance to give your feet a little break. As I look at the map, I can't believe how far you have walked! Cheers to you!
6/14/22Reply
Travelerok but don't forget that 5km not walked today = 5km must walk tomorrow
6/14/22Reply
Traveler🙏
6/14/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Windy morning
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
A bit cooler but more windier morning to start the day getting out of Villafranca del Bierzo

Another hot day in front plus they are calling for a possibility of thunderstorms about midday but hopefully I should make my albergue before that

WOW Actually caught the stork taking off 😃Read more
TravelerStork alert!
6/15/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
A
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Last look at the castle
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Lehigh Tunnel
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Camino de Poconos
See translation
TravelerNice big shell engraved over the entrance to the tunnel...
6/15/22Reply
Traveleryou noticed 😊
6/15/22Reply
TravelerCamino de Poconos ... cute
6/15/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Pieros
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Moving along at pretty decent clip
Weather is on the cooler side so that definitely helps
TravelerThe flowerboxes are so beautiful! There have been so many of them along your route. How thoughtful of the pilgrimage bystanders.
6/15/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Trabadelo
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Desayuno numero duo, the first one was at albergue this morning
Freshly made empanada and boy was it GOOOOOOD!

Lydia from Guatemala. We came out from our Albergue this morning pretty much at the same time so then just continued together going on the Way
She told me a lot of fascinating things about Guatemala
She is a runner and actually ran parts of Meseta sending her backpack forward and just holding on to her water bottleRead more
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
La Portella de Valcarce
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Apostle Santiago

Must buy goat cheese

Spanish geese
I think they were asking me for food... but I am not sure 😕
TravelerJust an FYI- our baby geese are all grown up; can't hardly tell the difference between the babies & the mom & dad.
6/16/22Reply
Travelerbut do they ask you for food? en Español? 😆
6/16/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Vega de Valcarce
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
The 1st 2 pictures are actually Ambasmestas which runs right into Vega de Valcarce

More like a fast break then Desayuno numero 2...and perhaps a strange combination at that
TravelerGrapes, olives, and beer? What's strange about that? ... the flowers are really beautiful.
6/15/22Reply
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Camino Santiago de Compostella Traveler
Albergue
June 15, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
El Paso like in Texas
OMG.... it is actually A/Cd 😍🆒️
I sort of can dig these short stages...
Walk very leisurely for 4-5 hours with breaks included, get to Albergue either right by or slightly before the opening time, be one of the first ones in, take a nice shower, reorganize for tonight and tomorrow and just chill..🤩😇

And beyond the clothesline if you can zoom in at the clump of trees beyond the meadow- there are horses out thereRead more
TravelerYes, those short days are a fantastic respite from the long hard walks. It gives you the opportunity to see that slowing down is therapeutic 👌
6/15/22Reply
Traveler👌
6/15/22Reply
TravelerOne of those horses looks like a donkey.
6/15/22Reply
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