Camino and other travels

Newest first

Footprints
Photos

Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 18
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 9:45 AM
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Spain Iria 42.748519, -8.65231142°44’55” N 8°39’8” W
2 1 1
Flowers and plants of our travels
October 11, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
The only one I know the name of is the Calan lily.
TravelerMaybe our friends - Pam Coco - you can tell us the names of these things
10/5/23Reply
Amazing to see them in such wild settings theres an app that will identify name of flowers, trees etc... [Lauri]
10/5/23Reply
Traveler😀 did not think of that
10/5/23Reply
4 more comments
4 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 18
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 3:54 PM
☁️ 27 °C
Altitude: 156 m
Spain Laraño 42.865975, -8.57316442°51’58” N 8°34’23” W
Cats of our travels
October 11, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Sandra's happy place. Jackpot on day 13. We came through a tiny town Rueiro where it seems someone has set up a bit of a cat sanctuary. Some were too shy for a photo but there were many.
TravelerMore "catty" photos, please. And donkeys are okay too.
10/5/23Reply
TravelerOk. I am on it! We've seen many kitties. This one was particularly adorable so Mary took a photo.
10/5/23Reply
TravelerOh, I'm sure there is a "cats of the Camino" calendar somewhere!
10/5/23Reply
TravelerMust be! I will be on the lookout.
10/5/23Reply
2 more comments
4 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 18
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 7:15 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 256 m
Spain Alameda Park 42.876697, -8.54377242°52’36” N 8°32’38” W
1
These feet were made for walking
October 11, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Since we arrived in Portugal these feet have walked 258 kms and 386,824 steps across Portugal and Spain.
TravelerAlmost there.
10/11/23Reply
They look strong!! Well done. 🤗 [Amy]
10/12/23Reply
TravelerYes well done! What an adventure you’re both having.
10/12/23Reply
7 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 19
Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 11:34 AM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 243 m
Spain Praza do Obradoiro 42.880836, -8.54577542°52’51” N 8°32’45” W
1
Call me Alexandram
October 12, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Obtained our Compostela and distance certificates and wandered town. I like my Latin name!
Traveler Interesting You were named after my favorite Uncle and he was Alexander but everyone called him Sandy and he was a piper
10/13/23Reply
What a fantastic finish to your walk. Love the name! [Carol]
10/13/23Reply
8 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 20
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 1:00 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 662 m
Spain Plaza Puerta del Sol 40.416306, -3.703240°24’59” N 3°42’12” W
2
Madrid!
October 13, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Mary and I boarded a train to Madrid this morning. Mary has been here many times before - it being one of her favorite cities but this is my first time. It is a beautiful city! The beautiful buildings are everywhere. We stopped at a nice cocktail bar for a Spanish gin before continuing our travels through the public gardens in which families and friends were gathering for Friday evening visits. Then we found a long pedestrian street with many outdoor restaurants. We had a wonderful salad and some paella. Finally in an alley, on our return walk to our hotel we spied an amazing six story mural.Read more
Wow that mural is spectacular. Would love to know the story behind it. [Carol Spychka]
10/13/23Reply
TravelerMe too! I will post more if I am able to get more info. It is stunning and in an alley that is not well traveled at the back of a building.
10/14/23Reply
Traveler That is amazing You photos are all amazing and the architecture is so beautiful What an experience No wonder Mary has gone there so often
10/13/23Reply
Traveler❤️
10/14/23Reply
TravelerYour journey continues to get better and better! Your photos are absolutely amazing and you both look so fresh, like you haven’t walked hundreds of kms! 🥰
10/14/23Reply
7 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 672 m
Spain Teatro Cofidis Alcázar 40.417992, -3.6995540°25’5” N 3°41’58” W
Madrid continued
October 14, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Spent the day Saturday wandering the city. The architecture is amazing. Last night we happened upon a bar that took us back to the 60s, with old music and the old Jimmy Stewart movie Harvey. Fascinating place with amazing cocktails. Check it out if you are in Madrid. https://www.facebook.com/Harveyscocktail?mibext…Read more
6 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 22
Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 3:33 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 534 m
Spain Teatro de Rojas 39.8576, -4.02299439°51’27” N 4°1’23” W
Toledo - the cathedral
October 15, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
The cathedral - built between 1227 and 1493 is massive and impressive (read understatement).
TravelerWow, wow wow. What to say! Utterly stunning. What a trip you are having. 🥰
10/15/23Reply
Traveler❤️
10/16/23Reply
Beautiful! [Amy]
10/17/23Reply
5 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 22
Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 4:34 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 532 m
Spain Workshop of the Moor 39.8561, -4.02631139°51’22” N 4°1’35” W
1 2 1
Toledo
October 15, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
We walked to the Madrid train station (see the lovely boulevard in Madrid) this morning and traveled to Toledo - a 35 minute trip. Toledo has a cool train station albeit small.

Toledo is a medieval walled city and originally the capital of Spain - named a unesco world heritage site in the 80s - with Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments. It also has a massive military history museum.

Home to manchego cheese production there's even a tiny museum sharing it's history and production process.

For lunch we had what is called a manchego sheet (with a sheet of manchego melted and hardened hung on clothes pins and served with guacamole) and pork cheeka with a manchego sauce.

We visited the cathedral and the ancient synagogue as well.

On the way out of town we spotted a cool monument to the people who worked to keep citizens safe during covid.

Oh and Mom, they have an entire store devoted to Lladros.Read more
Traveler Synagogue?
10/16/23Reply
Traveler Madrid train station? Last holdout for the Republicans. Amazing it survived.
10/16/23Reply
Traveler Ah yes Lladro How lovely Margaret told me that Toledo is also famous for it's steel and she bought a wonderful carving knife there The photos continue to amaze
10/16/23Reply
Traveler❤️ yes knives for sale here everywhere!
10/16/23Reply
2 more comments
4 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 11:01 AM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 652 m
Spain Plaza de Cibeles 40.419408, -3.69388340°25’10” N 3°41’38” W
2
Madrid day 3
October 16, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Madrid continues to impress. Beautiful buildings and gardens, gin clubs and restaurants galore. Today we had lunch in a great place that I would describe as granville island on steroids, shopped (Mary bought a pair of shoes, fancy trainers), saw an impressive 12 foot sculpture (part of a city program to show the art of locals for up to a year), visited the national library (Mary's happy place), had dinner with a former NDI colleague I've not seen since 2002 and visited a gin club where we tried a new to us spanish gin.Read more
Traveler HMMM FANCY
10/17/23Reply
Traveler😊 yup. And comfy.
10/17/23Reply
TravelerAmazing! You both look so so happy. The food and gin must be wonderful. 😋
10/17/23Reply
Traveler😊 it is!
10/17/23Reply
3 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 24
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 9:00 AM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 669 m
Spain Puerta del Sol 40.413911, -3.70007240°24’50” N 3°42’0” W
2 1 2
Madrid day 4
October 17, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Started our day with a guided tour of the Prado museum. Wonderful guide who showed us all the most important pieces and described the history, significance and symbolism. After the tour she took us to a famous and very old (opened in 1827) vermouth and tapas bar. We were treated to a glass of Casa Alberto vermouth - to open up the palette - after which our guide took us to Botin restaurant (founded in 1725), famous for its roast suckling pig. We were served that and a cheese cake with a custard type centre. So good. We left our amazing guide Rosita after the meal.

Mary and I walked to the Presidential Palace but did not go in as the ticket line was super long. We did however get a good photo looking down over the city and watched an accordion player for a bit. My favorites were his variations of Imagine and Time to Say Goodbye.

Tonight we walked to a gin club - La Pasa Gin Bar - near our hotel. Such a lovely young man who owns the place. He talked us through many of his Spanish gins. We had to try a couple each 😏 particularly liked the writing on my gin glass - I'm not old, I am vintage.Read more
TravelerTime to say goodbye is one of my most favorite songs It all sounds so wonderful and exciting So much new each day Good saying I'm not old I 'm vintage Have to adopt that one
10/17/23Reply
Traveler That looks yummy
10/17/23Reply
Traveler So lovely Why aren't folks putting some money in the case ??
10/17/23Reply
TravelerMary did!
10/18/23Reply
2 more comments
6 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 25
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 680 m
Spain Teatro Príncipe Gran Vía 40.419406, -3.702740°25’10” N 3°42’10” W
2
Madrid day 5
October 18, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Spent a good part of today at the Reina Sofia museum. Had lunch in their very cool looking cafeteria with a great soundtrack. Later we retired to Casa Alberto - founded in 1827 - for some of their famous Vermut and cheesecake.Read more
Traveler I want some too
10/18/23Reply
Traveler🤣
10/19/23Reply
TravelerStunning, just stunning! ❤️
10/19/23Reply
4 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 26
Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 9:00 AM
🌧 14 °C
Altitude: 611 m
Spain Barajas 40.463906, -3.569640°27’50” N 3°34’11” W
1
Last day in Madrid
October 19, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
We spent the first half of the day at the Thyssen Bernemisza museum first started as a private collection by Baron Heinrich Thyssen in 1905. There are 775 works that span the 13th to 20th century. There was also a small temporary Picasso exhibit. The collection was turned over to the Spanish government in 1993. https://www.museothyssen.org/ while at the museum it was very exciting to discover three John Singer Sargeant paintings - an artist of whom we have several prints in our home in Edmonton.

Upon leaving we found the streets teeming with unusually hard rain but we braved it nonetheless to visit the famous Churria San Gines, founded in 1894 https://chocolateriasangines.com/ for chocolate and Churros - a must do in Madrid. To accompany the Churros (fried dough) you are served chocolate. It is meant to be consumed like hot chocolate but it is the darkest, richest almost pudding like drink. The intention is that you dip the Churros in the chocolate.

In the evening we returned to our favorite bar - Harvey's cocktail bar for amazing cocktails and croquette snacks. Next off to Dublin!Read more
Traveler you are brave to face the downpour You have been pretty fortunate having good weather so one day isn't too bad out of all the good ones are you off to Dublin next
10/20/23Reply
6 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 27
Friday, October 20, 2023 at 3:00 PM
🌧 11 °C
Altitude: 37 m
Ireland St. Stephen's Green 53.340105, -6.264953°20’24” N 6°15’54” W
1 1
Dublin
October 20, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Arrived in Dublin for the last part of our trip. Cold and rainy afternoon with flooding in some parts of the city. We wandered a bit and then retired to the bar on our lovely hotel - The Marlin. Started Saturday with another big wander with stops at some jewelry stores, a cross over the ha'penny bridge, a cheesemongery (had to taste several - amazing. We were highly entertained by the young fellow who served us. When he asked about our trip and Mary told him we had walked the Camino his response was "fair play to you". Apparently that is Irish for wow, good for you.) and a visit to the Celtic whiskey shop that Rachel O'Reilly said we had to visit. You were right Rachel! Next on to the Temple Bar area where we walked by several pubs with live fiddle music and singing. We settled on Quay's upstairs where we were able to get a table and have a great fish and chips lunch. After more wandering we visited The Gin Palace. In the evening we saw a play at the historic Gaiety Theatre, founded in 1871.Read more
Traveler That looks delish
10/21/23Reply
Traveler When do you fly home
10/21/23Reply
6 likes
Camino and other travels Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 29
Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 9:00 AM
☀️ 6 °C
Altitude: 26 m
Ireland St. Stephen's Green 53.340105, -6.263853°20’24” N 6°15’50” W
1
Last day in Ireland
October 22, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C
Mary and I started our last day in Ireland with a visit to the National Gallery. Next we walked through St Stephen's Green - a beautiful park in the middle of Dublin. There we saw a monument remembering the famine, and the summer house where women and men slept and ate during the Easter uprising. Next we moved on to the train station and hopped on the first train leaving for somewhere on the coast. We took some photos from the train (yes Elizabeth, sun and blue skies again in Ireland 😉). We disembarked an hour outside Dublin at Greystones, a lovely little coastal town. After lunch at the Burnaby House Pub we wandered along the beach road and watched some very hearty souls swimming (it was only about 10 degrees) and listened to a piper.Read more
Traveler Love the pipes
10/22/23Reply
TravelerLovely, so lovely. The pipes, the green and the sky. Wow. Such a great journey you’ve had. 🥰
10/23/23Reply
5 likes
Trip end
October 24, 2023