Camino Santiago (from Sarria)

September - October 2023

I will be walking the, short, section of the Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. I will be stopping at Portomarin, Eirexe, O'Coto, Arzua, Salceda, and Xan Xordo on the way. In addition, I will be visiting Bilbao and Barcelona. Read more

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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 24, 2023, 12:25pm
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Australia New South Wales Marrickville Tempe Alexandra Canal -33.93628, 151.1661733°56’11” S 151°9’58” E
Day 1
Heading out
September 24, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
I checked in online this morning and have just dropped off my suitcase at Sydney airport! The checked in baggage situation is a very stark contrast to my last pilgrimage - my backpack weighed in at 6.2 kilos when I set out for the first half of the Via Francigena, and this time, with the luxury of daily luggage transfers from hotel to hotel whilst I'm in Spain my suitcase weighted in at an astounding 18.2 kilos!!!!! I'll try to post again when I get to Abu Dhabi.Read more
Traveler Safe travels, Carmel, looking forward to being a part of your amazing adventures
9/23/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Thanks Sue 😊
9/23/23Reply
Traveler Safe travels. Buen Camino. See you in Santiago.🤗
9/24/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Same here and thanks Ann.
9/27/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 24, 2023, 11:40pm
- 🌙 34 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi International Airport 24.429415, 54.64349124°25’46” N 54°38’37” E
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Day 1
Abu Dhabi
September 24, 2023 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 34 °C
Just landed in Abu Dhabi. It was a good flight but long. It's around 11:30 pm here. The smoking room is at the back of a bar. Next stop Madrid!
Traveler Where are you heading from Madrid - I can’t remember 🤔
9/24/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen I'm going straight from Madrid to Bilbao.
9/24/23Reply
Traveler Lucky you. Loved Bilbao!
9/24/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen 😁
9/24/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 25, 2023, 8:47am
- ☀️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 628 m
- Spain Madrid Barajas Timón Aeropuerto Madrid-Barajas T4 40.491947, -3.59374240°29’31” N 3°35’37” W
Day 2
Madrid
September 25, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Just got to Madrid, caught a little tube train thing to the exit (Terminal 4), and have made my way to the bus to take me to Terminal 2 for my flight to Bilbao. I am having my first coffee (Cafe con leche) in Spain - not bad at all.Read more
Traveler Looking forward to those Bilbao photos
9/25/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen 👍
9/25/23Reply
Traveler I hope you had a good flight Carmel. I am looking forward to following you on your pilgrimage.
9/25/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen 👍
9/25/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 25, 2023, 7:23pm
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- Spain Basque Country Bilbao 43.267834, -2.9281943°16’4” N 2°55’41” W
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Day 2
Day -2 - Bilbao
September 25, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
I arrived in Bilbao around midday. I walked around quite a bit this afternoon and found the city to be very beautiful. I arrived with no preconceived ideas or knowledge as I was only interested in one building: Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum. What I found is a wide variety of building styles that work well together as, and I may find this all over Spain, there is an attention to detail, either a building feature or well considered, and placed, greenery that enhances the structures overall. I'm very tired now as I didn't get a lot of sleep on the plane trips over to Spain, so I'm really hoping I sleep well tonight. One thing I found a little confronting was the two machine gun armed guards at the airport in Bilbao! Oh, and I must share my delight at being greeted at the airport exit by a driver with my name on a sign (his iPad really) - just like in the movies - I've arranged a few of these pre and post Camino. One disappointment; I wasn't able to get into any churches!Read more
Traveler At first guess this had the hand of Gaudi 🥳
9/25/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Could be. I don't know anything LOL
9/26/23Reply
Traveler WoW and didn't you get sunny weather
9/25/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Yes, absolutely! 28 degrees and not a cloud in the sky! What luck. And what a lovely welcome to Spain
9/25/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 26, 2023, 6:36pm
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 22 m
- Spain Basque Country Bilbao 43.268024, -2.92772443°16’5” N 2°55’40” W
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Day 3
Day -1 - Bilbao
September 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
What a great day! I've walked 27kms as I made my way around the city and loved every minute of it. The map I used is threadbare. The Guggenheim exceeded expectations, and the day just got better from there. I visited the Fine Art Museum, saw heaps of incredible buildings, I was able to get inside four churches (the Spanish really go all out on the altar decorations) and followed the Way of Saint James (just a little bit). I even visited the local Bullring (not active). I'm sitting in my hotel bar, having a well deserved beer and watching the foot traffic along the river (Ria de Bilao - the Nervion). I am so glad I came here and was able to explore. P.S. the photos I've shared are just the tip of the iceberg - I took heaps of photos today.Read more
Traveler Loving your photos Carmel 🤩
9/26/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Thanks, Marian. I can't take take the credit - It's the place.
9/26/23Reply
Traveler Carmel thanks for sharing.... the depth and quality of your photos/descriptions has put it on my Bucket list.
9/26/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen 👍
9/26/23Reply
Traveler Agree. Thank you for sharing Carmel 🤗
9/27/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 27, 2023, 9:14am
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 339 m
- Spain Galicia Santiago de Compostela Sabugueira Santiago de Compostela Airport 42.904721, -8.42846842°54’17” N 8°25’42” W
Day 4
Day 0 - Santiago to Sarria
September 27, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
I've just landed in Santiago airport and have hopped into the car that will take me to Sarria. I didn't see any pilgrims at the airport, but I did catch one sign.
Traveler How's the jetlag so far?
9/27/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Under control (with alcohol) LOL. The first night wasn't too bad, but last night I wasn't tired at all and had two wines with dinner to help me sleep. That really helped.
9/27/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 27, 2023, 4:57pm
- ☁️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 448 m
- Spain Galicia Sarria 42.783825, -7.41870742°47’2” N 7°25’7” W
Day 4
Day 0 - Sarria
September 27, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
The drive from Santiago to Sarria was pleasant. It was mostly freeway at 120 klms an hour, and I recalled when I was driving in Montana and the speed limit on the freeway was 120 miles per hour! It was quite a misty morning which always makes the countryside look great. The first town we drive through was packed with pilgrims, which made me a little concerned about how I'm going to be able to deal with the crowds - but I suppressed that thought. I got to Sarria before 11 a.m. and incredibly, my room was ready, so I was able to come right up. I dropped my things off and then set out to explore the town. As you would expect, there are references to the Camino everywhere in town, and I was very pleased to get some hat pins and patches. I'm now waiting for the rest of the ACU group that I will be walking with. They are all on the train from Madrid. I have everything ready to set off tomorrow.Read more
Traveler Buen CAMINO Carmel.... well organized... hope you get the weather you deserve 😆
9/27/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Thank you, Bruce 😊
9/27/23Reply
Traveler We've got hat pins as well. Glad you have arrived in Sarria and about to start your next adventure. Buen Camino. 😀
9/27/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen Thanks, Ann. I'm all keen to make a start now. 😁
9/27/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 28, 2023, 9:57pm
- 🌙 19 °C
- Altitude: 387 m
- Spain Galicia Portomarín 42.806399, -7.61672842°48’23” N 7°37’0” W
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Day 5
Day 1 - Sarria to Portomarin
September 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
I'm finally here. After all those years of thinking about and planning for a Camino; it's finally happening. There were so many of us pilgrims along the Way in the morning, and I have to be honest, it was a little intimidating. Then we got to the 800 year old oak tree, which was described by a friend, when he did the Camino, and I realised that I am just one of the cogs in a very large machine, i.e. we are all in this amazing thing together, and then I began to relish in my very small part of it and welcome the presence of those around me. After a delicious lunch, the crowd seemed to thin out, and I was able to walk alone and relax into the experience. Tonight, our small group was able to celebrate mass in the church at Portomarin (I mean, we had the place all to ourselves) - a church that was established in the 1200s. How awesome is that? And even though I only needed to obtain 2 stamps on my credential today , I ended up with 9! LOL.Read more
Traveler Carmel I recognised many of the places in your photos and I have several identical ones of my Camino passing through in June. Thanks for posting I am enjoying reliving it,
9/28/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen I'm glad Marian 😊
9/28/23Reply
Traveler Wow😲
9/29/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen 👍
9/29/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 29, 2023, 5:10pm
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 639 m
- Spain Galicia Monterroso Tarrío 42.84824, -7.81584542°50’54” N 7°48’57” W
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Day 6
Day 2 - Portomarin to Eirexe
September 29, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We headed out just before 8 a.m. in the dark into a very thick fog. The climb out of Portomarin was lovely, and we seemed to climb for the rest of the day (exhausting). The fog stayed around for ages, and once it lifted, the day got very hot - never good for me. The scenery was amazing. We seemed to be walking above the clouds. I started to get a sense of the Camino today; all these people, including myself, are all heading toward the same place. I began to feel an underlying sense of excitement and to feel that I am a very small part of something huge. I discovered a new drink today: Tinto de Verano. It is made up of red wine (all the local reds we have tried have been delicious) and lemon and is very refreshing. Our hotel tonight is off the Way, and we were transported here this afternoon and will get a ride back to the Way tomorrow. The hotel is lovely and my room gorgeous.Read more
Traveler I love Tinto de Verano. The other drink I also like is Cervasa con limon (San Miguel Radler). It's been very hot today and we drank Tinto de Verano at our early afternoon stop.
9/29/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen I'm glad to find out that the beer with lemon is good. I've been meaning to try it 👍
9/29/23Reply
Traveler I don't like beer but it was so hot near Rabanal when I stopped for rest and drink. I saw sign Limon at the bar and pointed to order. As they were pouring I noticed the froth and realised I had ordered a beer! Must have been as Ann says San Miguel Radler. It was delicious. 😉
9/30/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen 👍. I had one today and only 2%. I loved it.
9/30/23Reply
Traveler 👍
9/30/23Reply
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Carmel Carlsen Camino Santiago (from Sarria)
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- Sep 30, 2023, 5:41pm
- ☀️ 30 °C
- Altitude: 439 m
- Spain Galicia Palas de Rei Orosa 42.881886, -7.94274942°52’55” N 7°56’34” W
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Day 3 - Eirexe to Porto de Bois
September 30, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
We left our accommodation very late this morning and did not start on our way until 9:45. It was quite a hot day, and I really appreciated the wood lined pathways. Not only are they beautiful, but they also provide a much needed respite from the sun. I caught my first sightings of gum trees - I noticed them after seeing gum leaves on the Way. Today's walk for me has been the most pleasant so far. Our accommodation tonight is outstanding. It is such a joy to have a shower after a very sweaty day. At lunch I got to try the lemon beer, Radler, I loved it (photo included). Apparently, it's available in Australia.Read more
Traveler Carmel, you know what I will be buying when I get home from Dan Murphy's. Oh and also making Tinto de Veranos.😀
9/30/23Reply
Carmel Carlsen For sure Ann
9/30/23Reply
Traveler Hopefully teaching me how to make tooo😅
9/30/23Reply
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