St. James, the Greater

June - July 2022
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region. It’s known as the culmination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and the alleged burial site of the Biblical apostle St. James. His remains reputedly lie within.
  • 33footprints
  • 4countries
  • 15days
  • 248photos
  • 2videos
  • 11.3kmiles
  • 10.8kmiles
  • February 21, 2021

    June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Walking - Sunday - February 21, 2021

    Barbara’s 59th b-day!
    Decided to listen to “Contemplative Music” and avoid distractions. I took Biscuit the 1/2 mile for a play date and walked 3.22 miles (Tot. 4.41). Walked in Fair Oaks Ranch and took, started, my regular route for 3 miles and decided to change and follow the Trail. A little rocky/muddy after the snow, but good practice for hiking. The most common trash is the “mask flower” or weed. It’s a face mask stuck on a weed. Lots of people out, walking, running, riding bikes, etc.Read more

  • February 22, 2021

    June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Walking - Monday - February 22, 2021

    Walked 2.32 miles (Tot. 6.73). I went during lunch. The first day is the hardest. It was a nice walk, listening to music, in one ear. I went out San Antonio Street towards Granzin’s and then around St. John’s Epis. Church. They have the Way of the Cross on the property and I spent a little time looking at those. I did notice a lot of cactus plants and related succulents were quite possibly dead after the hard freeze for a week. Nice, quiet quick walk. Had to get to Veterans Treatment Court.Read more

  • Caught up!

    June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    Walking - Tuesday - February 23, 2021

    Walked 3.66 miles (Total 10.39) Started off rather quaint. Walked across the new bridge on E. San Antonio over the Comal River. Headed north to Union towards the hospital. Different roads and surfaces were good training for walking. Tried some different music. Christian Classical, etc. Not sure what I like best. Went down a familiar park road towards Hinman Island and ran into construction. Ended up walking on the golf course to get past it. (Rude golfers). One more reason not to golf. Ended up circling back the way I had already been. But ok. Still pretty peaceful at a pretty good pace. 20.17 minute mile.Read more

  • February 24, 2021

    June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    Walking - Wednesday - February 24, 2021

    Walked 1.78 miles (Total 12.17). It’s Wednesday, so Biscuit was with me. We went down under to the tracks and came back around. Very interesting to see some of the older German houses in New Branfels. The architecture and way they have been maintained is very nice. Need to take some pictures.Read more

  • February 25, 2021

    June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    Walking - February 25, 2021

    Walked 3.81 miles. (Total 15.98). Finished up Court so had some time to get a little distance in. It was also kind of a crummy weather day. So, it was good practice for the real deal. A little wet, and a little cool. And not the safest place of places to walk. Parts of New Branfels are nice to walk in. Other parts, the sidewalks are too narrow and traffic goes by too fast. I went out Seguin Avenue. to Business 35 to La Cosecha for lunch. Guadalupe River was nice looking, but I didn’t want to stop because of traffic going by. And my grandfather and great-grandfather were hit and killed by cars. Nice meal - red snapper tacos. Went back a different way - Down Comal Street and came across the new running store to be opened by my friend Michelle - waiting on city permits. Ridiculous.

    This completes the journaling I did before 2022.
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  • Final Send Off

    June 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    Back to 2022

    Tonight was the final send off from Jerry’s. Seeley joined us for dinner. A wonderful dinner of Hawaiian chicken from the grill with cooked pineapple, green beans, mashed potatoes and a smorgasbord of desserts. Kathleen and Seeley left to stay at Seeley’s and shop and go to a show. Great evening. Wonderful send off. Thank you Jerry and Ana!Read more

  • Cleared Security! Flight Confirmed!

    June 25, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    The last hurdle has been cleared. Jerry got us to the airport plenty early and we were immediately met with mass people and no idea where to go. Somehow “Premium Economy” was the magical Password that got us in the right and shortest line. Still can’t say anything I love about American Airlines. But, in spite of the agent’s harsh demanding tone, she got us through check-in successfully. Added to the pressure was trying to understand what she said with a mask 😷 on behind a thick, bullet proof (?) shield.

    We now have a little time (ok 3 hours) to relax and have a drink knowing we are well on our way. It is very comforting to know that after almost 5 years of trying we are actually going to start and complete our walk. Thank you all very much for following us and supporting us on this incredible journey.

    CHEERS AND BOM CAMINO!
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  • Yo Soy Un Peregrino!

    June 26, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    It’s official! I am a Peregrino. A pilgrim on the Camino.

    The overall flight from JFK to Madrid to Porto, Portugal went well. JFK - Madrid - Our “premium economy” seats were wide and comfortable, and we had plenty of leg room with no one in front of us. The food was decent as was the attempted sleeping. Madrid is a huuuuge airport, especially when coming through customs, legally anyway.

    On the other side was a plane waiting for us, eventually, to take us to Porto. When was the last time you walked out on the tarmac to get on and off the plane?

    Getting to our hotel went well. Picked up by a
    driver and then walked about 100 steps up to our room with a fantastic view of the Rio Douro.

    Then the fun began. We walked not very far, but with all the up and down over 16,000 steps. First place we went was the Cathedral. A XII Century building that is amazing. The architecture is incredible and it is huuuge. Especially interesting was the statute of St. James with all of his identifying traits. His hat had the clam shell and the St. James cross was with him also. With the age and history of the cathedral along with all the art, frescos, paintings, carvings and reliefs it was a wonderful experience.

    We also found the starting point for our Camino tomorrow. Best of all, I got my first stamp on my Camino Passport for the Camino. I became a Peregrino! In order to prove you have walked the 100 km minimum in order to receive the certificate or Compostela. So, you have a Pilgrim’s Passport with two stamps a day showing where you have been.

    Great day and a great start to the Camino Portugues.
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  • Yo Soy Un Peregrino!

    June 26, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    This was a draft I started and lost so I did the other one before this one. When I found it, I decided to just post it too.

    Amazingly, all flight arrangements went as well as or better than expected. The Saturday night flight to Madrid was comfortable and we did get some sleep. The flight to Porto was short and fine. And our luggage (backpacks) made it also. We were picked up right away by the “hotel” for a 20 minute drive to our room. The room is small, but comfortable and efficient. You can’t get to it by car. You have to walk up stairs (maybe 100) to get there. The view from the window is incredible. See pics.

    After a short respite, we went out on the town, mainly to go to the Cathedral, a XII century building where will start tomorrow morning. That experience alone was spiritual. And we found the first markers for our start. The symbol for the Camino is the shell. So, as we walk we will be looking for drawings or carvings of a shell pointing the Way. AND we got our first stamp at the Cathedral on our pilgrim passport. So now, I am a Peregrino - a Pilgrim!

    We also found a statute of St. James dating back to the 18th (?) century with the shell on his hat and the cross representing St. James.

    The rest of the day was spent walking around a beautiful European city that is centuries old, if not a millennia. Got lost. Found and lost again. Took a short nap. Had to use the alarm to make sure we got up for dinner. And are now enjoying dinner at Tapas 65 on Rua de Sao João.

    Steps today exceed 17,000.

    All in all a perfect start. We are blessed and looking forward to the first full day tomorrow.
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  • Day 1

    Day 1 - Porto to La Bruge

    June 27, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Beautiful day! Beautiful weather! The sun was out, but the wind, a steady breeze into your face, kept it comfortable if not cool. A little bit of a late start, but we needed the sleep.

    As mentioned, we worked our way back to the Cathedral and then wound our way to the coast going down, down, down, hundreds of steps and narrow streets.

    It was really very interesting seeing the city wake-up as we walked north. About two hours in we came across a nice cafe overlooking the Rio Douro and had coffee and breakfast. We missed our breakfast at the hotel because we left too early. I didn’t feel so much like a tourist as I did an observer. It’s easier to do when your only goal is to walk all day. I see a lot more.

    As we left the city we started walking on an incredible boardwalk that goes along the coast for miles and miles. It really made for a great walk on wood all day long. Better than sand or rocks. The Portugal coast is beautiful in many areas and the people take advantage of it by how they have structured their life around it.

    We stopped for a late lunch - beer and a salmon wrap at a restaurant on the beach. We have begun to meet our fellow Pilgrims and trade the traditional hello of “Bom Camino” each time we see them.

    The day finished at La Bruge at my first albergue. We are in an old school house with a room of about a dozen bunk beds. Dinner was on the coast, of course.

    Finished the day with over 41,000 steps and 15.9 miles.

    Tomorrow an early start for sure!

    Bom Camino!
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