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Camino de Santiago - May 2025
  • ShaunLC
  • ShaunLC

Camino de Santiago - May 2025

Shaun's long long walk across Spain along the Camino Frances, from St Jean Pied du Port in France, to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 35 days of walking, with a few rest days, over a distance of about 800km. Read more
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  • ShaunLCCamino de Santiago - May 2025Traveler
    The streets of Santiago with glimpses of the cathedral
    The streets of Santiago with glimpses of the cathedralThe streets of the old town have lots of character and cafesThe Praza das Praterias looking up to the entrance doors of the cathedralThe Praza das Praterias with Maria the e tour guideEntrance doors to the cathedralThe fresh fruit, meat and fish market, the Mercado de AsbastosThe street outside the Mercado de Asbastos with two Michelin restaurantsInside the La Galiciana restored food marketIan and meThe last supper - Ian, Marissa, Karen, Kyle's cousin, ?, ?, me, Kyle, ?, ?, BenMarissa, Ian, KarenCathedral by nightThe ghost of Santiago cathedralNight time streetscapesAfter everyone has leftMy digs, the Pension RamosOverlooking Obradoiro square in the rainOverlooking the cathedral from the Parque da Alameda in the rainIn the Parque de Alameda are the Dias Marias

    Day 35.0 - Santiago de Compostela

    June 4 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    After I’d finished the Camino I took the opportunity to enjoy the city of Santiago, including Tuesday afternoon after walking, a full day on Wednesday, and the morning of Thursday before leaving for the airport.
    I was fortunate that the weather was good for my walk because it rained on and off for the next two days.
    Strolling around the city was great, exploring the medieval streets. There are so many bars, cafes, and pastry shops. The city has a very definite old feel.
    Had a nice lunch with Maz, Leigh and Richard on Tuesday, and a very enjoyable dinner with a bigger crew including Ian, Karen and Marissa, plus Kyle and cousin, and a group of others I’d not met.
    Of the days of exploring the highlight moments were spending time with walking buddies, and of course the sad farewells.    Read more

  • ShaunLCCamino de Santiago - May 2025Traveler
    View over Orbadioro square from the cathedral balcony
    No photos allowed, but the artistry of the Portico of the Glory was incredibleIn the cloisters, the original cracked bells and washing fountain (capacity 15 men!)Looking up the nave to the main altarMaria explaining the layout and the botafumeiroThe main altarThe main altar with botafumieroThe swinging mechanism for the botafumieroThe end of the side aisle near the altarBehind the main altarThe Holy Doors, only opened on special occasions, every 5, 6 and 12 yearsOne of the chapels was open, with a priest taking confessionsThe botafumiero swingingThe botafumiero swingingThe botafumiero swingingEntrance to the crypt where St James (Santiago) bones are keptIn the cryptThe bones of Santiago

    Day 35.0 - Santiago Cathedral

    June 4 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    On my rest day I had a tour of the old city and he cathedral.
    Our first stop in the cathedral was to see the Portico of the Glories, an intricately carved set of three granite columns and arches, showing the Old Testament, life of Jesus, and New Testament. It was recently restored and main entrance shifted to the side of the cathedral. The original colours are now visible.
    Next we went into the museum and temporary displays, lots of relics and historical artefacts which have been recovered, with artwork and library, and also the original Calixtus where the Camino route was recorded in the 900s (a copy is in Sarria).
    We went up to the balcony for a Birds Eye view of Obradioro square.
    Finally into the cathedral where Maria our guide showed us around. She showed us the botafumiero and explained how the monks swing it, and St James crypt where his bones are kept.
    The moment of the day was attending evening mass afterwards which was very nice, and got to see the botafumiero being swung.    Read more

  • ShaunLCCamino de Santiago - May 2025Traveler

    Camino highlights and moments to savour

    June 6 in Spain ⋅ 🌫 16 °C

    My favourite places

    León - My favourite city, grand and handsome, even though not very big, breathtaking stained glass in the cathedral. Lots of foodie options.
    Burgos - That cathedral…, lively fun city, a really good human history museum, and good pinctxos bars.
    Pamplona - A lively and family friendly city, with fantastic pinctxos bars.
    O Cebriero - Pretty stone village in the mountains, can just imagine it in the misty rain. One of my favourite villages.
    Astorga - Small but 1000s of years history, they memorable Gaudi’s bishop palace, very neat and tidy.
    Molinaseca - The prettiest village I saw, and a mountain setting.
    Samos - Beautiful and peaceful village in a lovely valley. I would love to have seen the church and monastery.

    Favourite memories
    The people I met - Especially Ian, Karen, Marissa, Cass, Nora, Maz, Leigh, Bruce, Brendon & Karin - all were amazing humans.
    Ponferrada - The interview with the primary school girl leaving town was delightful and inspiring, the future looks good if we have more people like her.
    Morning walking - Before the heat of the day and enjoying the early birdsong, the body still feels fresh and strong, people are either excited and talkative, or quiet and contemplative, the cuckoo call, the mossy stone walls, the meandering paths.
    Feeling fit - Probably the fittest I've been since my 30s, and being able to overtake people on the uphills felt great.
    Achieving my goals - The extreme distance and surpassing my previous best, summiting the 3 high points, walking over the Pyrenees, crossing the Maseta.
    The surprises - The Michelangelo in the Legrono cathedral, the Leonardo sketches for the Last Supper in the Ponferrada castle, Marcella at La Casona and her All Black stories, bumping into Kiwis, bumping into the inspirational Andy Ramage.
    Galicia - The loveliest region along the Camino, with mountains, hills and valleys, peaceful forests with the dappled shade and alive with birdsong.

    Less inspiring memories

    Blisters - My experience of the Camino was great but could have been even better without blister pain or the ability to walk freely.
    The Meseta - Enjoyed the experience but sad at the lack of affluence and dying villages.
    Cyclists - In general not a problem sharing the trail with them, but not pleasant when they don’t use a bell and pass dangerously quickly, or that they shout at each other to talk (including when they’re not on their bikes).
    Downhills - Because my toes get crunched.

    Final thoughts

    Gratitude for the people that have supported me to get to the start and get to the finish.
    Proud of what I've been able to achieve.
    Disappointed that its over.
    The scenery and countryside will be a memory to cherish.
    A new appreciation for the Catholic culture in Spain.
    The people that I met and shared time with were the real highlight, new friends who achieved something great together.    Read more

    Trip end
    June 6, 2025
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