Spain
Galicia

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    • Day 19

      Santiago de Compostela

      August 31, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      Wandered around the old town today, sat in the plaza at the cathedral, attended the Pilgrims mass, visited the musuem and treated myself to a fancy lunch. I must admit I still surprised when my order comes out. Finished the day with gelato and a walk through the park. Now to pack for Switzerland 🥰💜🩷💞Read more

    • Day 3

      Meanwhile, in Santiago…

      June 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

      (this is Kate)

      I’m in Santiago de Compostela, where I was to have finished the Camino de Santiago, met Neal, and then started my vacation as a tourist with him. Well. I got very ill at the end of the Camino and couldn’t finish. I took a train to Santiago to recover. Neal’s flight was canceled, so I’m here alone while he travels.

      Once I stopped feeling sick and a little sorry for myself, I’ve been excited to think about finishing the Camino another year, and have been poking around Santiago. It felt great to get out and walk again today (7.5 miles), this time without a plan. I’m still eating quite cautiously, so I’ll have to save seafood extravagance for next time. My best meal here so far was tomatoes - amazing.

      1. One of the courtyards at the beautiful parador of Santiago
      2. Detail on building housing a primary school
      3. Detail (crest?) on the Museo do Pobo Gallego, which was closed today
      4. and 5. Views from a trail system in town. You can see the Cathedral on the right in 4.
      6. Seen on my walk near a tunnel that went under a highway
      7. This was almost literally a wall of blue hydrangeas next to some apartments
      8., 9., 10. The famed Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela.
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    • Day 44

      Olveiroa to Cee

      June 13, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Today was a good day. Walked with friends, we had a bit of sunshine, some rain. We stopped in a cafe for coffee, and later stopped at a picnic when a herd of cows followed a farmer and the dog (not a border collie....) and the wife through the picnic space. They seemed to have it all figured out, including the cows.

      We arrived in Cee which historically is a whaling town, and now it is a bustling seaside industrial and robust fishing centre. The first views of the sea were striking since I have nearly walked 900 km across the top of northern Spain from east to west, and the sight of water is striking. Yesterday, we saw a lake, and though we have seen a few rivers, by Canadian standards we might call them creeks, and today seeing that soon there will be no where left to walk was actually a bit alarming.

      Also noteworthy, this region is also famous for a werewolf. In the mid 15th century, in recorded documents, currently kept at a library in Paris, a group of 20 pilgrims were attacked and killed by a werewolf like creature. I have attached a picture of the creature. Kathy, Laurel and I did not encounter the werewolf on our travels, but a person is advised to not travel alone or at night.

      Well oddly enough, tomorrow is the end of the road...literally and figuratively for me. There is no where else to go, and since I can't walk on water, I will have to decide. And also finally after 900 km, my legs don't hurt, my feet are healed, my burn is nearly invisible, and my more recent spider bites appear to also be healing. Perhaps it is symbolic. All my physical challenges are healed, and so, therefore, all my spiritual and emotional challenges are also healed. I shall find out tomorrow when I reach "the end of the earth".
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    • Day 17

      Playa de Las Catedrales

      December 3, 2022 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

      Heute Nacht hat es mal wieder ordentlich geregnet, aber die Wettervorhersage sagte schönes Wetter für heute voraus...also was soll's

      Wir starteten von unserem Stellplatz am Rande eines Schulzentrums (es gibt nicht immer Instagram-Influenzer- super-schön-Plätze)... zum Glück war es Samstag und sehr ruhig.

      Als erstes stand ein ausgiebiger Einkauf und Ver- und Entsorgung von Wasser auf dem Programm und dann ab an einen schönen Strandabschnitt Namens Strand der Kathedralen.

      Über eine gut ausgebaute Straße ging es um einen weit ins Landesinnere ragenden Meeresarm...gesäumt mit sanften Hügeln und satten Wiesen...fast wie in der Schweiz...obwohl wir mittlerweile in Galicien waren. Hinter dem Ort Ribadeo liegt besagter Strand mit einem großen Parkplatz.

      Der Tipp von Ede war super...es war gerade Ebbe und die großen Felsformationen lagen frei und wir konnten das Naturspektakel über den Strand durchwandern...sensationell, trotz der vielen Touristen, die nicht wirklich gestört haben...

      Als heftiger Wind und Regen einsetzte verflüchtigten wir uns in das warme Auto und genossen Teile unseres Einkaufs...
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    • Day 39

      Palas de Rei

      October 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

      The foot traffic out of Portomarin this morning was pretty crazy. We were expecting way more Pilgrims but it was still shocking to what we are accustomed to. The new Pilgrims on the trail stand out with their shiny new shoes and their fancy hiking clothes. We are somewhat envious of the newness of their Camino spirit, and their outerwear, but then we watch them struggle with the hills and tend to their new blisters and realize how thankful we are to be past that stage. Don’t get me wrong, we still ache all over at the end of the day and live on ibuprofen, but we are not shocked by that reality anymore.

      With 3 walking days left, it is easy to get in your head about finishing. The realization that 1 misstep could take you out of the game consumes my thoughts and at times I find myself almost marching at a slow steady pace in order to make sure each foot placement lands without injury. Thank goodness there is always so much to see in order to refocus your mind.

      It was another beautiful day in Galicia Spain. Perfect overcast skies for hiking, beautiful flowers to look at, lots of cows and great trails. How will we ever say good-bye to all this?

      Buen Camino ❤️🇪🇸
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    • Day 34

      Boente

      October 8, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

      9.8 miles walked today. We started off in the dark again and it was so cloudy that it stayed dark for a while.
      Today we walked through Melide. This town is known for its octopus. Weird, since we are not on the coast yet. But...when in Melide. It was delicious.Read more

    • Day 15

      We made it! Santiago at last!

      June 28, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

      Today was a good day for most of us. For Jon, it was a test of his grit. As I mentioned briefly, Jon’s feet and legs have not been in a great place. Today his leg and knee were really bothering him. He pretty much limped the whole 18km today. He has grit and he clenched his teeth and did it! The rest of us had to watch him walk in pain. Thankfully, we all made it! The last part of the trip is such a strange experience. I thought it would be like seeing the Emerald City from far off and we would go running to the steps of the cathedral. Actually it was a windy path through downtrodden urban neighborhoods and you couldn’t even see the steeple until you rounded the corner of a bunch of old buildings and suddenly it was there. Not what I imagined. I guess though it is a metaphor and this whole trip is a pilgrimage for self reflection. I know Martin Luther would roll his eyes at me for wanting the compestella but honestly, I think God understands our need for physical gestures to help us believe and understand the heavenly gestures. Why else would He use water and wine and bread? He knows we are weak minded and need something physical to hold onto. The pilgrimage and piece of paper in the end aren’t necessary for forgiveness and grace. But they help us get to the right place to receive forgiveness and believe that it is true.

      I don’t know if it is something I’d frame in my house but I do know I will treasure it and use it to remember this awesome adventure of bonding as a family and sending off our first born into the world. The boys talked for 180km to each other- to us- And hopefully in their heads with God. I feel good about how we solved problems and worked as a team. I’m satisfied with my Camino and feel grateful for this opportunity. What an adventure!

      This evening we went to mass. It was all in Spanish but we knew the order of service and could tell what was happening. They swung the botafumiero at the end which is a special treat. The cathedral was amazing. What a grand finale!

      (By the way, funny that thousands of years of pilgrimage on a holy trail doesn’t trump modern necessities. The trail is clearly moved to go around an airport runway. Funny!)
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    • Day 42

      Desayuno numero uno

      June 28, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

      Had to hoof it up for close to 10km before being able to find a place that was open

      Zumas, Empanada Pollo (1st ever for Laurie)
      Tortillas Bravas, coffee con Leche

      Then we came across an ancient bridgeRead more

    • Day 57

      Tag 57 Santiago de Compostela

      June 27, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      Heute war ein Tag zum Genießen und sich Santiago anschauen .
      Ich hatte wahnsinniges Glück und konnte das Schwenken des Botafumeiro erleben.
      Es war der krönende Abschluss meines Weges bis jetzt.
      Ich sage ja immer alles kommt so wie es richtig ist.
      Morgen bin ich noch in Santiago bevor es am Mittwoch wieder nachhause geht.
      Ich bin gespannt was heute und morgen noch alles passiert.
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    • Day 14

      Arzua to O Pedrouzo

      June 27, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      I feel like the entertainment on the trail is becoming about the people rather than the scenery. We’re walking through small towns that are sweet and scenic but by this time we feel like we’ve seen it. The eucalyptus forests smell good and harkened us back to our California days but we’re over that now too. The volume of people on the trail is greater now and the characters are coming out. Today there was a basque walking the Camino on stilts. Ollie says they use stilts to shepherd their flocks so he must be doing it to represent his culture. I walked with “Springfield”(That’s what I call them) today- a couple who live in Springfield Illinois. They started in St Jean and have done the whole thing. There was also “Holland” who started in Holland and has done over 3000km and is almost done. He was having a bad day. I think he’s struggling to return to normal life after walking for the past 148 days straight. He’s two days out from being done, that’s they only reason I can come up with to be having a bad day. Then there’s a man we’ve passed every day now for the last three days. (We pass him every morning which means he walks hours longer than we do to catch up at night and gets up earlier than us to get back in the trail.) He walks with a struggle- one step for every five I can take. I can tell he has to think about the movement every step he takes. He has scars all over his head from surgery. I am embarrassed that all I can think to say is “Buen Camino” as I pass him. There has to be more I can come up with in my limited Spanish to encourage him. I pray he makes it.

      My feet are sore and my shins are killing me but I’ve got 18 km left to go. Tomorrow will feel awesome!
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Galicia, Galicien, منطقة غاليسيا, جاليسيا, Qalisiya, Галісія, Галисия, গালিথিয়া, Galiza, Galicija, Galícia, Galizia, Galicie, Galisia, Γαλικία, Galegio, گالیسیا, Galice, Galysje, Comunidade Autónoma de Galicia, Yn Ghaleesh, גליסיה, गलिशिया, Galisiya, Գալիսիա, Gallecia, Galisía, ガリシア, გალისია, Галисиэ, 갈리시아 지방, Galîsya, Galisi, Gallaecia, Galissia, Galisija, Галиција, गालिसिया, Galicië, Galicia i Spania, Галиси, Galicja, گالیکیا, A Galiza, Galisya, Галиция, Galizzia, கலீசியா, แคว้นกาลิเซีย, Galiçya, 加利西亚

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