Spain
La Faba

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • Day 30

      Villafranca del Bierzo to O'Cebriero

      April 21 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      I am just now, with one week to go, building a fucking Camino family. I am simultaneously thrilled and devastated.

      In the kitchen last night I ended up having dinner, and a tea, and a really genuinely good conversation, with Lucy, an Englishwoman living in Malaga. This morning, I finally asked where the incredibly gentle man that looks like a punk anarchist bouncer is from - he folds his clothes and makes his bed so slowly and carefully. Turns out I've slept next to Christian from Naples three times and we have both been speaking broken if earnest Spanish to each other this entire time. I know his neighbourhood. He is a delight.

      Eight kilometres in, salut to the tiny French woman Maggie I've orbited in the last few days. 10 kilometres in, Fabrice emerges from the opposite direction to the trail, swearing and swinging his poles around in frustration at having taken a completely useless detour. Maggie sent him the wrong way, did I hear the dog? Did I hear him screaming swear words at the dog? He's two days into quitting smoking, you can tell.

      I was a bit nervous about the elevation later so I broke a month long tradition and walked with him all day, with brief interludes. He said I calmed him. He was surprisingly protective - buying me coffees, pulling me away from traffic, walking on my outside on the roads, peeling me apples, making me fill my water and put on sunscreen. After a month of aggressive self sufficiency, this was unusual but nice - a lesson in accepting help maybe.

      In the last four kilometres Lucy and Maggie joined us, along with some completely knackered Japanese men, and we summited together. What a bloody view. It was so worth it. I don't know about hardest day. There were certainly tough bits, and in different weather sure maybe it would have been less enjoyable, but honestly I loved it. Maybe I am harder too. 💪
      Read more

    • Day 24

      Camino duro

      August 23, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

      30 Km an der Hauptstrasse entlang war anstrengend- aber so rein gar nichts gegen diesen Aufstieg! Boah! Pause in la Falda! Es gibt 3 Arten von Wanderern hier: 1. ohne Rucksack, 2. mit Taxi und 3. die Rucksackschlepper! Wieso bin ich nur in der 3. Gruppe gelandet- und wieso haben die Spanier den Camino bloss hier gebaut!Read more

    • Day 47

      Laguna de Castilla (16.2km /612km)

      May 29, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

      Now that was a climb! Not too long but steep and on some interesting surfaces including road, sandy path, mud, rocks and lots of cow poo! But thankfully mostly shady in the really steep bits. We climbed 2/3 of the “hill” to our accommodation to Laguna. Tomorrow we climb to the peak and onwards.
      With hills we get beautiful scenery and some hard work. Too many pictures to choose from! At times we had to share the path with cows and horses! Before the hill the walk was slightly uphill along the river for about 10km to Las Hereirras where we refuelled with some coffee and cake!
      We had drinks and dinner with a couple of people we met at Susi’s place last night, Clare (Wales) and Laure (France) and a lady we met today (Bea).
      The villages and towns seem to be in much better condition the further we go with a lot more renovated buildings and active lifestyle.
      On a personal note, today was my dad’s (Brian) birthday so we popped into a church on our way to say a prayer. Rest In Peace Dad ❤️, you would have loved todays walk.
      Read more

    • Day 27

      The heatwave is over

      August 18, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

      The maximum temperature for today was forecast to be 23°C. Not only the heatwave seems to be truly over, but we have also entered a cooler region. No need to set alarms at stupid hours before dawn anymore.
      Today I woke up when I heard the noises of others getting up. Had a good breakfast, and when I was ready to leave I checked the weather: 7°C! I was glad to have a jacket to wear (a few days ago I was asking myself why I packed it at all).
      Jinjoo is still starting her walks at 5am regardless, so I didn't see her. The German couple left while I was having breakfast. J&K were ready at about the same time as me, and Nelly was a few minutes behind. I wanted to make up for the night before, so I said to J&K to go, and I would wait and go with Nelly.

      The first half of the walk went to O Cebreiro, just after entering Galicia. It was up, up and up, and very steep. We passed by a couple of small villages where we had a chance to take a break and have a drink. The day was cool but bright, and we enjoyed spectacular views.
      Nelly heard from someone she met before who was now a day ahead: this person went up to O Cebreiro yesterday in heavy rain, and completely missed the views! We only had light rain yesterday and sunshine today. So lucky!
      Read more

    • Day 25

      La Faba

      July 25, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

      We reached La Faba, a tiny, green, cool mountain town. I'm hoping this post will upload as the wifi is a little sketchy.... so I'll keep it short. We had a beautiful walk today, with fewer than 200 kilometers to go, with nearly 400 miles walked, without a day off. Still feeling strong, but missing home and my people.Read more

    • Day 30

      La Faba

      June 16, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

      Our first break of the day is in La Faba
      we climbed approximately 2/3 of the distance needed
      still a long way to go and quite steep, although obviously the Final Destination is now quite shorter

      Camino kitty

      Desayuno numero uno

      believe in yourself and everything is possible

      The popular albergue in La Faba that unfortunately caught on fire last year

      The 7th pilgrim
      Read more

    • Day 14

      On the climb into La Faba

      June 1, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

      The wine bottles caught my eye…just up the hill is La Faba and one whiff tells you there are a lot of septic tanks that need to be replaced. I think El Refugio was pretty well known, but it’s clearly gone now.Read more

    • Day 37

      Play!

      July 3, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

      Faba is a tiny little village that's not-quite-half-way up the steepest climb on the Camino.

      Feeling strong so far.

      Strong enough to play a little 🐸 game while waiting on a delicious sammich and the original energy drink.Read more

    • Day 35–36

      La Faba

      April 18 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      A second day walking alongside the Rio Valcarce. The old N-VI highway and the newer A-6 freeway share the valley; there is some of impressive civil engineering that carries the new freeway on viaducts over deep valleys and tunnels through the mountain.

      After Las Herterías the path ascends steeply out of the valley to La Faba.

      Today was a short walking day. It was nice to arrive at La Faba early to have lunch and linger before checking-in at the parochial albergue run by the German volunteers.

      [Day 31, 14 km walked, 623
      km from St Jean Pied-de-Port, 160 km to Santiago.]
      Read more

    • Day 34

      30 Trabadelo – La Faba

      August 30, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      Nun bin ich in La Faba. Der halbe Berg ist geschafft. Es war zwar kein Spaziergang, aber doch wunderschön. Am Morgen war es noch dunkel und grau. Gespenstisch lugten die Betonpfeiler der Autobahn aus dem
      Grau hervor und verloren sich in immer fernere Höhen. Allmählich stiegt der Nebel aus den Wiesen auf und die Sonne legte ihr goldenes Licht in das Tal. Es war idyllisch – wie im lieben Schweizerlande – sogar die Kühe mit ihren Glocken fehlten nicht. (Sie hatten allerdings noch ihre Hörner.) Ich musste immer wieder eine Rast machen, um diese Idylle zu genießen.
      ~
      In der ersten Bar traf ich auf ein irisches Ehepaar, Esmeralda und John. Wir unterhielten uns über Bier. Er liebte Guiness Zuhause in Irland und Kölsch, wenn er in Deutschland war. Kurz darauf kamen die beiden Amerikaner, mit denen ich gestern Abend gegessen hatte, dazu: Max und den Namen seiner Frau habe ich vergessen. Dabei waren auch noch Bert aus Mexiko und ein Frau – wie hieß sie noch gleich? – aus Frankreich. Sie ist von Zuhause in Perpignon losgelaufen. Es war eine gesprächige anregende Runde. Der Smalltalk fällt mir zunehmend leichter.
      ~
      Heute morgen lief der Weg zunächst wieder neben der brusthohen Betonhüftung – äh? hüfthohen Brüstung muss es heißen – entlang. Die Autobahn tänzelte weiter über mir von links nach rechts – links neben mir der Fluss – und alles strebte nach Westen – ausgenommen der Fluss: der floss das Tal runter nach Osten.
      ~
      Dann zweigte der Weg ab – die Straßen wurden schmaler, stieg allmählich an – und schließlich ging es in den Wald. Endlich war der Weg so, wie ich mir den Jakobsweg immer gewünscht habe: Erde unter den Füßen – wenn ich mal von den Schuhsohlen und den Socken absehe –, es war schattig und ein leichtes Lüftchen wehte. Da machte es auch nichts, dass der Weg steil anstieg: auf 3 km 300 m – das macht 10% Steigung (!) – aber geschenkt! Oben war ich nass geschwitzt und glücklich.
      ~
      Meine Fliegenstudien kann ich noch etwas erweitern. Ich sah, dass auch andere Menschen mit den kleinen Plagegeistern zu tun hatten. Auch sie wedelten und fuchtelten mit den Händen vor ihren Gesichtern herum. Nun merkte ich, dass wenn mich jemand überholte, die Fliegen zu ihm überwechselten. Aha, dachte ich, sieh also immer zu, dass du jemanden vor dir hast. Wie schnell doch der Egoismus die guten Vorsätze zu Verbindung-Schaffen über den Haufen wirft. Leider konnte ich nicht gut mithalten und so war ich bald wieder allein mit meinen Fliegen.
      ~
      La Faba ist das letzte Dorf im Bierzo, danach beginnt Galizien. Die Menschen hier würden aber anscheinend auch gerne zu Galizien gehören. Das sieht man daran, dass sie schon die Sprache übernehmen und sich dann „A Faba“ nennen oder die Leute aus La Puente schreiben „A Ponte“. Die Artikel ändern sich und die Vokale verschieben sich.
      ~
      La Faba oder A Faba sind auf jeden Fall wunderschön. Ein Bergdorf, schon hoch genug, um aus dem Tal herauszuragen, idyllisch gelegen und den Blick auf die umliegenden Berge frei gebend. Die Albergue ist genau das, was ich brauche: hell, locker und unkompliziert von engagierten jungen Leuten geführt. Ich genieße die Rast, bevor ich dann morgen ausgeruht, frisch gewaschen und gekämmt nach Galizien einziehe.
      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    La Faba

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android