Santa Marina del Rey, Spain Travel Journals & Blogs

Traveler Camino Santiago de Compostella
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- Jun 9, 2022, 6:09pm
- ☀️ 84 °F
- Altitude: 2,700 ft
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.463333, -5.88333342°27’48” N 5°52’60” W
Day 23
Hospital de Orbido
June 9, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
So I went out to take a look around the town a little bit didn't cross to the other side of that bridge; it does look pretty cool ... very old bridge in any case Arturo told me to go to eat in Los Angeles restaurant which I will do so shortly but meanwhile he said go to the owner and tell him that Arturo sent you and go ask to see the grandfather house which is almost like a museum now ....which is what I did 😁
quite fascinating stuff 👍

As far as the town goes this is some quite cool little place
I wish I had a chance to explore some more
I am including a link to Wikipedia and apparently this little place saw a lot throughout the history

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_de_Órbigo

...and a door 😁Read more
Traveler Beautiful town.
6/9/22Reply
Traveler Lovely doors!
6/9/22Reply
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Traveler Camino Francés 2022
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- Aug 13, 2022, 9:37am
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 824 m
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.463333, -5.87833342°27’48” N 5°52’42” W
Day 22
Orbigo river
August 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We passed through 3 nice villages built around the Orbigo river. The villages are small and close together, and very well developed, with nice cafes, modern houses, etc. I imagine it must be a holiday destination, not just a place for pilgrims.Read more
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Traveler Walking the Camino
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- Jul 20, 2022, 6:42pm
- ☀️ 90 °F
- Altitude: 820 m
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.463373, -5.88431342°27’48” N 5°53’4” W
Day 20
Hospital de Orbigo
July 20, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F
We trekked 20 miles today- cooler weather, feet are little achy, good time to put them up and blog. A little background about Orbigo: in 1432 a woman snubbed a knight. In order for him to be released from his prison of love and restore his honor, he had to joust and break 300 lances, near the Orbigo bridge. He succeed in his task, his honor restored, (get over it, already), and the old Roman bridge still stands, today. Signs seen along the way, since the beginning of the Camino: Castilla is crossed off many signs, signifying Leon's desire for autonomy; cute gender neutral shower/ bathroom signs; art in the park; two who met their demise in the Pamplona, Running of the Bulls; an invitation to my quilting sisters; good rules for any household; mural outside of a school; outside pooping area instructions for humans, you dog owners know the drill 😂; Socrates was right- the second bar WAS better😁; Just check out the name of the second bar!; Isn't it a shame that the free parking is perpetually Full? Oh wait, Full is the name of the hardware store!; An example of how the Basque language is so different from Spanish. I'll SIGN off for now. Love to you all!Read more
Quilting is international! [Barbara Massa]
7/20/22Reply
Traveler Our next quilt hop! Great pictures makes an interesting collage. Hope you sampled your favorite bar. Are you tasting the different paellas along the way? It’ll be interesting to hear of the differences of the foods in each region. Taste on as you trek, you’re all doing fantastic! Tell Cyndee I’m cheering her on too
7/21/22Reply
Traveler 20 miles and I think your feet deserve to be tired. Thanks for sharing the pictures and it looks like a pretty place. Glad it’s not so hot now. Love You
7/21/22Reply
Traveler 20 more miles down, way to go!!! Love the signs and commentary! Dad says Buen Camino and we send big hugs❤️
7/21/22Reply
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Camino 2023
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- Oct 13, 2023, 10:09am
- ☁️ 59 °F
- Altitude: 824 m
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.463741, -5.88111342°27’49” N 5°52’52” W
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Day 18
Day 14 - First rainy hike, Astorga
October 13, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
We were excited to bring out our rain gear. First time in over two weeks in Spain. We covered up our bags, bodies and kept trucking on.

We completed 24km/15 miles and got into Astorga with enough time to visit the Gaudi Palace, Astorga cathedral and the Camino museum. Julie was serenaded by a local artist after steep climb into the city.

In Astorga we have an apartment in town right by the square. It’s a cute place and we were pleased to see they had laundry machine and a rack to dry our clothes.

We just finished dinner 8:45 pm and we would rather be asleep, but once again nothing is open until 8pm. We continue to be underwhelmed by the every day fare in Spain. It’s not what we were expecting. Things would be so much better if Joan would have studied a little harder in school for her three years of Spanish.

We have past countless chocolate shops and this town seems to be famous for their chocolate. So one quick stop for chocolate, and then we are off to bed.

We have another 20+ km/per day for the next few days as we climb back into the mountains. Weather will be cloudy, rainy and cool. Joan sure is wishing she did not leave her “puffy coat” in Pamplona.

Buen Camino!Read more
Traveler Yum!
10/13/23Reply
Traveler What a beautiful cathedral!
10/14/23Reply
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The World is Out There Camino De Santiago
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- May 23, 2022, 12:52pm
- ⛅ 64 °F
- Altitude: 2,674 ft
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.463787, -5.87753742°27’50” N 5°52’39” W
3 1 2
Day 5
El Puente de Orbigio
May 23, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
In 1434 a Leonese knight by the name of Don Suero de Quinones found himself hopelessly in love with the lady Leonor de Tovar. A love that she did not return. Somehow, Don Suero convinced himself that if he and his friends could “defend” the Puente (bridge) at the Orbigio River by breaking 300 lances. Leonor would realize that he was the knight for her and return his love. He let the challenge be known far and near and was said to have booked 700 jousts.
He and his friends broke 166 lances, but incurred injuries so serious they couldn’t continue. Defeated, he sought penance for his failure by pilgrimage to Santiago. To this day, they have a terrific yearly festival with jousts. Everyone is dressed in Medieval costume and La Puente is adorned in banners, flags, and pennants.Read more
The World is Out There The competition field for the jousts is in the field to the left
5/23/22Reply
The World is Out There I tried to get these guys to joust with me down on the field but they thought I was nuts. I had visions of Monty Python trotting with my hiking stick as lance
5/23/22Reply
Traveler And the clanking half coconuts???
5/23/22Reply
The World is Out There Too migratory!
5/23/22Reply
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Camino Sisters 2023
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- Sep 26, 2023, 9:52am
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 814 m
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.463963, -5.8771542°27’50” N 5°52’38” W
Day 28
What a difference a day makes...
September 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
San Martin del Camino to Astorga
Day 25 - 24 km

What a fabulous days walk! The first few kms were beside the highway, but before long we were back on our beautiful trail 👣 which led us up and down, through lovely towns, and spoit us with the views again! One of the highlights ( apart from the views) was the lovely offerings of free food and sustainance to the pilgrims , we were especially grateful when we had just finished a long 7km haul, uphill and in the hot sun, these lovely people were happy to provide a beautiful resting spot, and a feast of amazing food, all the while someone was playing the guitar in the background 😍 bliss...( donations accepted 😉)
Astorga is a beautiful town, the Cathedral spectacular and the building beside designed by Gaudi is very impressive. Great atmosphere here and many restaurants and shops to explore ( If we had the energy...) We are staying in a nice unit just off the square tonight, so decided to have a nice meal in, and a wine 🍷 🍷perfect. 😉Read more
Traveler Love the Gaudi works 🥰
9/27/23Reply
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Traveler Camino Frances
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- Oct 17, 2022
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 825 m
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.463991, -5.8765342°27’50” N 5°52’36” W
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Day 36
On the trail of Don Quixote
October 17, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Don Quixote is a 16th century Spanish Literary classic about a would be knight and his side kick Sancha. Hospital de Orbigo (which is a town, not a hospital) is the sort of town the mythical Quixote may have travelled to attend a jousting tournament. The jousting fields have been in use next to the long cobblestone bridge for centuries and tournaments are still held here in 2022.

Legend has it Don Suero de Quiñones and nine other knights, his friends, defended the Hospital de Órbigo bridge for a month against any knight who wanted to cross it. The bridge witnessed up to 700 combats in which knights from all corners of the Peninsula, Germany, France or Portugal participated. The chronicles speak of a single deceased, a Catalan knight who received a spear to the eye. This was all a display put on for a king to win the hand of a woman and so the tradition of a jousting tournament here was born.

The whole fairy tale was exactly that, with no written evidence of the event until at least 150 years later. Cervantes then immortalised the tales by referring to it in Don Quixote.

Tonight I find myself in the cutest of accommodation with a comfy rocking chair and a nice hot shower, after a stroll through the rain this morning.

"he who's down one day can be up the next, unless he really wants to stay in bed, that is..." Don QuixoteRead more
What is the tower for? [Tanya]
10/17/22Reply
Traveler That is a very good question that I keep forgetting to ask someone. There are a few of them around here but this is the prettiest one I've seen. Silos??
10/17/22Reply
Or a water tower [Darryn]
10/17/22Reply
Traveler probably
10/18/22Reply
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Traveler Camino23
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- Sep 12, 2023, 9:12am
- ⛅ 57 °F
- Altitude: 815 m
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.46404, -5.8776342°27’51” N 5°52’39” W
1 1 2 2
Day 27
Villadangos to Astorga
September 12, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
Left Villadagos for Astorga. 28 km's. Having hiked 33 km's the day before was very surprised that I was able to get 28 in today. After arriving we sat down for a quick lunch. After went straight to the Alberge and checked in. Washed some clothes and laid down. It was rained most of the evening, so there was no dinner. However a English chap, Jeffrey brought me back a cheeseburger. Gone in 30 seconds. Bedtime for me. Buen Camino. Haven't decided about tomorrow yet, but let me tell you I starting to think about Santiago for the first time. Beautiful countryside side today, nice place to lay my head tonight. Great day. Buen Camino.Read more
Traveler Sounds like you may have to keep up this regimen, of exercise so your muscles don’t go in shock! lol
9/12/23Reply
Traveler 👍🏽👟🙏🏽
9/12/23Reply
Traveler … an enjoyable group
9/12/23Reply
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Wanderklebchen Jakobsweg, Part 2
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- Nov 30, 2022
- ☁️ 6 °C
- Altitude: 828 m
- Spain Castille and León Hospital de Órbigo 42.465423, -5.88043942°27’56” N 5°52’50” W
Day 35
34. Etappe: Hospital Orbigo (36,5 km)
November 30, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
Ave Maria! Ab 6:30 in Endlosschleife! Das treibt selbst den gläubigsten Pilger vor 8 aus der Herberge! 😅
So wars auch noch ordentlich dunkel als ich flüchtete und ich verfehlte doch das ein oder andere Mal den Weg in der Großststadt. Trotz ohnehin schon langer Etappe entschied ich mich dann doch für den 4 km längeren und ruhigerem Weg fernab der vielbefahrenen Landstraße und kehre in der einzig offenen Herberge La Encina in Hospital Orbigo ein. Einige andere Pilger sind hier auch untergekommen und wir freuen uns auf das Pilgermenü am Abend und das gemeinsame Fußbalgucken direkt in der Bar, die zur Herberge gehört. Ich hab heut Glück und muss mir mein Vierbettzimmer mit niemandem teilen und hab sogar ein eigens Bad 😊Read more
See translation
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Traveler Camino Francés 2022
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- Aug 13, 2022, 7:40am
- ☀️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 834 m
- Spain Castille and León Santa Marina del Rey Villavante 42.466667, -5.85666742°28’0” N 5°51’24” W
Day 22
3 weeks today
August 13, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Jinjoo (I learnt that this is the correct spelling) and I woke up at 4.30 so we could leave early. Jan refused to wake up before 5, but joined us for breakfast at 5.10.
When Jinjoo and I were ready he said: you go, I'll catch you later, but he never did. Either I am walking faster, or the faster walkers are slowing down 😄
Jinjoo was walking 20k only, so we walked that distance together and then I kept going alone.
Today is 3 weeks since I started the Camino and I have less than 300k to go. It's a funny feeling, because I want to make it to Santiago but I don't want the experience to end yet.
My feet have been getting better. So much so, that this morning I forgot to put on the arnica cream. But I am not fully recovered and I did remember to put the cream on in the afternoon, after a 32k walk.Read more
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