https://www.livealagom.life/blog daily 0.75 2024-09-19 https://www.livealagom.life/blog/sciaazcqb7aa2esf2x0eum6j0qlgo6 monthly 0.5 2022-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632367055930-H0GL8BXDCDHYONOWMHRS/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 15 Leaving Burgos 1219-2019 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632328933024-PNT9Q1K55ER72TBVD0TT/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 15 Leaving Burgos Entering Chapter 2 tomorrow! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632368213534-AZGLD9HQU2P5IVL0JV3H/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 15 Leaving Burgos Prado Museum ‘Agnus Dei’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632367567593-4BG1H6VGFJWGHZ7GUD1W/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 15 Leaving Burgos Masterpiece from the Prado Museum display https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632368343935-H8GUNH82FDVJ3WXHFW5W/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 15 Leaving Burgos One last walk through the plaza to say goodbye to my fellow ‘peregrinas and perigrinos’ “Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and that life itself is a journey to be walked on foot” – Bruce Chatwin https://www.livealagom.life/blog/uy4zf2ssyv9i9njr2c3pn1ew5hvt7s monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632316733517-XUUCIA5EXN5VVTHL6MWR/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos Literally pounding the pavement. Noisy, a work day for most, and the pervasive ‘ode de diesel’. Faded marker. I did not like the 5 mile walk from the edge of the city through urban Burgos. Off trail for short distances all thru town, stopped for cafe con leche to get a little backpack relief and to regroup, but I knew the general direction of the Cathedral. West ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632316380028-PUZJ5EMK601J5VZCQIKW/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos On the way to Burgos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632328030432-OQ91VOV8M5M8S4MM80IZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos Today I learned the entire Camino is a UNESCO World heritage site https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632328415110-83WWRYC5KEV26WR7G47O/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos I will try to get into the Prado Museum (in Madrid) before I leave - here in Burgos on the promenade they have a special exhibition of 50 of ‘the best’ of their 8200 works. These were just incredible fantastic reproductions. These are outstanding images with explanations of the different styles, techniques used, and eras. Baroque, romantic, renaisssance. You could easily spend an hour or two viewing and contemplating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632316464658-Y8QIVP92UB9HZ5OEN9LO/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos Yup ! Sun came out literally as I passed it ! True story. My friend and I split up on this mini-mesa walking at much different paces to take in the moment lost in our own thoughts, inspirations, and awe. Didn’t see each other until Burgos cathedral https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632316546115-C5W5YS4YFSCS2XZOBUAP/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos Destination Burgos on the other side of the valley. Walked alone from here. Next rest area / bar about 4km ahead downhill behind the tree on the left. A lot of downhill, knees forcing me to move at 2/3 normal pace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632328351505-X7VWBG92E2WEFOJN3YKE/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos At last, Burgos cathedral. Beautiful art installation at the Cathedral in commemoration of the Jacobean year of the Camino, the 800th anniversary of the cathedral, and yes, us walkers! Very emotional to turn the corner at the plaza, see this beautiful art installation, and walk through as a participant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632328264553-0U06HCTLOUK6E7L27L98/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos Me. Each of these identical esculpturas were customized by a different artista. Can I take one home ? ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632316432602-9SSBBDWFJQGM7V1OQK31/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 14 To Burgos Late season ground cover blooming were wonderful ‘reminders’ https://www.livealagom.life/blog/t6urxikiq7b2kashpg407mici5mwwa monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632242768678-P0SK6I73F4IDTJ4VBLNW/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages -Holger Stork photo today (voted best Camino image by all). Holger eventually won the ‘award’ for best photo. Buen Camino, Holger ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632242926430-92HNOTF0PJV3WJR2A90F/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages - Katya photo today. Accomplished Czech acrylic artist focused on Camino still images -voted best Camino image and artist by all ( full portfolio original art available upon request ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632320197753-A3LK8LCF5CUB773W3A4W/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages Uphill no problem with a mist enveloped path like this. I want to relive this (difficult) moment and climb. It was a tough hilly day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1635682074076-WSMDG0LJJPVF22PBUH6B/UU4MOeXqR36zLnV0ub1Y%2Bg.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages Old school front door security systems at the ‘food tuck’ restaurante in Ages. Fabulous rendezvous with my friends along with a truly gourmet dinner by Rachel & Reuben - proprietors ! The have the BEST HAMBURGESA award all locked up on the entire Camino Francais https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1635682143955-SWFTC8DZ1RHI4ASYZF64/CRPZ3cFUQOuj%2BjaOd83ZzA.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages A walk around town after dark to work off the fabulous dinner. This is a memorable image for me because this evening meant so much for them! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632258331793-V3KW4TWXCTM7S8AK6RNZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages This humble monument made by their relatives “Remember, Never Forget - Rest in Peace” - they are family to someone. En este lugar… Why ? ‘Remembering’ others was a big deal for me en mi Camino ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632257575289-8PFKIM2V8SJFP7BHIVGB/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages Before dawn crossing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632317514440-LZGZR47O4UJHHSFL2HYT/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages “La Rustica” - providing the best hamburger I think I’ve had in the last five years ! Thank you Rachel and Ruben for a memorable dinner. I gave them a five ⭐️ Google review. Such memories I hope are embedded in my gray matter forever. They are committed to their ‘craft’ and enriched my life, as well as my friends. Moments like this lead to wishing for a return to this place again (on a future Camino) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1635681746052-UA1RQWTQC00GW5R2A1TZ/Pkw556tLSuutGofNAjglUA.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages I really like this little pueblo. Had the best hamburger in years there ! If I look a little ornery and rough around the edges, I was, I was lonely and tired….until I met up with my ‘homies’, coincidently (aka ‘Camino Magic’) in town…. Hallelujah ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632243990591-T4T57VZ9VFRJ0MNWXP7Z/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages New ‘holy grail for me to find one of these antique pitchers - restaurant owner told me where I can buy one of these close to Santiago- bronze antiquity aceite (olive oil) pitcher. Dang! Never found the market or bronze… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632243660708-T7ETY3OKGNUGC5YT0EDN/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages - My pastoral image from today. All of her friends blocked my passage but they eventually let me through…. with permission ! I love you too ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632241047528-UZ556MHW33OEWEO3CO5N/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages Likely me at the end of my Camino… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632241130494-X22F0DBWONLNJXMCVQK9/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages Sign on the Road said - “Stop, take 15 steps….look backwards” We did and this view prompted a long conversation with my Guatemalan friend Flor about women’s dismissal from most dialogue in her culture. I would like to stay in touch with my friend, Flor. We talked ‘books’ and share reading preferences that were rather ‘coincident’. Camino ‘magic’. Flor, please email me… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632255483605-JW15YQC6BCIRYU2SX4AY/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 13 To Ages Truly living the dream. I want these scenes to forever live in my mind. What are all of the (other) ‘freeze frames’ in my life that I’d like to last ‘forever’ ? https://www.livealagom.life/blog/bcte9es2tjr2zbkb8vdejp6faw8f95 monthly 0.5 2022-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632146377958-99G5IR7W1XB0CYOSCDV6/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 12 To Belarado Giant 10 meter tall wall murals in the main square are beautiful and emotional as we are all the person in this picture ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632146270315-47TH8ZVVJX5WM3798YOU/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 12 To Belarado Hey, I mean Hay ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632146297681-6CA72VV21YHMLQSFCFDY/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 12 To Belarado Got my ‘stamp’ at Iglesia de …. yes, Santa Maria (where the ‘boss’ appears to have gotten ‘ahead’ of himself with someone. Graphic representation of martyrdom or….. origin of expression ‘head in hand’ started here) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632146152002-WF8DB1RJ1M4KUYCX01G4/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 12 To Belarado https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632146178100-V4BLF8S6KHGAYB9OIBN9/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 12 To Belarado I committed an act of ag-graffiti https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632146438424-OZX7E66RGHD0Z6R5XOPC/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 12 To Belarado https://www.livealagom.life/blog/85kpmvk2w68fdufndwg3clrp2ayrb5 monthly 0.5 2022-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632063139105-CFHBQ6ZZOE1T2AP1B4M9/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 11 To Santo Domingo de la Calzada My pilgrim passport (Credential) is filling up rather quickly but in a time warp of time passing very slowly and exceedingly fast as we are essentially 1/4 of the way through the journey. Technically, one is supposed to get 2 sellos (stamps) per day as documentation of the journey) Oofdah! Passed the 200 km marker today somewhere in the middle of nowhere… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632062665017-ZHIVXB26O1PJP10DLIPY/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 11 To Santo Domingo de la Calzada The process of becoming a shadow of my former self https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632062567195-GHFVHWQUV8VWJTH3OLNY/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 11 To Santo Domingo de la Calzada Esculptura (Sculpture) on final approach to Santo Domingo to commemorate 1002 years of good old ‘Saint Dominic’. Santo Dominic represented inside pillar of the bridge over river Oja. Always appreciate a guy who’s not afraid to shift gears in his life and try a new direction https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632062779202-PP0O2GP29RL4OYBW3MVZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 11 To Santo Domingo de la Calzada Topography changes as we climb to La Meseta https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632062907173-YJ3S7A4KVJV007HEQAJZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 11 To Santo Domingo de la Calzada Notice Adam and Eve at the top right and left. (Prolly their fault that I feel the need to do this walk) Bottom left panel blown up below depicts the ‘greatest’ drama. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632063047642-S4XJHCE161ON911W0O4U/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 11 To Santo Domingo de la Calzada So like how long did that take to make? ! … I can’t make a simple library table in my own workshop in three years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632062316359-2841ZE9GTBJRJBQWWR41/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 11 To Santo Domingo de la Calzada Appears to be a good guy who had an early ‘calling’ that has benefited Pilgrims for the last 1000 years 1019-2019. (‘The Call’ - great book by Os Guinness on two types of calling) https://www.livealagom.life/blog/t950dc95netetvahz1c9f636eddsx2 monthly 0.5 2024-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/173d549d-a97e-4990-9d5d-5ad8735ffc0f/Najera.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera - Make it stand out Me, always trying to capture the moment. Ah, the joys of adolescence, running with your tribe, and being free spirits with few worries in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631997584150-YLEDI7QQRIRZ7M03LVCI/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera The Benedictines are long gone and the Franciscans also moved on 3 years ago -after a 500 year ‘run’ at it. I think something is amiss & changing out there for such an ‘abandonment’ - Online church vs. this. ....and now this is just a tourist site. Really !? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631997440071-23D43CD0PB5C82AGO5KX/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera My new Najera Hip$taA friends in front of 11 century monestario Santa Maria la Real ( of course it's real) which I toured -mostly built 1422 - late Gothic style. The cloister was heavily damaged and vandalized in 1809 during the war of independence. All of the heads of the 1 m tall figures were shot off during this time no doubt during a drinking party. They skipped one because he was a favored countryman. I hope and pray these kids never have to go to war. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631997367512-D3BT43TCZ95ET990W8T4/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera 1 km of trail art… a dozen or so beautiful paintings randomly on the side of the road with a beautiful pastoral backdrop of a second canvas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631997742052-ZH44P9GDIA28K81ZA3I4/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera Inscriptions indicate buried here are a succession of kings & queens of the region. They all ended up side by side here! … Pastor Bob was right… eventually "it all goes back into a ‘box’" - Pretty nice ‘boxes’ though (make mine a simple pine one but with nice dovetail joints ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631998165880-8OYC1ADNTWIN55QGYNOP/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera This vine might be 75+ years old. I'd love to have a bottle of this vintage! I hope I look this good at 75. Beautiful color, sweet, ready to jam, and…. knarly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631997305007-TJBX647838E97MQI3AA8/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera Severe weather shelter. Clearly has gotten much use as both a shelter from storms and heat as well as a place to rest, rehydrate, and gather thoughts before moving on. Lots of spontaneous 'wall' art and contemplative graffitti https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631998919560-1N8RI79YHHGYOUBDLT3Z/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 10 To Najera La Poema del Camino (on some metal fence siding along the way): Polvo, barro, sol, y lluvia, es Camino de Santiago. Millares de peregrinos, y mas de un millar de anos. Peregrino, quien te llama? Que fuerza oculta te atrae? Ni el Campo de las Estrellas, ni las grandes catedrales. No es la bravura navarra ni el vino de los riojanos ni los mariscos gallegos ni los campos castellanos. Peregrino quien te llama? Que fuerza oculta te atrae? Ni las gentes del Camino, ni las costumbres rurales. No es las historia y la cultura, ni el gallo de la Calzada, ni el palacio de Gaudi, ni el castillo Ponferrada. Tod lo veo al pasar, y es un gozo verlo todo, mas la voz que a mi me llama, la siento mucho mas hondo. La fuerza que a mi me empuja, la fuerza que a mi me atrae, no se explicarlo ni yo, solo El de Arriba lo sabe ! Buen Camino ! ____________________________________________________ Dust, mud, sun, and rain, it is Camino de Santiago! Thousands of pilgrims, and more than a thousand years. Pilgrim, who calls you? What hidden force attracts you? Neither the Field of Stars, nor the great cathedrals. It is not the bravery of Navarre or the wine of the Riojans or the Galician seafood or the Castilian fields. Pilgrim who calls you? What hidden force attracts you? Neither the people of the Camino, nor the rural customs. It is not history and culture, nor the rooster of the causeway, nor the palace of Gaudi, nor the castle Ponferrada. I see everyone as I pass by, and it is a joy to see everything, but the voice that calls me, I feel it much deeper. The force that pushes me, the force that attracts me, neither I can explain it, only The One above knows it! Buen Camino ! https://www.livealagom.life/blog/zf8m2wq2qm461v6uq5th1a0pptp5nj monthly 0.5 2022-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631888606934-4YR28CI83AELR66ZBTJ0/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 9 To Navarrete Often times markers between markers are vague, eroded, quite old and faded, and difficult to see - when all else fails head west https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631888370172-6IT0INDW0P7ZQRIX0O0O/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 9 To Navarrete I guess I am ‘officially’ a pilgrim now that I have my concha shell with cruz de Santiago stamped on it (everyone follows this tradition). Today I found myself stopping frequently to take my pack off and catch my breath https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c4cb279c-f455-4030-9749-106a2f49d55c/IMG_3507.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 9 To Navarrete - Make it stand out The roadside art installation was pretty cool and inspired https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631888096480-3RY3NXYIL2IGBJN5RD1G/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 9 To Navarrete Spent about 20 minutes in wonderful silence (eyes closed) in this beautiful sanctuary. Had the place to myself believe it or not-most opt for a photo outside without entering. Iglesia de Santiago in Logroño. (1500s). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631887977402-AD7MQQTMUCZ7VEGWXY2Y/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 9 To Navarrete An enjoyable stretch with Herr Holger where the camino parallels a hiway for a stretch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631890721973-IEA9JXCYCU8VE4M3UE4H/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 9 To Navarrete My walking tribe (Susanna, Kathy, Holger, Lars) for the first 90 minutes - there after I walked alone until three - I will see them again in a couple of days in Najera https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631888692373-N9FIZUUY2IK5Q5FNYMLS/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 9 To Navarrete Official Rose de Santiago - created & donated to the people of the Logroño by Michel Adam. A recent and ongoing hybridization and combination of roses from different cities and villages along the Camino with the goal to make this a symbolic rose of the entire Camino. This is the second thing that made my day - I picked this one especially for my lovely wife who is holding down the fort while I am gone https://www.livealagom.life/blog/nq53fhj45jekbrki4nqccpwvwhfchv monthly 0.5 2022-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631800738159-16TV3EQ6BO78802SYI64/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 8 To Viana Harvest has started - we enter La Rioja region tomorrow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631801101210-WTT55EXSDI595L2MLSTZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 8 To Viana yup….. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631801052271-J0XIZV5EB8HZ6KBZR0QD/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 8 To Viana Part of the ‘why’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631814801453-S72E3I5PGMMV6YV7VMD9/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 8 To Viana Chiara, from Venice, joined our table and asked if she could start playing her ukulele & sing - of course ! (plenty of room in her 7 kg backpack to bring a musical instrument along for 800 km of Camino!) She just finished her college degree in Interfaces & Communication Technologies and is intending a career in artificial intelligence with advanced studies - sorting out what’s next, possibly, along the Camino… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631800454601-87DWD2WMJQFP3KA3DFBP/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 8 To Viana Iglesia del Asunción de Santa Maria - look at the sculpted details of muscles of the criminal on the right! I wonder if he was the one that made it to Paradise that day? (Truly I say to you, today….Lk 23:43) Started 13th century finished in 1500s https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631800781969-9KZCKAUXYN838O6J834W/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 8 To Viana Katy from Czech Republic, yo, y Susanna from Denmark. A ‘grape’ photo moment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631800945612-6OFWFH3LI9BXU40HEVRJ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 8 To Viana I’ve never met a cairn I haven’t liked (adding to) https://www.livealagom.life/blog/bbtz0v6whfgz8v3p0nqgbsz4jfry4a monthly 0.5 2022-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631717054175-8GYYGFB4ACJZY8VKJ92B/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 7 To Los Arcos Bodegas Irache - The famous fuente del vino (water to wine?!) where we fill up our water bottles with wine of course. To say it was ‘Nouveau’ vino is an understatement. Prolly better for cooking..but the precio was right - libre ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631716576458-CD1XTYJGCSTW1OV24G3Z/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 7 To Los Arcos I will refrain from food pictures as I find them rather cliché however yesterday I did find the holy grail of a nice folding knife (‘cuchillo pleagable’ - the french makes good very sharp knives) so I can cut cheese, fruit, baguettes, sausage, and carrots ! along the Camino. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631716715272-W3S679ADL6WNSJWPHGCK/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 7 To Los Arcos Highlight was this random seemingly out of place road side rest stop with a musician playing hauntingly beautiful praise song on his guitar in this acoustically perfect building (it appeared to be a washing or bathing well)- I will try to figure out how to upload the video. A very cool moment…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631755856530-P03D8MF9UNGN0FXJ8JX6/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 7 To Los Arcos Friend, Herr Lars, on “The road to forever” What a great iconic moment. My poor command of words or idioms aleman (german) did not prevent us from having many lengthy conversations and learning what it was like for him to grow up in the former GDR. A very contemplative pilgrim on his 4th Camino. Lars conscientiously journaled everyday after walking… before his afternoon siesta! He is somehow finding margin in his life to do these frequent caminos with a full time managerial job and family. I love it - living deliberately https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631717690206-D15X7LG5A9IIBSX4L8F3/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 7 To Los Arcos Typical Albergue accommodation for 13 €. Capacity eight (pandemic restrictions) there were three of us - bottom bunks only. Due to restrictions I found that most dormitories were very, very clean. Comfortable and basic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631716916426-UZCYGGWTRNTSD2HGA3HN/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 7 To Los Arcos Buena Vista on the road to Irache. Moments like these I wished I could freeze in time in my mind. I should have just sat down and taken it in for 15 minutes instead of jumping back on the trail so quickly. Whats up with that compulsive mindset to keep moving… (no one else stopped either) https://www.livealagom.life/blog/e7fxl58qszmh0toc1q86qa2bi9khs8 monthly 0.5 2022-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631717244268-HO8E7POAK7P93PSQZ1LH/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 6 To Estella The famous French Perigrinos - Christina y Juarran - Camino numero quatro! Amazing, many of us are exhausted and done for the day but they took a rest break and added seven more kilometers today ! I think their secret is their pace coupled with frequent rest stops along the way for fruit, baguettes, cheese…. and slowing down enough to enjoy the landscape and moment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631588496452-R31EGJOO1CHG1S0WQZV1/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 6 To Estella Puente la Reina (bridge of the queen) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631649565468-EM33ZJNV2FL64WJ9WKOX/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 6 To Estella Every small village has one or more of these parish churches. From 1020 AD ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631649847266-087VMEQ46TOCTZ0NB03P/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 6 To Estella A lot of elevation change from Pamplona to Puente to Estella- tomorrow to Los Arcos and then an easy day to Logrono. We were all on a 2000 year old Roman road for 3 miles today - the stones spoke…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631650243059-LQ6M9DRXH9JHXI41XIAK/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 6 To Estella Chill time in Villatuerta. Tortilla Espana (kind of like a potato and egg soufflé). Road side refreshment / refuel stops are easy choices to make along with the requirement to eat when you can! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631649471258-ZDDR0SL3RH7H888MMPC4/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 6 To Estella Leaving in the dark thirty minutes before sunrise https://www.livealagom.life/blog/5ct4502t8qlnuslzi0l0aug00qgv4d monthly 0.5 2022-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631547737990-LON8DHGWQ9QO5EPP3D6N/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 5 Puente de Reina ‘Food for the body, food for the soul’. Good use of underutilized church property I think - it was a very cool metaphor to see these men enjoying themselves. The spiritual nature of social gathering and gardening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631545122906-DIIXJLV3AL3I2BI2BTSD/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 5 Puente de Reina Camino medicina cada dia (ante meridiem) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631545308999-RQZXYV2BGHU8XQ615YWZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 5 Puente de Reina Slippery when wet (bicicletas a la derecha). I cannot imagine this during a downpour. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631545256875-T1JPAVCXMWBKD74BOF8P/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 5 Puente de Reina El Perdon at last. What a view. The first big camino ‘milestone’ and second must have ‘selfie’ stop https://www.livealagom.life/blog/g4dyia1jj8sk7cmpomlrgskxf6us5h monthly 0.5 2022-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631455897192-YED7MJHXQFZY6WF6HCK4/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 4 To Pamplona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631456077938-QMWTO8NN0HFZB2DDFLGE/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 4 To Pamplona It’s a generational thing - I have always loved street and building art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631455464764-GBUIHMRDWD949N3KFJNB/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 4 To Pamplona Today’s End point - easy day 32116 steps, yeah right. today - las rodillas me hablan en voz alto. - ‘my knees had conversations with me all day’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631455931927-ZVDZXUIB96OHJEU764FQ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 4 To Pamplona My friend Michael gets the award for the best sombrero, yes he brought it all the way from Seoul ! Enjoyed getting to know him in the hostel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631455698091-OKP9ZNM2C2V3ZB4PUNZK/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 4 To Pamplona My walking friends for half the day: Anita Denmark, Daniela Catalonia, Paimaie Nederlands (for Anita the marathoner - two per year, simply a walk in the woods - she is a practicing podiatrist and had awesome recommendations and suggestions when things crop up ! I think I’ll put her on speed-dial ! (once my mobile finds a T mobile tower)) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631456004674-276RM6QMDNHFT00UTTJY/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 4 To Pamplona Believe it or not I visited a third country where they speak a completely different language. A very proud people with a very interesting history. Basque. Basque country ! https://www.livealagom.life/blog/fne2c9f0qr9c9dnbem7117qjjq0izz monthly 0.5 2022-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631386068238-BJ5T5Q8D5CA1ODPIJRQY/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) An abbey stop for pilgrim stamp in my ‘credential. Abbey and hostel closed, but ‘stamp yourself’. Exquisite stonework https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631332822085-RYK3RMY0GRUSNCI2M5PP/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) Step 1 (of a million plus) in St. Jean Pied a Port. 2 days ago on Day 1 I backtracked 50m to capture this image https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631386134644-A6WQ5J2XDF04L0I8QYI5/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) Pilgrims dinner - best baked sesame chicken ever thanks to our hostellaro. Fellow pilgrims from the Nederlands, Deutschland, Espana, Denmark. - all new friendships & great life stories & reasons shared on ‘why walk the Camino’. Family recipe deemed ‘top-secret’ by the innkeeper -dang ! Albergue Alojamientos Aca y Alla (accomadations here and there) - highly recommended - fabulous host ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ff471af0-dfc2-4ccc-ba56-b7a5667153e6/911+b.gif Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) - Make it stand out Leaving Erro. Michael up ahead, met him last night in Espinal. Fording streams takes many forms. During heavy rains, spring in raging waters… Yikes ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631375683767-R1BR33NXOYS0EOZ36MHP/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) Encantada…. in awe of this ‘beginning’ Alone and indescribably delighted https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631375337173-ERUFKBLKBO9M2KWXYBHD/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) ‘The Way’ narrows into enchanted forest. And millions have walked this route before me ! I can’t wait to see how this all unfolds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631375003980-57B8M9QCNW1UX05Z2ODT/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) The ‘contemplative arc of the narrative’ of my Camino …..captured very well methinks. In a way I ‘felt’ like I was in a movie about to begin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631420175058-QPZVGY9OZS7A00RUL15B/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) Steep daring decline with difficult descending detritus drama. This would be very sketchy to bike. It required very attentive walking. Knees are starting to give me a ‘heads up’ they are not happy with downhills https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4b4f7523-3438-4063-8c6f-653cfa3b75eb/9+11.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 3 (on 9/11) - Make it stand out Erro, in Navarra. Just passing through…typical passage thru towns and villages, usually peregrinos ahead and behind https://www.livealagom.life/blog/0qzwt6rqhtc5lu7aduuz4fz03o8lxc monthly 0.5 2022-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3d91e38e-0b7c-431e-96a3-92bd32545322/Pyrenees+slope.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 2 Up & Over the Pyrenees - Make it stand out Very few pilgrims on this stretch ahead of or behind me in France before the Spanish ‘border’ into Navarra https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631272192526-HW3VCN90P6V7RFIGKUL0/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 2 Up & Over the Pyrenees ‘Wabana’ light this a.m. leaving Albergue Borda. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/838ca158-25a9-4414-8cf4-4a19a41da45e/IMG_3210.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 2 Up & Over the Pyrenees - Make it stand out Niebla (fog) frequently greeted my mornings. This looks level but in fact it is straight downhill - you would roll until you hit a tree to stop ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631272704649-R86EWFO743293Q2549AZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 2 Up & Over the Pyrenees In Espana now… this is the only signage confirming I left France some steps before https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631306624434-C048ZQNGHQA37SOZW6N5/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 2 Up & Over the Pyrenees My new Basque friends enjoying each other on their weekend days off. Speaking Basque, Spanish, and learning English. It moved me every time I saw young people and school children out and about being kids in the midst of a worldwide pandemic! Mostly, they are just shrugging it off and happy being outside https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631272368517-DH78H5YKBYM4EMVR3WV8/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 2 Up & Over the Pyrenees Notice ‘signage’ on rock (red white stripe)- better not miss it! Yes, this is the trail over the Pyrenees. Difficult to get lost, but not impossible https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631273096415-PBQR0KN3ABWMA34EWAGZ/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 2 Up & Over the Pyrenees The famous mileage selfie…with a daunting number of kms to go https://www.livealagom.life/blog/51p4ze9gwnjj4s5m7xmts7ci9sf8fp monthly 0.5 2022-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631220659530-CMYKCZ1L4U86UJ5FBL3F/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! Pilgrims dinner. It turned out to be one of my favorite moments. One I’ll never forget, kindness, humanity, friendship, bonding, community, common purpose. I would ‘bump’ into some of them intermittently later on my Camino. Instant connectivity and camaraderie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631335113973-Y7MLFQZJ5J5KNE7J5PSD/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/188553e4-36b0-4007-a732-49d7f55823bf/fullsizeoutput_7e60.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! - Make it stand out A late start just before 5 p.m. And long walk to Albergue Borda ahead ! Emotional start, excitement, and a little bit of a ‘now what do I do feeling’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631219269188-RPQP0E2G4GELXJ1ZSHWM/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! The road not so less traveled. This image is very important for me as it represented the reality of this adventure really beginning…. The real deal. I’m doing this! I love this picture ! I want to return to this exact spot one day feeling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fda1f1a5-2cd5-4836-aba2-b7c0a4e5f024/run+with+the+bulls.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! - Make it stand out Yeah, same to you right back https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/8adb2c46-932b-48e1-8e70-ba88d9628969/Instant+friendship.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! - Make it stand out While dinner was served (over a couple of hours) we took turns with introductions and reasons for ‘doing’ the Camino. Many heartfelt tears and emotions. Very moving first dinner. In fact my favorite albergue of all and a most memorable evening. I was the last one to arrive at 8:30 pm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5757da67-ec9e-4a07-9f78-dd5c759c9103/Borda+on+the+Border.jpg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631178786562-2ZHUA3CNND3EI2MH4YBB/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! Where the ^>{+~£;&# am I ? Is this for real ? Kind of an ‘OBE’ feeling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631219219446-7N2L2YD19X2G4QPPBAVG/public.jpeg Blog Chapter 1 Beginnings - Day 1 Arrival: St Jean Pied a Port ! Which Way - follow the (barely visible) symbols https://www.livealagom.life/blog/category/Travel monthly 0.5 https://www.livealagom.life/blog/category/Food monthly 0.5 https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta daily 0.75 2023-08-21 https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/t98vktxufvyeefhyke2xu2rf7n6ouz monthly 0.5 2022-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633293716102-HG3MB28E9HB29A8YJ5Z6/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633264537495-TS2FYDKUD2YN2R5XPY7M/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga As I was looking at this rather old looking bridge and the stonework and the yellow arrow I noticed a woman in the house next to me shaking out laundry. So I commented in my high school level Spanish that the bridge (puente) appears to be muy viejo-very old. And she replied it actually is a Roman bridge from 2000 years ago! And that I am (still) walking on part of the Via Romana ! I stood on it and utter amazement again contemplating who marched across it and what were they doing and where were they going. Did ‘they’ bring peach and glad tidings, or sadness and tyranny? Such ‘aha’ moments like this are the very best part of my day. I guess I am a student of history after all- especially the whole Roman era https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633263902993-38WWHVWKKV2SOSZ4MJ36/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga “ Graffiti….Art or Vandalism?“ Not a very difficult question to answer in my mind but how do the taggers steal so much spray paint? You would think they would actually put 20 cameras in the paint section along with security personnel. I really haven’t seen many other places anywhere in the world with as much graffiti on private, public, and commercial property as in Spain. Including defacing a lot of Camino signage. Arrghh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633293290258-OQGWGTIZ6E3B8T8Y2DTY/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga If you’ve seen one cathedral you’ve seen them all well that’s not exactly the case I actually like this one better than Leon. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘catelog’. The gothic edifice was begun in 1471, the high altar from 1558 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633263498023-LRBA4LTQMCY4J1AE1NE1/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga Astorga off in the distance. As I descend this hill and into the valley I am officially off La Meseta for which I’m rather happy. It was probably more mentally difficult than it was physically challenging in spite of the fact it is close to 1/3 of the entire Camino mileage at 220km. I wish I would have picnicked on this hill in the park and just chilled for a moment. But often the ‘drive’ to keep moving, to keep moving. (Slow down Sr. Tomas!) Too often on my Camino (and in mi vida) I keep going rather than taking a few to stop, smell the roses sprinkled with gratitude. A Camino lesson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633293876785-GOZNGTQUMOXLPS61P96C/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga Special altar celebrating San Tiago - the pilgrim. As I tried to understand the detail embedded I thought about James chapters four and five and the fact that he clearly had some specific things that he wanted to get off his chest in his book and those chapters https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633264325394-Y57IIRHTS9Z23BY2LN53/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga Well OK then, at least this ‘vandal-grafeet-artista’ made me wonder if all of my bikes at home miss me Pretty well done, I’d say… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633263215566-1DSD635N5LV2GCMR4RO0/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga A beautiful site in my rearview mirror and thankfully I did not need to test my new poncho (yet). A visually symbolic goodbye to the mesa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633263345955-RWLFTERD3YAS5XIWFI7S/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 25 To Astorga Another one ‘crossed’ my mind, obviously. (US) Friends Diane and Elizabeth snapped this for me as I did for them. I was going to grab my usual desayuno at the corner bar… scoped it out and decided, nope, next bar. Mistake. No next bar anytime soon. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/4stz9k3xdv3396jktx6n1menhhh2zo monthly 0.5 2022-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633190035288-RWPX2ZL9JBX68KA9C7KI/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633188423837-NLYGZMMRCRZWGQR9EZB5/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo ‘Se Vende’ cheap (furnished, bed in bedroom! I looked ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633190067934-M15J8GRLYH435T5K7A0I/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo I love this one and took a photo at this exact spot entering town https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633189818412-J8Y7SXH06PDU60UNGXCX/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo Albergue de Peregrinos -San Miguel Wow, am I rewarded today or what. Arturo bought the Albergue 7 years ago and it is fabulous. Filled with over 100 paintings created and completed in a single evening by Perigrinos that have passed through here over the years! He has provided a small studio will canvas and all the paints for any to use. Wow! A real joy to see such talent & inspiration. Very thankful to have ‘happened’ upon Arturos hostel. What a host! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633189990261-YO6EHE5N3QVGES073T5H/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633202639491-P5TRTD9J6SRR0HOOFPOF/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo 12€ a nite. Every other bed due to Covid restrictions. I meet the most interesting people from all walks of life ( not just poor college age ) in the hostels vs. the private room I get every couple of nights. (No extra charge for the nightly snoring chorus - ‘libre’ - free). Again, each room filled with Camino inspired paintings. Wonderful! I go for the bottom bunk always. Lady at dinner said a guy in Pamplona in her albergue fell out of top bunk and broke his ankle- true story game over. Dinner was good but I was pooped. I declined after dinner drinks and walked back to the albergue and got horizontal quickly after a quick load of laundry and hanging them outside to (try to ) dry overnight. En mi cama by 10 pm. Storm overnight with heavy rain… thank goodness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633189632963-EKVCV12NW7KCL8SK1QXD/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo If you asked me how I’m feeling right now that I made today’s destination- one word - “vertical”. I really liked this welcoming town. I’d return here for sure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633190133485-AGB2X2RVR47SZZADE7B4/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633189524469-XHD4ESIIP6OICDO2JE20/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo Puente over Rio Orbigo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633190094112-5792MUOVAUHKNXO2QIL7/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 24 to Hospital de Orbigo https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/ibmx3no7g975gr2nge3vn70wfyoxip monthly 0.5 2022-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633111199795-ZIM5A2N23HV6GVQ7WSEU/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon The darkest period in the monastery of San Marcos's five centuries of history is concentrated in just four years last century. During the course of the Spanish Civil War cells, rooms, stables, cloisters, church, choir, museum and every fast corner of the building were transformed into impromptu dungeons or jailers' offices. Between July 1936 and the end of 1940, up to 7,000 men and 300 women were imprisoned at the same time. It is estimated that, over the entire war and the period immediately following, the number of militia members and political prisoners that passed through its cells totaled some 20,000. In the province of Leon, around 3,000 deaths are recorded due to the repression, and a good number of these came from the dungeons of San Marcos. (Source- wiki) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094330744-7WHLFM35KPIHY86L8EBQ/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Alfonso IX El Rey de Leon 1188-1230 is pretty famous here. He is best known for taking steps towards modernizing and democratizing his dominion and founded the University of Salamanca in 1212. In 1188 he summoned the first parliament reflecting the fullest representation of the citizenry ever seen in Western Europe, the Cortes of León (source=wiki). It appears he accomplished much in his life and was well liked. He made the ‘final cut’ and is buried at the Cathedral in Santiago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633111005611-KSHJ7XK9CJ5ERCZA9WLO/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon I was allowed special access to the cloister. I probably did four laps because there was a lot of detail that I missed first pass https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094401541-0WBH4162NIQXQG24PUTL/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon The Convento de San Marcos contains the Museo San Marcos and opens at five - this one I’m not going to miss since I’m staying just down the street across the bridge. Initially, I inquired about the attached Hostal since they had that ‘H’ symbol on the outside of the building. I thought, wow, hey I’m in luck - looks like it meets my minimum quality standards. Turns out it’s a parador or luxury hotel and when I inquired about the room availability and the rate. She said “si, senor, no problema”. Starting at 188€ a night. Nope. Stayed across the bridge down the street overlooking that beautiful park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633096864500-0S34LO48POGHA1O5R2SK/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Watching your step. A 2.5m drop - straight down. Twisted ankle minimally, broken leg likely. Not exactly the same attention to hazards by the local municipal public works department https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633111081296-TAQSJWK16DC2AP2WRGWI/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Carved family coat of arms of all the royalty and nobility linked to the Order of Santiago in Leon region from very long ago. The history of the centuries spoke volumes. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in those times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094219629-GQM5R40L6XF9RC51A677/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon On approach to Leon with 2 km to go https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094269981-QM2LM0J3U0WY8BHY17C0/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Pretty spectacular but unfortunately closed until four - 2 1/2 hours from now. Construction started in the 13th century but was not finished until the 14th century - features over 1800 m² of medieval stainglass windows which I wish I could’ve seen. I’m going to a museum instead https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633068627995-7GJ5J1E2FQPTDOA4B4UH/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Leon today and Astorga (Monday) is the end of La Meseta and then its on to … ‘A Santiago’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633110735843-BXMSJJGU2VOH0GL8OD1R/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon The main sanctuary 16th century https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094682939-U3D7HXCML3GIPZJOYNGG/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Cafe con leche to go was a no-brainer as I walked by it this namesake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633111135950-N6DCHDI4P3RMM7KBS715/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon A carved nativity scene. by Juan de Juni This dated stone altar is considered a masterpiece by the French sculptor Juan of Juni (ca. 1532) and one of the most outstanding pieces in the monumental complex of San Marcos. “The Nativity scene, in the centre of which appear St Joseph, Jesus and Virgin Mary, is remarkable for its original Renaissance perspective, in an urban setting with superb classicist buildings” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633110960936-94PQAC9B3DCAQA6F33R5/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Separate museum area https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094464157-6BTMKZX1FNV5GNORJ4SY/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon A monument across from the ‘Convento’ dedicated to ‘the Peregrino’ at the cross roads of two different ways to get to Santiago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094573942-W3DEKYHW0775QT2GEH6U/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon I like the repose in this sculpture a great deal. Sums up how my days are usually ending - sitting down and looking up in gratitude. Shoes, most definitely off https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633094174101-Q6D9SOIBOBPWGKGPVLX3/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 23 To Leon Mountains off to the north but I am heading west https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/mp6ugjmyrxh9gdch4vo0rqn5dvaj23 monthly 0.5 2022-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633028435872-M6590NAOG60CLS9YWAKD/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente Liar-Ista https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633014172469-TI3579IXBJEPSKFJ0DFQ/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente My habitacion for Esta Noche is an old cow barn and the owners have done an epic job converting the farm into a pilgrims paradise… they have no workers - they run the restaurant, reception, do the laundry, keep the bar running you get the picture! I would love to come back to this one ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633011706758-IASXPHC2O89QSK05RQX2/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente I needed this reminder early in the day today, big time - thank you ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633012086131-W7WYT0S7E92HALCNCA8Z/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente Wow do they know how to do a planned forest / natural area…. is this great or what. Was it a mistake not to bring my hammock ? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633010980017-AJIIQL88KK4OHGF8MQS2/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente A lack of a horizon in the ‘electric mist’ made the time go faster - it was rather ethereal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633052741555-H18SH5H7SX0ZA9WN8CG2/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente The Wi-Fi really did not extend beyond the salon area which was very comfortable. It led to the awesome garden and outdoor bar. Albergue San Pelayo is one of the top five places I’ve stayed thus far. They deserve a 5 star review for beauty, comfort, service, room, bed, and hospitality ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633028552035-ZMEW051PQ53I3VB73I2V/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente 3m tall esculptura. Me? Not today. Maybe I’ll feel this way in Santiago - Got to get there first“ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633010894822-5376SFNBELNBHL5HHXYK/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente Walking slightly before dawn was pretty cool but a little weird not having done that yet. Walked on the road as I could not see obstacles or hazards on the path https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633011830348-LYPAQMRQRZDWHSDKV3NB/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente A lot of crosses on the path every day. I have not met a cruz I haven’t liked in some way and judging from all of the stones - I’m not the only one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633014629719-MHDFFE3733NACCCCZ1W7/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 22 To Puente Villarente Owner with two of her friends https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/k77yhtlozjwmokfakbkf1qqws1b0y4 monthly 0.5 2022-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632920121529-VOZ0ARSG0JU5Y4X0E5P1/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 21 To El Burgo Ranero Side 1 of my credential is filled.. kind of cool, like really cool. I will always treasure this document and frame in between 2-sided glass frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632918971673-O8KDEFVCJGSGAH3V8RUA/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 21 To El Burgo Ranero Beautiful row of trees -Maple like - solid row entire way between two towns. Goal is clearly to provide summer shade to walkers. In fact, it was 2 1/2 hours of these shade trees that must’ve been planted approximately 20 years ago! It took me nine seconds to walk between two trees = approximately 10 m. Doing the math backward as I walked it seems somebody sprung for 1000 trees along approximately 10 km. A lot of time today to do arithmetic and simple calculations. Like my walking pulse today was 81 BPM and my wake up pulse has decreased somewhere in the 40s. Or mentally counting the number of things that I am carrying or wearing- 17. Attempting to count by memory the total number of things inside my pack - 83. Actual number is 71 so I missed something or over counted something https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632917403429-S6YVAUOK5D1HK6GWF720/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 21 To El Burgo Ranero … like I said yesterday…. this led to a passing thought on whether or not I will ‘go out’ on a ‘high note’ living in the moment doing what I want one day (I hope a long time from now) Sobering thought, when I see these. Yikes! R.I.P. Manfred https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632922285903-TN98RKMYXKCBDB2GAFF5/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 21 To El Burgo Ranero https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632917281592-OJMCZDDE7T2YMRU6JQLP/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 21 To El Burgo Ranero “libre te quiero como arroyo que brinca de pena en pena peri no mia”. Freely I love you like a stream that jumps with sorrow to sorrow but not mine”. Hmmm, struggling with the metaphor - I still like the painting. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/ja3iuaasutt3dj1j9zu5q1ww47z9j9 monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632944091656-R591LB8WO8D6FFL70M7P/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun The others stopped to check out the monestario in Condes. A favorite nights stay for many. My schedule was out of synch so I blew by it. I should have at least gone in for a sello (stamp). Too tired. Many lodge here at this well know monastery / hostel because of its history, size, and unbelievably beautiful cloisters and courtyard (below) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632837066407-KTTNAXQIXWZ15FQECO17/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Leaving Palencia, entering Leon region https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632836414818-3AERLGKDUXEQAIA2RDQW/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Sunrise start was just fabulous https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632837368897-WH5OGR1MR4KTOZXVJ39S/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Sahagun ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632944239521-3YYAI5PTSZY55JUJDTEK/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Cloisters at Monestario in Condes. - photo courtesy Holger https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632836514807-14MZ1U11C23KL7IRSILE/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Lunch stop in the ‘Shire of Palencia’. Evocative of the ‘Hobbit’ & ‘Rings’ trilogy. Approximately 500 years old, families used these hobbit rooms for winemaking & wine / cheese storage. A couple of them are still used for such. I observed a couple that appeared inhabited ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632836827187-8OARDCLWILIMKDNKQYOO/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Never pass up anchoas con ajo, aceito, tomates, y limon para el almuerzo…. and yet another baguette to mop up with. At Fromista ‘canal & dam’ bar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632836693994-ZMYW75MOBS507Q3O130W/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Many simple and some elaborate memorials for those that actually died while on The Way both walking or biking ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632944347910-1XNSC4TH1RT5BR4U15VD/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Monestario courtyard and taking it all in -photo by Holger. Kathy painted this as a gift for Holger this fall ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632866662629-M2BNHRRVA7DMMZHY4Z2A/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Once past Astorga we leave la Meseta (next week). Capitulo tres / chapter 3 entitled “A Santiago” begins then: stay tuned….but first on to Leon for a day and a half ( first full rest day (didn’t happen) ) of sightseeing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632837462270-G4SC8GBUAT3P3N46PKS0/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun Intelligent Design is everywhere…. if you slow down and look https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e79b5155-8f0b-474c-b33b-1646751817b8/IMG_0363.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun - Make it stand out Wow, Unbelievable! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632866995915-OBG613TN1RDOT0841GF4/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 20 To Sahagun What a great evening dinner celebrated by Germany Czech Republic, USA, Denmark, and Estonia! Holger, Kathy, SrTomas, Lars, Susanna, Nick, & Mart. The Vino (unbeknownst to all of us the waiter started choosing expensive bottles of vino ‘for us’ -thank you for padding the bill ) flowed shall we say rather freely and the food was quite above average! And due to the wine served/chosen for us the ‘cuenta’ was quite above average too. Nick and Mart had an incredible wood fired pizza. Prolly the best pizza on Camino Frances! Great end of day reflections of Camino today, aches n pains, and anticipation of what may be next…. And remaining mileage https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/vb6e1r8pw92jqk7khykiq78jw2e5jr monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632772735126-F8SFUXQZIU491WODQVGZ/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos potd = picture of the day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632771486075-9KST7A56HNG7YO58J8IL/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos A well designed forest as we left Condes. Google did not show this ‘hammock’ spot on Maps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632745052208-OSEBNYD9UMNYS1SNUO9Z/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos The ‘autobahn’ of La Meseta- me stuck in 2nd gear however. You get to the very end of this view and the exact same horizon reappeared, and again, and again…. What Roman legions walked down this path and what the heck were they doing from town to town? What stories would they tell what short lives did they live how would they want to be remembered (or likely not remembered by the villagers) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632745385358-T8HO1M16NAL2CL1WVB61/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos All about the (hallelujah) sky today on the road that would never end https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632771999900-X7R3R1HQ3EAU97VYICYH/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos Via Romana, and I’m on it 2021 years later. One of my favorite (benevolent) emperors - Marcus Aurelius- also dealt with a pandemic & had to hold the empire together on his watch - sound familiar? “Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart ” - Marcus Aurelius from Meditations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632771654529-LWX1XF0S8CSNKYQZ73ME/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos Lodging at last! And a nice one at that. 39,486 steps today. Not intended distance. Oofdah - no towns earlier! I didn’t book in advance-this province now allows 75% capacity in Albergues ‍ -therefore I was assigned a top bunk here at La Morena. Pretty much full - completo! Not gonna end well for the bottom bunk-mate at 4:45 am if I have to get up. A wonderful place, awesome courtyard, and a most incredible dinner with two I have not seen in some days. Very comfortable. Lars is staying here-private room splurge. Also Jonathan, who is no stranger to the Camino (4) or the world for that matter. Amazing stories and catching up on Camino skuttlebutt during dinner is always memorable and fun https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632745174085-HOAGR7FE7ZQXVXU8XHA9/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos Food truck rest break at last. Phillip (left) (Nic (right) from Deutschland (his day number 4) is wondering when his body will stop hurting- I said after 10 or 12 days if you’re lucky) Phillip is a recently retired college professor who walked out his door at his home on August 3 some 20 miles north of London and here he is. “Why did you decide to do it”, I asked him. “ I don’t know, it just seem to happen and to be the thing to do right now” And I thought I was the slightly eccentric one https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632771545429-0PNUZT4LB8TC6LR34MB5/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 19 To Ledigos Till this land ?! You’re joking. Yup, frequent tractors turning over the ‘soil’. What can you grow !? Sunflowers typically. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/931ws88sx7adqwds15xj7of1jbcmg5 monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632675615212-QV9X8CWBWX4SNI08IHIO/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Endless kilometers and kilometers of aqueducts irrigating the fields frequently seen along the camino. Must be thousands of kilometers of them. Most still appear to be in use to some degree https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632679125272-YRX9H1SHLA9M7M0GRACN/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Cathedral de Santa Maria La Blanca A transition from Romanesque to Gothic style. Began in the second half of the 12th century and finished in the last third of the 13th century. The town‘s name “Sirga” makes a reference toward the path that leads to Santiago. This church has three naves crossed by a double transept with five sections wow! Arch ribbed vaults and dome construction absolutely amazes me think of all the wood that was used to get it set up before the keystones went in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632675907998-VT724L7I8GSNJMYQZ6TP/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Really getting tired by 1400…today. I should learn the 20 to 24 km is my max per day for the rest of the journey . Left foot was kind of numb at the end of the day. Right pinky toe looking in rough shape. Talk of toenail abdication of the throne and threatening not to join me in Santiago . As I deviated from the road to take this picture one of the farmers shouted to me that I was going the wrong direction. The locals are always eager to help the wayward perigrino! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632675793149-NP1K5WOWGV5WEGA55SUV/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga A ‘hand off’ of sorts (or handy storm shelter) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632675338429-WVG4132MWYZ3C69XRDYN/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga I never tire of the old signage and the countless pilgrims that have passed it. I am now one of ‘them’. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632675416204-G491R0TV3W8RBUND0H1U/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Very long canal on the Mesa… with daily ‘boat service’. Started in the 1700s finished somewhere around 1850 ! One such ‘barco’ passed me and the tooted the horn and they all waved to me and called “buen camino!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632676037106-PTNZ2TTHHW4G33QM9LDN/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Today’s (ancient Roman) road was brutal for a couple of miles - exactly like driving over rumble strips for about two hours, but at least my shoes are drying out - only damp today - right front bumper delaminating… may have to buy some superglue at a supermercado https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632679151523-V18GJWC4UQNIT5MLKV99/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Me and ‘the dude’ we’re having a little bit of conversation before the church opens again at 1700. I said “Hey, Tiago wat up?” but he essentially chastised me - “hey, amigo, just do it, but take a chill pill, caballero, and Slow. Way. Down”. I went back down the hill a few blocks to my hostel, into the bar / restaurant area and had a very good chicken dinner, baguette, patata bravas, along with the ubiquitous and gratis pitcher of vino tinto. You can’t judge a book by its cover. The hostellero of this humble aged albergue did a good job and delivered the goods in spite of a significant shortage of toilette papele en lost banos en la mañana. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632583297420-SZO3JDNYHP1FVPDC0GFY/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga This map was along the roadside and covers the next 12 days. It nicely shows the many pueblos between the ‘stages’. Almost every town has at least one albergue. (I am planning a full day in Leon as a rest & sightseeing day). Additionally, I will cross the halfway point sometime in the next three days depending on how you count the total distance of my Camino. I spent last night at the town at the very bottom of the map - Itero de la Vega. To say it was sleepy was an understatement. Too tired to move on the the next town for better ‘options’. Good call, I had my own room, helped the local economy by buying some post dated provisions for dinner and my early morning desayuno before departure. Besides it rained pretty good by the time i settled into my room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632679262202-8V51TK0SKDIKWTEAJMDV/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga I would’ve liked to of gone into this little chapel but it was locked today on Sunday - go figure …..but I walked back to the door since there was a little keyhole that I was able to take a picture through to see what was inside https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632679420479-10W38FOA8ZPBIXUWQPUC/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Oh my gosh I think it’s St Joan of Arc - one of my favorite cast of characters - reminded me of that favorite (Luc Besson) movie too. While I enjoyed the image and connection, I thought of the unbiblical theology of beatification while I looked through the hole in the ancient door. NOTE: There are currently hundreds of unique visitors to my blog so a quick comment on religious commentary. I won’t. I won’t talk about my own theology in this blog as I’ve made my vision and reason for creating this website clear. To inspire others to walk their own camino. That being said the whole of Camino IS theology for everyone I’ve met walking whether they have a personal or formalized religious view or not. Whether the peregrino or peregrina knows it or not. It IS embedded and woven into the very fabric of the road on this ‘pilgrimage’ - this is what the Bonhoeffer quote (below) illuminates so well. However, I may from time to time -with license - reference or quote a scripture that is in context to my experience or best captions a photo. Such is unavoidable. Phil 2:12 …case in point https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632678931245-BT32NVLG8FHJ5YRVRPU2/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 18 To Villalcazar de Sirga Had a great late lunch just prior to this bend in the trail. I was thoroughly ‘bushed’ and would have camped in their yard had I had a tent. Calories Now! I had 2 juevos, bacon, and potatas bravas WITH 2 glasses of Vino to lessen the aches before setting out again. Thanks to the vino I felt a siesta would have been in order but I could barely get up as it was. Ultreia! I still had a ways to go! I always like the trail best when it is single track. How many tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands have walked this over the centuries? Someday will my esposa, daughter, or son-in-law, or granddaughter walk their own Camino and pass by here as well? That would be wonderful. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/x8qslpmai0hms0fo4llebtzjz8gfjg monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632579990236-MF6Z4UO7SKFGYFATECGS/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 17 To Itero de la Vega Beautiful sun on the really cool town of Castrojeriz before a little more rain and high wind back up on the Mesa. This beautiful small town had a few hostels that were dedicated to meditation and contemplation. Incense and beautiful music emanated from a few of them. A sign on their doors said “quiet, silencio por favor, no talking. Friend Holger was so moved by its vibe he chose to stay there tonight instead of further on down the line. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632579367095-B69F8O539QAZ7Y3WXK79/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 17 To Itero de la Vega I walked on ahead at a faster pace and didn’t know that my friends are up ahead chilling at San Anton convent. Had I chosen to bike the Mesa this gentle downhill would’ve been an incredible trail to fly along at max speed. While bikes are usually on separate road we sometimes share the trail never quite knowing whats around the next bend in this ancient path https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632579504722-4U8OYOFZN1QUI1L9Z5ZX/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 17 To Itero de la Vega The ruins of the convent of Saint Anton founded by King Alphonso VII - 1146. The order was dedicated to care for pilgrims that were afflicted with the fire of San Anton -evidently an epidemic at the time. It seemed to breath its history on us. The cross in the shape of the Greek letter Tau was given those to wear as they left as a sign of protection from evil. The order just plain disappeared in 1787. It has an a amazing ambience and we had some coffee there. As a hostel it has a few beds if you need a room for the night-usually booked ahead by others. I would plan and book a bed here a future camino. The evening here alone would be epic ! I ran into Holger and Lars again here. We were all deeply moved by the vibe and history. We stamped our own credentials and had a cafe con leche and took it all in. And then off for an hour of fast walking until we hit a bar just short of Castrojeriz. Logical time for fruit snack and cerveza Clara (2 % ABV with lemon)… very refreshing without making you trail tipsy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632579282116-UBGRY4B1K3C80073VUZS/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 17 To Itero de la Vega Another epic start to the day before sunrise - photo by Katya https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632580829558-3BSBIGB3UF7JV753XDQE/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 17 To Itero de la Vega My greeting as I entered Itero was magnificent - hundreds of rows of Aspen / like trees - fall color is just beginning. Dang! where is my hammock on days like this… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632580670164-X0VUSCX7F55D76ZL84ZL/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 17 To Itero de la Vega This wide valley was traversed today and you can see Castrojeriz with its fortress on top of the big hill (previous picture) halfway between today’s two mesas. The trek back up on this side is much higher than it appears here and puts you on a high mesa on la meseta. Giant downhill on the other side where I saw the first and only deer on the whole camino. It occurred to me for the first time during this stretch that my trip will actually end in a few weeks. This ‘sadness’ took time process and sink in. While still a long way off and while I miss my family greatly it is nonetheless a sad thought. The daily rhythm is ‘dialed in’, repetitive, and enjoyably predictable every day. This was a very satisfying thought. In three days I will have fewer steps remaining than I’ve taken already. I savored each step on the uneven ground, the worn ruts, and around the innumerable mud puddles today greatly. (I don’t know how I managed to avoid so many days of rain that came before (and after) me). As such I’m still not quite ready to put the headphones in and ‘zone out’ with tunes -there is so much yet too see, soak up, and try to remember with high resolution for the rest of my life. The trail is my ‘friend’ and endless wandering thoughts felt restorative in an inexplicable sort of way https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/t8ctq5hnnw3nrtb8wbpilr5qpaixy1 monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632494211863-EIIX2B49EBODSR8VV6KD/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 16 To Hontanas Angelos’ gift to himself is Camino number five where he ends up in Santiago on his 71st birthday. I think he said he started from his front door- I think he said he’s from Valencia where he started his Camino (see map #1). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632493473472-ZBCSGRSPWY0GD7SAUO6E/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 16 To Hontanas Yes, I walked into this storm. Thank you Fred Rogers for the song I could not get out of my head “it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood “. Tape played over and over for one hour. Shoes will still be soaking wet and full of mud tomorrow when I put them on ( 3 days to dry out). The oft “how much longer” “how much further” daily afternoon thoughts are beginning to dissipate… I no longer care as I know I’ll eventually get to where I need to be https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632493314895-XE169WQSMCL9PL1I71G4/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 16 To Hontanas Big Sky Country of Espana. Mentally tedious, alone, but pleasantly contemplative https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/xedvsz5io3u4tv6e2f3qrf2n49oj1w monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632414340032-DRVXGVX8ENRV68GGRDNN/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 15 To Rabe de las Calzadas Nope, not halfway yet - 3 more days and 76 km. A daunting number, however. Seems like a long way to go. I sighed, and starting walking again. Oofdah! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632414196423-D6H0YCDDVCXAZJPGNANG/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 15 To Rabe de las Calzadas Clearly an art town with a clear message on what’s important to them. This town pretty much wanted to be remembered by this wall art as you moved on out of town…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632414495872-5U3VYX65ISN4X6LBG2YR/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 15 To Rabe de las Calzadas E=mc2, -Al “I have a dream” -MLK … and “To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest” -Gandhi Tear in my eye when I rounded the last corner in town - I just sat on the side of the road and took it all in for a while. Took my pictures. Watched a women grilling bushels of red peppers on an outside wood fired grill with her german shepherd dog watching and protecting. And this fabulous mural. Best I’ve seen yet. I was deeply moved. I hoped that one day I’d walk by here, again. I want to believe I’ll walk by it one more time…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632413589610-A0CM59PPF2G8B9HNQC8T/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - Day 15 To Rabe de las Calzadas On the way out of Burgos I was going to walk past Jesus, but I decided to try to understand what He was doing there…..everyone passing Him by. I’m glad I walked over to say ‘hello’. The inscription: “Cuando el viaje llegue a su fin saldra la estella de la tarde y las armonias del crepusculos se abiran ante el portico del rey “ I’m glad I did not miss this at this early juncture of the long walk. Spoke to me, just sayin… “When the trip comes to an end, the evening star will come out and the harmonies of twilight will open before the king's portico” -this is worthy of some future thought…..(nobody stopped to view this) https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-dos-la-meseta/x5w38jywx5521dtkcyih2ypb3wohxv monthly 0.5 2021-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1632494837633-VROJN2Z5H5CPLJU8CRY3/public.jpeg Capitulo Dos "La Meseta" - La Meseta Starts after Burgos https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago daily 0.75 2023-12-30 https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/2fjzf402v7gu10c5mlh2ag2votcs5c monthly 0.5 2022-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634413045509-U3BAI1CPB55H3FTDLTQ6/10C9A817-1540-4742-86BB-9B5376C2B5AC.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 38 Santiago - A Day of R & R - Make it stand out Masterful stonework that we don’t see in modern (church) construction these days -at least in Minneapolis / St Paul https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634413132075-UZH9FR0MB2WKTUP7KORH/57FA9EF4-2D13-4459-9313-DA17C55C0EF4.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 38 Santiago - A Day of R & R - Make it stand out The picture doesn’t do the size and grandeur of these pipes justice and this is only a portion of the pipes. The other side was filled with more and is opposed to this side. Couldn’t find the keyboard or organist to do a special request for Toccata & Fugue in D minor. Before the service the organist was playing a variety of notes and checking tuning or pitch or some thing the acoustics in the cathedral are phenomenal -too bad there wasn’t a choir present. I still don’t know what’s up with all of the little naked babies climbing all over altars and organ pipes and everything else in churches. Maybe somebody can explain it to me sometime (my next Camino? !). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634412187565-U58MOZ98J4MHQR8M4325/62B4611E-D5FB-4EDC-B690-7284FE1FAA30.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 38 Santiago - A Day of R & R - Make it stand out Definitely the most interesting altar, nave, and transept of any of the cathedrals I’ve seen on this entire trip. Unbelievable with a very unique beauty. The angel representations were really out there, I must say. They appear to be a little overly fair skinned methinks. The butafumeiro is pictured here hanging - over 1 meter tall. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/5szah8cykpqwzc1kaf09l49sdcy2jm monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634386459520-O8LSIB1P9S8DZ53F7JSX/89D71F54-0B20-4A4F-B00B-C657E3D44CFA.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out My very first step in France and my very last step at the goal line in Santiago -mission accomplished what a feeling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634446573145-ML6K3VVX1KDB6K418TKN/E0D20E5F-27E1-4239-8389-58590AC2126B.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out Bagpipe entry to the plaza in Santiago after a loonnggg slog through the metro before it getting to the old part of the city https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634363316840-PVNZDIGAF5JHK4KKWZQM/6BE990EE-2FD2-4BD5-AA63-C298732E8A28.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out Leaving the last of the trail in and through the woods before entering the outskirts of Santiago. I always marvel at the symmetry that can be found in nature - once again highly likely intelligent design because the law of thermodynamics and the physical phenomenon of entropy precludes such things from simply happening on their own. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634330092090-QJW4BKJW40H7KJKGWYLD/FA2B9508-DE36-486F-AB45-6AFE2F7F0110.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out 37 days later 14:30 pm. My final day was a big 40,300 steps but I never thought about the distance because this was ‘the day‘ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634363176895-S8S9FQBOXV96S9CG93DB/1DBEC2A7-DAD6-4997-8CE7-165B8C80A4B1.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out The final documentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634330611268-TOJTDUNMQVK32W4CC04S/9A8CCE04-FE21-4C98-892E-7623B1CE07DF.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out Nuff said - A lot of steps, a lot of kilometers, and 37 days of gratitude for being able to accomplish the goal set in place roughly 7 years ago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634330276629-7KTRE8JN0BYWRZSPQPZ5/98FD056B-4CE3-4CD0-9EB8-0B76FD4720D2.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out The first thing I did when I got to town was to admire the front of the cathedral, number two to figure out where do I get my number to get in line to get my Compostela. I finally figured out where to do that and I was #1170 and they were calling number 570 at the time - the guard at the front door said probably three hours or four hours. I have time to go find my room (10 minutes before reception closed) and they tried to text me after which I went and had dinner or should I say lunch and then met up with friends on the plaza that I haven’t seen in 21 days. -bottom line it all worked out including getting a call from one of my brothers while I was waiting in line with only an hour to go https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634329584761-PDZBQR1NO46F5RU282AB/555332BF-0DE0-40CA-AF16-3321C13E2E5B.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out Another wonderful start to the day. Oddly, with such a short distance to go it was very quiet and I was alone for the first 90 minutes -just me and my headlamp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634329870635-53D8SA60RFH3529NC1OY/E0F7633A-9D85-4512-9E80-5BCACC04C5B1.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 37 “A Santiago” hoy ! - Make it stand out Old growth eucalyptus https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/2lc09xqoztoga6kxlzm8cebqolgh3a monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634223329323-PWHGPQ37JQWJEBT9SCX5/F9D9FA56-4669-462B-906E-6E67977B45C7.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out Apples must be a pretty tough sell at the local Supermercado as just about everyone has at least one apple tree in their backyard if not a small orchard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634223733708-UURHIQCTKK82Y3TK4M2F/EBA8AD09-84CE-4AD0-8354-EA667EB2A405.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out Walking through Arzua. The facial expressions never come through in these photographs -when you see them four stories high and look at the faces -they’re pretty un-flipping believably beautiful https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634224403854-XIWQ3KTVQYGTLW5SHCGJ/22FB3179-DD20-4F99-8756-316DDA864E29.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out This is a handy little graphic to end my day with - everything labeled here hurts with the exception of the phalanges ‍ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634223595176-RBBGQNI2H1HZLTYR45EE/B25E9E74-61A1-491F-A5D9-BC264896CDE4.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out ‘It’s all downhill from here to Santiago‘ is simply a figure of speech as the whole day, like yesterday, was up over hills, then down into a valley and back up again. All good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634224184414-72GDTM7REJAOTW9MXB5R/7A1C6200-8042-4065-A8D5-8F26FAABAB12.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out Not a mirage - a sight for sorry eyes. I was fading quickly and dissolving into the trail at 3:30 when I finally got to my lodging. A wonderful brand new inn. The innkeeper said they just finished the building, terraces, etc. and then Covid hit three months later! She has five rooms here and everything is as modern and wonderful as can be. My room has the best bed I’ve slept in a month! Nope not 12€. But a very good value at 50€ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634189051768-VE866EVTRY22RLEM71N6/6086E796-296B-4C69-94EA-622CD913C60A.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out A lot of primitivo things still around - some still in use. ‘Implementos agrícolas primitivos‘ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634223803210-FQFIJSOIN1OU6D0EW81R/7BDB2369-9EC6-4F7B-876A-CDA4A9DB4589.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out Six foot tall and what is it? The other item growing in everybody’s garden is this! At first I couldn’t figure it out I wondered if it was a mutant variety of broccoli or brussels sprouts. It’s kale! And it can be harvested all summer all the way until the end of the fall season. So last week I discovered Galician soup which has kale in it and fell in love with it and can’t wait to make it at home (recipe below) outstanding! Highly likely good for you https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634224472613-Q9AF9WUFYZ5MHLM4DAZF/3CA908E5-5C64-456E-8762-5C0F576AEA71.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out Some fabulous rose varieties in Spain the likes of which we don’t have anything back home to match https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634223197621-5WEVN2REYL8QDFA29NCI/7F5D1634-92D7-462E-A415-2F29B620CF40.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out Once again the early morning wabana light at dawn is indescribable. What a joy to start a long day of walking with such a sight https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634223418220-ZJJV5U6XXT5AN2XRNIDJ/650CAF33-97C3-4E84-8141-19FBF0979804.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 36 To O ‘Pino - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/qiso2n127lx9q03h6vayhn2ndoxiz1 monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634130672547-9G9PTMBVH0LTX2DG5NUD/1D25AC79-3634-41ED-A384-8E22F6DA05C6.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Estrella the Galicia brewer is sponsoring much of the building art that I have been seeing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634130829159-7V3QUJWM8SVHJBG0HQER/16221A8D-7EC5-414A-B5A4-C0ED5D114ACE.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out The town of Melide is famous for octopus -apparently they view themselves as the octopus capital of Galicia. I’ve had enough for now thank you. The secret to one of the most popular restaurants is no longer such a secret in terms of how they tenderize it. See next image https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634131491173-YK2MAVJ31DIHSTEFUK5I/9FCB75CC-6F8F-4D91-9C53-7FAB82DCC226.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out The only crossing on this creek when the water is high are these enormous irregular shape stones. Difficult to navigate on foot more so on a bike. Three bikes crossed walking them but the fourth bike biked it and had to put his foot down at the far end! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634144774632-O8FF1X7D0X28AGO7RTLG/04B86782-2867-4603-B975-C0A9B4489590.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Backside of the sleeping building where we do laundry at that washtub - hang to dry on fence or clothesline. Note: nice swimming pool to cool feet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634130313125-Y1Y35126XXBK7KHYY59D/95AE2133-9FC7-4297-B691-356AF9463170.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out In and out of some old growth forest some of the gigantic trees resembled California eucalyptus https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634145111052-FZM4KRWFGEMSO8Z7STYC/98433435-0A77-46B9-93E7-6BE4974BC4B9.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Common area in sleeping building on main level to do Internet, journal, or hang out and chat. I went to bed early but there were three bottles of wine on one of the tables when I left in the morning https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634145209605-LRLCBDQT8QV7IKGN1INH/A68F39F0-87D0-4BC3-9ED0-EB3CB00523A5.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Men’s room only -Caballeros - women have a separate similar room not all albergues are set up segregated. Only 1 person to a bunk due to covid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634130920049-TUQTZCQ5KIV2C53ZHNZL/AB5C83F2-CB80-4020-BAC4-D7F463A6E9E2.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Early vintage Vitamix model -for octopus . They move 100 kg of octopus a day! Clearly 8 legs up on the competition https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634130469497-EOHX7WY8OX30Y38Z77SS/FF69C31F-A623-4644-90BC-882A04746844.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Tiago beckoned & shouted “Ultreia, Tomas, sesenta km mas” Just do it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634144946936-ZGJQWDF5KX6AFJ10DM53/36217CB6-EBCA-49DE-9808-569A8F4F77D6.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Bar (restaurant) where I ate with some people I walked with (intermittentlyj) over the last two days. Typical pilgrims menu below: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634130100009-B4C1KV2RPDXFYSH4RVIU/C7389981-BB73-4C7B-9900-509256E84143.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Early morning greeting but R.I.P. 61 edad (years of age) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634145323936-1WMFX3MA671RWZ73FBKP/35CF5C44-E146-4C5C-A03A-21F69FEAA8FF.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out My crib. The blue mattresses and pillows are all brand new and they are disinfected. I was provided with squeaky clean white cotton covers and sheets (vs. disposable). It was 25° here today, and will be a warm night. I will sleep in a sleeping bag liner which is basically a sewn together top and bottom sheet on top of their sheet- as it’ll be warm enough tonight…..Which actually turned out not to be the case so I dug for my sleeping bag which is rated down to 40°F / 7C at about 3 AM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634145008175-NA1A3K59ZE2WV5ZWM762/C5592208-E859-48BD-BF06-3D2BA4F42CE1.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Three course Pilgrims Menu- 12 €. Pumpkin soup was absolutely outstanding, fish (hake-I have eschewed this up until now because I had no idea what it was but it’s wonderful kind of like walleye but different ) was fab as well. Table got one bottle of the customary vino -gratis . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634144657517-D7UJNL6N5L9Q0Z42OJI3/0F5C7F08-776C-41C2-9BD8-DE6332123167.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 35 To Boente - Make it stand out Albergue Aleman (hostel German) 15€ (Horro / grainery in forground) https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/dimtpjnqpmmispy1emjw772tvb3isy monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633972251261-OU5VKYEJ5XSKWM2OI1IU/B6D3BB6A-28B7-43DA-800F-1E7E97996E0B.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out Step-by-step inch by inch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634065314256-76JG328JHLKO3O9J8K2J/6BB4A340-19BB-4F03-918D-1637F95DAF74.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out This little gem of a chapel was open to all. Spent 20 minutes there resting my legs and achy body and re-reading the book of James. Interestingly, about every third one of these when I pop in there is Monica (A Thai acquaintance, living in France) already there in row one doing her morning prayers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634065378243-T42FJPKQVN45TM33Y535/AC2882D8-1402-4022-8510-4B4C5EE7628C.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out Of course I lit a candle of remembrance for all the moms. Why not? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634131981173-KEJIRIOCR5CUQBP4LJXK/94285F15-C33A-421F-9347-DA9A0FC09A6A.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out Cellular division among fungi is among the fastest known among living things. This can grow to this size in 3 days https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634064503470-FM24HL8KI5KA9G398VMC/AEB8EA68-588E-4857-84B7-9A4FEF6519C4.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out Wow what a start to the day! The road that led into the cloud https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634064649401-V7UFDQG8X7OT8L3NYVOX/829DF569-C873-4728-ADBA-ADDFFFFA982C.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out Once again heavy clouds have settled in the valley but we are up high walking https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634065253923-TXD4AZIUV6FS4BTPY6EL/389D586F-1FC8-4C30-A8BF-A03133AFE679.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out ‘Fuente del Peregrino’. Once again my favorite Camino verses I’m reminded of (coincidence?) and a water bottle refill fuente to boot. “Yo soy el Camino, y la verdad, y la vida -Jesus” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634064550563-GEI3OCY62F84F96YZOBQ/FFD43C67-06E8-4741-8887-441845222FA8.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out These are quite old grain storage structures ( horros ) often customized by the farmer. They are absolutelyeverywhere in the countryside here. A signature fixture in all farms and most back yards. Off the ground to ward off rodents, ventilated to keep the grain dry fall and winter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634065170075-5ALEI2809E02N1UCLQAH/4D0713B1-21BB-4637-BB81-C66F39644B51.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out This is a sneak peek through a hole on the fence wall into a beautiful gorgeous backyard. Many of the yards are exquisitely landscaped with stonework and statuary. Observation: almost all yards are fenced ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634132117778-YCLU0E55GT6Y9G37GHQL/02022ACC-C846-41DC-886B-AEFF949FEA66.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 34 To Palas del Rei - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/gvmcszugzdw5i7cpg8xsqiu1zp3ivn monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633971412430-VRJHCO4HDEVNAPU4MJOY/D98BCE39-15B8-4BAB-8730-BE490855124F.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 33 To Portomarin - Make it stand out Cloudy descent into Portomarin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633966696187-5TNF514OBN1OLLWI7B3D/9EFFC578-F4CB-4D54-82D8-9F274EC38602.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 33 To Portomarin - Make it stand out Pretty hard for me to put on headphones and listen to tunes when I am trying to soak all this in step-by-step https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633966784255-AJK0OC8A6I3WEQILLPCY/26093FA7-3307-45DE-AD3A-25E93AC53F65.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 33 To Portomarin - Make it stand out Once again I spent a few minutes doing web searches as I walked https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633966448673-LZXP8DK3OCNHL13AYJ9S/2756A7F0-0B6E-4DD2-AE0A-91FC9AAD9FC8.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 33 To Portomarin - Make it stand out Started walking before sunrise in the dark again - no problem since we were in town. The crowds are certainly thickening even at this early hour. Walked by the most amazing Panderia / bakery - it looked like they were doing artisan breads. The loaves were gorgeous. Should have taken a picture as this was the best bakery I’ve been in. I was pretty hungry since I only had a can of Coke and broccoli last night that that a fellow peregrina shared with me from her dinner. So I walked in and would loved to have bought a loaf of beautiful artisan bread but instead got a Napolitano - which is my favorite croissant - you know the one with the chocolate inside. Made from scratch it was the best one I’ve ever had in my life. Really good chocolate. Wow, what a way to start the day (every day I wish) I usually start out in the morning walking alone but today leaving Sarria it’s a different story. I’m outside of town but I currently have 16 people in front of me and three behind. I noticed about half are carrying day packs so they must be shipping their luggage ahead Observation: today I am generally being passed. Response: I don’t care https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633966880256-M5Z2AMDN0XBE02NMJ8VO/6745EDB4-9E35-46FE-9CAA-964B606D492D.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 33 To Portomarin - Make it stand out Tent camping on the Camino can be done but requires a different of logistics. Rogue camping is difficult to do and generally you cannot or should not camp on private property. There are campgrounds scattered and some of the Albergues do allow tent camping if they have a green piece of grass to set your tent up on. This happens to be Sylvia from Poland whom I met and walked with for a couple of hours a few days back. She has budgeted five euros a day to get by on ! She seems very happy and is very upbeat and is living the life she wants to live right now. When she camps under a canopy, the heavy evening dew doesn’t fall on her tent https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633970991479-HLM4IPE7MDWQS7NJITMX/E451AE39-0529-4F67-95F7-91300E1B0FBF.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 33 To Portomarin - Make it stand out Otoño / Fall is well under way now A gourd-juss & a-‘maizing’ fall scene it seems to me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633971512794-MDBDSH1CYT71AARQ4I08/34E5F9E3-9612-46A1-AA6B-2FB700258762.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 33 To Portomarin - Make it stand out Church opens at seven. Now that I’ve had a wonderful dinner of ‘pulpo / octopus and croquetas I’ll walk across the street and look inside https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/6ks9zapuvp5hoccf168uqwtfq6aqfp monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633927339345-34HYYJ6GM8EVC938GSLF/5A7B4FB4-8595-404F-AE20-0FCA3AFC0B08.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out The ‘Shire’ of Galicia- incredible trails. One of my favorite images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633965902864-F0VVPD72NCEF7D9OIFBQ/6A4F3306-3FE2-45A1-98C9-D19F5304F52D.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out I simply wanted to hike this section over and over. It is hard to envision the hundreds of thousands that have walked this before me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633965770532-ITLT8ILB7Z31WWUF9PLM/1A971329-B0DC-4F4F-B525-96C1908C334B.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out All the walls of the upstairs cloisters have murals on them, some exquisitely painted, some most unusual. I kind a like this one whatever it means. Scenes of revelation always appeal to me. I guess the whole concept of ‘inspiration’ I find amazing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633886003270-EG8JNUEWP8V18Z8PA021/CD82CFB4-1E27-44EB-A954-01CE4E91C0C7.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out Another beautiful start to the day. How on earth did we hit such weather https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633928599671-5OYLKRO3GKSTEH9QOFV1/1E6152E9-8AB4-44F7-98BB-83A0A1DF731F.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out The Botanica. They made their own medicinals here. ( see Doctor Anselmus next picture ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633927566409-187XQP7RXVW7P8TALOBC/F1D82D82-6878-431D-88E0-E7F09B267FEA.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out Orchard on monastery property https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633927664585-RK5X1N8KEYDJZSG4DJ75/A2F97CE2-6090-4D4D-AFED-7732F0D7F9F0.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out No Eaglebrook campus in Samos so I attended 12:00 church here. Real incense too https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633886514964-BZLP91HAFUAPLTO32HUZ/3320CE66-7B7C-470F-A5C3-EAB6480EB1F6.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out Up over the hill and the view down into the valley to the town of Samos, and the famous monastery. Monasterio de San Julián de Samos) is an active Benedictine monastery. Its huge The monastery was the School of Theology and Philosophy. The original foundation is from antiquity. It is known to have been first renovated by Saint Fructuoso (as in high fructose corn sugar ?!) in the seventh century, although the first written mention of this event is from the year 665. Much of what is seen here burned up in a very large infamous fire in 1951, subsequently rebuilt over the following ten years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633928467969-JXNEKCV9V0QNACPNGW4H/BC1BD5AB-4B7B-4C8E-B3C5-1A67D2D1EB1A.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out I’m not sure but I think this has something to do with conquering the invading Moors or Muslims -both of which happened. A little difficult to focus on the homily of the day with this guy right next to me making sure I was attentive to the message https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633928798693-F4IMO98BC2DNSZ5L6JGW/5446CE8F-AE22-4333-AF9E-ADB629A80ED4.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 32 To Sarria - Make it stand out Doctor Anselmus - NOT a chance I’d go to him for an annual exam https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/7fh9uq5z1s5xv742sdwv3cmz4at4ey monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795481080-YHDLTY1JXEP7EEODKLLF/A002D710-9450-4622-9EF2-F82379E8EA03.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out I ran into Tiago again today - he’s always up ahead of me, always facing west, and in his best British Winston accent encouraged me with “nevah, nevah, nevah give up” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795850456-V7H7K8OPOB5PT79WBC5U/B507991C-31FB-4CB6-A141-87311EB83EBC.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out I always stop at these small ones because you just never know what you’re going to discover if you peek inside. This one, as usual, was locked but that didn’t prevent me from taking a picture through the keyhole. They have a sadness about them because they are defunct now but clearly served as a glue to the local community in their day. I wonder what changed? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795631169-94JCJYGBO3X22351OKJ3/DA287015-0B6A-4A2D-9364-8AD182FB76A4.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out I was starving by 10 a.m. At the top of the last giant hill of the trip was a wonderful little restaurant where I asked for, and they delivered the goods of a wonderful thousand calorie breakfast! All the (juevos fritos) eggs were fresh because there were chickens running around under the table I was eating at! And of course the rooster was nearby making his presence known- to me and the hens https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633796318071-0EUGT3F0DS83DZ4SJ9VY/C7F7F192-EE2D-456E-937D-46A20C13CB28.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Descent into Triacastela - Now this would’ve been some outstanding bicycling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795743243-I37K6V0QPCI4Y8L9UBDG/308CDD1B-404A-47FC-82BF-97298A9B0795.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795778092-LU4RQ29Q21ESOA5X6PT1/536D33B5-02C2-428E-A386-63368DC6593D.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Also at the top of this great big hill I was reminded during breakfast that I’m not the only one who is (dog) tired https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633796218360-7KFXKU7BO29GEN62NNJD/EE00A2A4-EC57-4FBA-A847-0D33A01DF9C9.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795382601-OQCTKF0NZLOJXHTB5GGC/CC59AD8A-E851-4D1A-BDA1-86E81338332F.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Stunning countryside and skies….. and a beautiful start to the day- still a lot of climbing and descents https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633796088866-69VZ5A89MFIJ67ZLKUCK/D9910CF2-2044-41B7-A816-35E8AAC549F5.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Beautiful wood carved altar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633712819281-0Q5UJUE08QTUWDQH1IAR/FE2FDF7A-889A-4E53-8240-39BE7055CCB0.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Beautiful https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795990321-IWTWTT0M39Q719XXHWZI/2081BB7D-84A2-4C3D-866D-01D56A5BD81F.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633796511565-VK9W6QZVGQNM41L0JEQQ/0DB0479E-80AD-4D47-87DB-A9F357F1EC0D.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out All of the lodging in town is Completo. Because this is a common starting point since there are no more big hills. Walkers can start here and walk their Camino and still get the Compostela from the church at the end. This is the Municipal Albergue Ave at the edge of town. By definition, the municipals do not take reservations therefore I was able to get a bed. 8€ ! It’s clean, very basic, and it’s a bed. Shared with a nice guy walking with his parents. And the shower had hot water. I will be booking ahead from here on out as the traffic will increase arithmetically. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633795291043-8JOIOYLLJTV0PVKYU1W3/372D84A3-233B-4AFC-A51C-167B3743AD11.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out ‘Wabana Light’ after I started my walk in the dark for the first 40 minutes with my headlamp. I don’t want mornings like this to end https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633796436877-3G6UMPN8EU45JDRW1RWJ/50E00968-1834-4183-86D5-2AF44D4040F2.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out This is one of the top five most photographed things on the Camino. An 800 year old chestnut tree. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633796914305-5PAYBO3YSNGFR8UY5HZT/CE8E17B3-59F5-4FE5-82F5-E5307A491B7B.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 31 To Triacastela - Make it stand out As stated, I like well done street art…….I disdain graffiti https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/t7w49ot88olqfiimk9netfhqe876f9 monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633713961598-HBZ6BI5LSRBOBYT10ZZ8/E89527B6-56C0-4FF8-8ED8-4A8151E6CEE9.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633712566611-9LSOEWEI47XPMN27F8Q7/AFAD739C-1EA5-4E9E-8A3A-7CEF50A08E57.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out The climb was certainly worth the view. Sunrise can be viewed from this side of town. Sunset the other side https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633752418656-O0EYSTVJQ19943I57ESM/C0B62292-DBEA-48A6-A157-BD07BBE6D6BE.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out The old Roman Road was very steep but still intact on the challenging uphill approach to O Cebreiro. This would be a brutal climb on a rainy day that is for certain. Kudos to those who actually biked this thing . They will be rewarded with a unbelievable downhill on the other side - hopefully they brought spare brakes. Again who all has traveled the same path over the centuries? It would be fascinating to see the Who’s Who list - NO doubt some very interesting names on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633750989040-L3UKCQHL6A4I8WA4U6WA/89E3F223-FCB5-473F-A535-C05933BB005E.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out Walnuts almonds chestnuts apples pears plums lemons passion fruit grapes are seen growing everywhere in people‘s backyards. It’s wonderful to see them taking advantage of their land for their own subsistence. The common denominator to each garden are lots of tomatoes and beautiful big red peppers! The are canned and put up in olive oil for the winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633751659754-KYUR6OR74QMBUEZRQK30/D7AC3E38-4114-4E75-99DE-C942EEAB028D.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out The church of Santa María do Cebreiro. I got my ‘sello’ stamp here for my credential. The origin of the church seems to have been a pilgrims’ hostel, which would be the first construction related to the pilgrimage built in O Cebreiro. Often, these buildings incorporate the name ‘Hospital’ in them since that is the function they often served for traveling pilgrims. The church or sanctuary would have been founded and built in the 11th century, originally being a priory dependent on the French house of Aurillac. Subsequently, from 1486 it became a Benedictine priory dependent on the central house of San Benito de Valladolid, with several subsidiary or dependent churches, including two nearby ones also located on the French Way: San Esteban de Liñares do Rei and Hospital de la Countess. Yes I do from time to time I do light a candle to honor ‘the mothers’ . I sat contemplating for a while as they have beautiful chant playing at very low volume in the background. The source music was entitled ‘Chant -Santiago del Compostela’. It can be found on Spotify etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633635770989-WKMDXOI18UMS0HBJJUC6/D05AA0A2-A03B-4938-B4E9-BCC551BC281A.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633713328658-76OKWE4GH4WPG2SO0EKN/0491F056-8CFB-4A7A-AB23-177FD6CD2A35.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out Sunset can be viewed from this side of town https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633718950882-MWINAYFL8T4R4ICVV2Y2/19CC023E-B04F-45D8-BDBE-2CE57D0AB439.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 30 To O Cebreiro - Make it stand out Galicia at last ! https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/xxlbixousas2zz7ph8warba00nj8uv monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633625982882-ZX4IJF224Q3ILQ9DVE6F/31E40460-CDC2-459F-8DE4-185590C8A67A.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Everyone’s gardens, specifically the roses and the dahlias are just fabulous this late in the season in Espana. Some of the rose plants have stems in the inch and a half in diameter- can’t grow ‘em that good in Minnesota that’s for sure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633627201998-BFEZJIKCLXK2BAFZWNDQ/4D248369-7AA4-49ED-AFC6-61DC49970834.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633625779123-3AFTV6099TZRD9NWTL70/1599389D-82CE-4A52-84E0-734E2E6F3BC4.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out After I took off some shirts and put them into my backpack and got some water I had a quick chat with Alfredo before I left town. He wished me a Buen Camino and I wished him well as he watched the ‘world’ pass by with his neighbor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633623909263-PO1IWS0LW2KOYVRDO2BK/EF516EDC-3918-4575-B4CB-97ED10CD34A4.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Bierzo wine is a relatively unknown ( in America ) winegrowing region that is rather famous here. Last nights red table wine from this region was absolutely outstanding and I took a picture of the label so I won’t forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/98a40b1d-bcf2-4dab-bebf-82fc5ab6c3a9/IMG_4416.jpg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out I passed by this albergue in Trabadelo in favor of a private room at a great one down the street at Albergue Crispeta - wonderful and where I had my trout dinner ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633623803768-LBIOUOB6IF5H0A0OKN27/33BBFC4E-2D8F-405B-874C-E603943C1D2D.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Half of the vineyards I observed today are very old and only set up for a manual harvesting. I wonder if the wine is any better when they’re hand picked grapes? I’d like to think so, but what do I know https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633627003673-NF4SO0GXTSQ0S8S2839G/62F5094C-98CE-42C8-95B6-2E07B96E0628.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633627322869-11ZKLHNUHNH66GQWLIZV/41C4AE11-9C9E-4775-B096-D31B82851D28.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Honey, I have put an offer in on this estate ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633621999985-Q9LVIEPFJRKRPA8PAIPA/3A1EFBDD-A3AB-4B5A-9B25-1CF53FFDA6D8.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Pereje lodging was ‘cerrado’. Yeah, probably didn’t help anything that the name is ‘La Corona’ ! Whoops ! if you can believe it ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633626317761-U59AR3K5UUX7AGKWHG0C/954CE9D1-99AC-4AB4-B640-686D1158F4DB.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out As I said VillaFranca de Bierzo is worthy of a multi day stay with a lot to do see …. and taste. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633626594761-RAWU4KYRX823BMU9NVVE/9A7566E3-F157-4E2C-907F-7910AFE9D3C9.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Frequently my sentiments exactly (stoned mason ? !) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633626844558-3UDHL2DEW61YWYA288UH/957D90A1-A637-4187-A39B-C8E70B950CD0.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Hand harvesting underway - each row had one worker https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633623588407-VN8L1YRFISL5JE49TCP2/2371CD65-FC26-4080-A96E-EFA2BE456781.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out I left town after stopping in at a winery right behind this at this ‘cross’ street, Up the hill and into the foggy sky blue yonder https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633624586633-F0HMCUKORO8YQFJX8UZ2/CC4CDD3D-5675-40F1-B280-F036634F4037.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Peregrinos have always existed https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/00d1798c-120d-4945-a19d-efaaaecee245/IMG_4362.jpg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out Bierzo is a unique wine producing region. I got my credential stamped at a small bodega to remember to find vino from this area when I’m back home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633626490482-0BEV28JL65U67HJ8WS4S/EF95A8C2-5438-44D9-BEA7-5179C5530AB5.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out VillaFranca de Bierzo Lodging in this monastery but I didn’t know that and it was out of sync with my mileage schedule https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633624262233-G8M72I97BQJSBRUE94FJ/7F9291C0-DDE9-4B52-8ADE-37C9BB80F783.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out I may have mentioned before I feel like I’m in a time warp and it really feels like time is speeding up and I’m really closing the distance. Every few days there’s a new style marker mile stone like this. As I walked I did some mental math - next Thursday sometime during the day I will have walked my one millionth step (margin of error calculated at +/- 2% ). I think I’ve also averaged one croissant per day favorite being Napolitano, you know the one with chocolate in the middle. More numbers; my walking pulse rate after three hours is 80. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633624007775-SD5Y4XQEPURWWXUI2Y86/E738C10A-CE68-4F52-8B24-DC1A98F780E8.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out This is the only www I’ve been tuned into on this walk. I’ve actually only logged onto the Internet once in 35 days! Haven’t missed a damn thing or website ! Go figure. And that was to look up the author of the book ‘Blue Highways’ by William Least Heat Moon -A book recommendation for Stewart. And haven’t once thought about any of my favorite sites, or things I’ve kept up with over the last year. Maybe I can back off when home on surf time. What does it add to my well being https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633626680510-JIFOBUD7SYQY711Z2WMK/EF1E3517-E17A-45F8-9F52-4F6B656592EE.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 29 To Trabadelo - Make it stand out The ‘dude’ again (see San Tiago note below) and I now am leaving VillaFranca de Bierzo for an absolutely gorgeous walk through the countryside to finish out another fantastically beautiful gratitude filled day (insert more hills) https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/39g3m232815f1nubk6rgbylj6hjl3x monthly 0.5 2023-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633588744301-956O7RWSJX7G77BOSZ98/23954FBA-C251-4B1F-A873-32EB016577A8.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 28 To Camponaraya - Make it stand out And yes, some are actually biking this terrain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633588902879-R43T6S376UBT0PD3OF7I/CA1C1307-6E4A-4BAA-9E1C-3817F4030E62.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 28 To Camponaraya - Make it stand out Fabulous little town of Molinaseca! Breakfast with Stewart before he pushed on ahead of me wanting to walk alone. We had a great conversation about faith and his journey to become a Christian late in life. As I stated earlier, I wish the timing of my walk was such that I ended up here for the evening today. It is an inviting little town that had such a great vibe I know I could spend a couple of nights here. In the summer they have sluice gates that they can block off and flood what you see here and make it one giant (deep) freshwater swimming pool for everybody to cool off in - hence there are pool ladders on either side of this river! Pretty cool. Quaint, with lots of shops and restaurants. I’ll be back, God willing. (70th birthday present? !) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633589011463-MFF7M5834Z5V11PE0SCX/BD3402D2-0F58-443F-86EC-E4B090162EBF.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 28 To Camponaraya - Make it stand out There is quite a bit of hiking through urban areas for obvious reasons of towns sprouting up over time on the ancient trail. Here is the Museum of Light and Power at a distribution station. Butt, what is up with the ‘art’? This art installation, I didn’t quite understand in context. Butt …. then I finally got it. . I took a rest here, the left it all ‘behind’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633589114171-J7AP725626C6QEGB5ZA7/ECD74F4B-08DA-4D0F-9AA6-F82962B7EA8D.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 28 To Camponaraya - Make it stand out I am finding not planning ahead of time where I’m going to stay for the night is working better for me. Even as I get closer to Santiago finding a room is not a problem. I think overall traffic is down still about 75% on Camino. This little gem ‘La Medina’ in ‘midtown Camponaraya’ on ‘Main Street’ was absolutely wonderful, the food was outstanding, and I slept in the outbuilding (totally redone) and had a very comfortable room! 38€. Even though the waiter totally screwed up my order it was still so good I didn’t complain I was thankful to have hot food and a lot of calories. Spent 90 minutes on hold with American Airlines trying to change my flight (to 3 days later than planned) unsuccessfully on this try. Long distance phone charge 32.00 ! Nice…. not…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633588642121-9YX1CYYTE7H50VEMOFAC/DFF7BFAE-53C1-45BE-B819-C855E22871C5.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 28 To Camponaraya - Make it stand out A surreal start to the day and a gorgeous but very steep descent. Trekking poles required. This ‘way’ leads down to the town of Molinaseca. I really wish I had timed the week so I could have stayed there a night…. next time I’ll plan on a nite or a couple of rest days here… just fabulous town and vibe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633588695717-KY591P00N3I0XZW1AYIT/E3758565-CC60-4990-840E-635B9428217B.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 28 To Camponaraya - Make it stand out Stewart took this picture for me and I asked him “aren’t we the luckiest two people in the world to be doing this and experiencing this at this moment”. He said “ yup, all three of us” ( spiritually speaking is what I think he meant ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633588811167-DTDGV85K2Y6MB8ZBRECG/6ACE6C3F-9037-4FBA-8834-DEDDD6419C1F.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 28 To Camponaraya - Make it stand out Templar castle. I wanted to get my stamp here but as I walked in the woman said sorry closed till four! I couldn’t wait and decided to leave town consequently. I guess I will have to Google it when I get home and see what I missed, like, I think the holy grail is in there from the buzz I heard on the trail. Ran into a buddy at a corner bar and had more cafe, juice, coke, and croissant Napolitano ! https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/6pj7jtscht1g7px701lu47lzujss0x monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633442598704-HGXWND1KDFTJ23SBHM8U/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel My trail, hidden in more ‘nube’ y ‘niebla’ today https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633459021461-41H1P5QYSO1DZU28YPLS/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel This was a very memorable evening with an incredible group Pilgrim meal. Ensalada was to die for, heirloom tomatoes, goat cheese, etc. and fresh fish. Ice cream, and all the Vino Tinto you want -total - 12€ ! And, as always, wonderful camaraderie and conversation. God willing, I’ll be back. (12/27/2023 update - I am reviewing this day as my brother and sister in law gave me wonderful watercolor print of Cruz de Ferro obtained from gift shop here - I’ll cherish it.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633443668288-DG97VQNWMSS7F77MMPQE/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel All in all a beautiful dia de otoño (fall is just starting here, I am thankful for having chose a early ‘otoño’ camino) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633459202665-BSDD4FVYYYIPWI0WSAUS/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel Spontaneous Camino friendship with Frank. On Camino # 5. Two times on the Frances, Norte, Portuguese & now again the Frances. Thousands of kilometers over the years. He is clearly aging backwards due to Camion ‘magic’! I only knew him for a few moments on this very relaxed evening, I’ll never forget these amazing Camino memories that I hope remain ‘carved’ in my mind. The aches and pains of the day are quickly forgotten! Frank had no advice for me. I didn’t ask. he didn’t tell. Lived in the moment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633377911804-FNRC2WHFDQB4PVZ6Y3RT/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel A lot of poetry on ‘the Way’. I always try to read, translate, and understand what someone has taken the time to say in words or poetry. I need to continue to slow down in my life to look for the obvious signs (and not obvious ones) and messages all around me and ponder possible ‘intent’ for me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633442332879-5B4DM73Y2229FZM2PGME/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel Fabulous trekking on this magical trail with a heavy mist blowing from left to right uphill. How many millions have trekked this Way in the past? Will you be one of them in your future? I truly hope I travel this Way one more time in my life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633459340381-P14KD78H4IN0YZN7LCNP/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel El Acebo, kind of an alpine vibe. View out the back door of the Albergue La Casa. Don’t know where this camino lead. but it was downhill into the Valley south of Molinaseca. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633443463332-TNTXTU2HX60LRTRJO0PU/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel Thoughts composed, I went to the far side of the heap, faced away, tossed it over my head, and walked off. No looking back - just like Lot. Thanks (a) Lot , Lot (LOL) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633442432565-G6HQJ7Z0XTPQ2GIC43VC/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633443128727-VWH2GWVSDXBV00MR2GK2/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel At last, Cruz de Ferro. Millions of stones. Millions. Left behind. All with intentions, hopes, dreams, remembrances, and forgiveness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633443636321-KJAG2K9I7UG60LBGD7RJ/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633442901131-YSLF7Z2J504WUHQE8BHE/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel I’m not sure I could pull this off with my full suspension Trek Fuel EX mountain bike. But no shortage of those doing trying to do just that ! (With effort). You get off when you need to, walk, then back on, and ride. No shame in that. He moved by me in silence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633458707992-Y0196RQR8GTNZXR7ZN7I/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel Communal dining is shut down in most of the hostals. This is a ‘group’ dining at a (rare) local spa/hotel (Albergue La Casa Del Peregrino at the upstream ‘edge’ of town in Molinaseca). Note girl in foreground- she is out of Canadian school doing family Camino from Pamplona. 15-20 km per day ! . She struggles in math so they do math on the way, daily. My bunk neighbor Stewart from UK is on right with headband. Camino #2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633378263149-O8B23C00WV9CCYX8MH5V/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel LA CRUZ de FERRO slate translation; La Cruz de Ferro is a cross located at the highest point along the Camino de Santiago. It is located 8 km up the road from here. It is formed by a wooden post about 5 meters high, crowned by an iron Cross. At its base over the years, it has been forming a huge pile of stones. A legend tells that when the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was built, it was asked of the pilgrims to contribute by bringing a stone. (Here at the cross) The tradition is to throw a stone on the heap, brought from somewhere by the pilgrim. It is done with your back to the cross, to symbolize that the place or thing in your life (represented by the stone ) has been left behind. At that moment you can give thanks, let go, some ask for the forgiveness of sins, or simply ask for the desire to travel a BUEN CAMINO (a GOOD WAY in your life ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633442712928-RXG64Q7RTP99FD01TNKE/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel My Oboz had great grip on the beautiful canvas of this wet shale. My shoes and socks were color coordinated. The colors - saturated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633442649372-KPVU4HFJT92QXLRZTF6K/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel On and on, more magical (private) moments in time that I don’t want to end…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633442788663-3PPY00810XG19T177WAA/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel A geologist could never do the Camino - ‘paralysis by analysis’ of all the beautiful rock, formations, & strata https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633443220223-EY3WZK1NLIR8ISWJU2HL/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 27 To El Acebo de San Miguel My stone came from a beach on Bear Island in the Apostle Islands (US National park in Lake Superior). Inscribed with what ultimately became my theme of my first Camino. https://www.livealagom.life/capitulo-tres-a-santiago/38xfjdxre5j1e5365q4qnafj13ah8s monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633376977406-G4EX9985JZ9UR33OZ74B/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Benedictino brother Fr Cassion Jacobs (OSB) (Deutschland) happened to be walking by and I cornered him to talk to him about his work which he described in the most passionate manner. He stamped my credential & I bought a couple of things in the gift shop and he said he is simply filling in here from Germany because they’ve had so many elderly Benedictines die from Covid! No chapel ‘vesperas’ tonight at 1900 h due to the pandemic, however, quiet Gregorian chant music played in the background which made for wonderful contemplation All in all Rabinal was a wonderful stay capped with a nice dinner with friend Diane and her friend down the hill at the ‘bar’ (La Candela) just outside of town. A random dinner time just occurred with them appearing at the same restaurant ‘out of nowhere’ ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363126542-BFEGE6KXBHPYLGCE2BGC/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino ‘Ermita de Ecce Homo’ = ‘behold the man’. There were a bunch of people outside snapping pictures and selfie‘s. No one inside. I went inside and was surprised and moved to see beautiful script on the right side of the altar which is actually on my stone for the Cruz de Ferro tomorrow. This little chapel is named for Pontius Pilate’s presentation of the scourged and humiliated Jesus to the gathering crowd: “ecce homo! – behold, the man!” It is a lovely rest spot with a fresh water fountain available to pilgrims. Likely holy water y potable! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633294264929-4MT4LCCU2SEBGPDFSR0Z/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Well it does not appear to be that huge of an incline over 20 km I typically walk at about 2/3 my speed and will have to take more frequent rest stops to chill and catch my breath. I still believe I can reach Santiago by Saturday the 16th which is my goal at this point and this allows for a day off / rest day if needed I overslept but that was probably meant to be today. “woke up got out of bed try to drag a comb across my head“ - I think that’s from a Beatles song. In my case I went into the bathroom and once again there was a guy already there- in the mirror- took one look at me and said “who dat”. To make matters worse well my eyes were still at half mast I went to the shower - footprint measured about 2 ft.² I reached in and threw on the water. It was one of those with a new fangled rain shower head jobs above but I did not see the attachment that looked like a microphone next to the handle. Said microphone was on its own hose and had an array of spray jets that were facing directly at my face. Action of turning on water and not having the switch properly selected by the last person who used it shot high velocity fire hose water directly out at my chest, face, and other body parts thereby flooding the bathroom. . Lovely start to the day and I am officially awake like right now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633365769478-YNJVZFQ84LUSV1OV5KQK/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Traffic on the trail is beginning to pick up daily. There are many that start at different locations especially closer to Santiago . This map depicts all of the Caminos the feed into Camino Francis in the province of Castilla y Leon alone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363079094-N22RY7K5DIKJ5S965W8P/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Yes, A lot of these crossed my path https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633365101072-XMLXYXCCURRQB523O992/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Local hero of Rabanal - Julian Campo - Rabanal del Camino. “El renuncio a los bienes rerrenales dedicando gran parte de su vida a ayundar a los mas desconsalades como voluntario en calcutta” “He renounced earthly goods, dedicating a large part of his life to helping the most destitute as a volunteer in Calcutta” Sadly, he died in a tragic accident a few years ago and it’s commemorated here as a town hero. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363435473-IZLJ7MZUIQHV4H4K05KH/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Gotta lite a candle (for the moms, right) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633364033014-HDBCVSEVKIFL5B9UKU7J/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino New Camino friend (camper) Jakub. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363521740-BZNA27I2801YNVB11CLP/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Camino, Verdad, y Vida. Tu, sigueme. “Follow me” A personal favorite https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633364150502-5B2M7IN3O17SEDAGJ0Y4/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Out my window for tonight is this little gem- Monestario de San Salvador del Monte Irago. “Monks and pilgrims are, as we know, journeying not so much to a place, but to an encounter with Him who has always been waiting for us. This is what monks and pilgrims share: the search for God, our Father, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit; the spiritual ascension to the heavenly Jerusalem (content from the Internet)” “It is a place that invites you to pray with the magnificent Gregorian chant of Benedictine monks”. A large number of pilgrims come to the chant visperas (vespers) servicio at 7 (1900 hrs) Original sign read: “Es un lugar que te invita a la oración con el magnífico canto gregoriano de sus Monjes Benedictinos. A las vísperas acuden un gran número de Peregrinos” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633365246960-WTBKZ6S6I6771ILNXE9Q/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino I splurged private room no dormitory tonight (La Posada D Caspar). I have full intention of oversleeping tonight. And yes, I hit my head on the low ceiling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363659774-HCA3H0IEBGPM1P2WZG02/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363838052-N7IX15WK2HP4L1PD9J3S/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino This is the somewhat famous fence of hundreds of impromptu crosses. Jakub from Croatia is up ahead, we talked for hours and had a wonderful time getting to know each other. He’s an amazing person with an amazing future -I’m biased -minor detail his degree is also in science - chemistry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363724100-JDPRQP31FXGGMFUA1FBA/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Archeological Camino yahtzee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633364410978-XIMXRNLD8ID5BFPC6KCG/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Yup, San Tiago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633376936375-RTCJDMQ3WM2D6KP8X9T7/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Monestario benedictino San Salvador del Monte Irago. Siempre abierto 24/7 por los peligrinos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633363779457-W0O7YXDWZ2GF28ESKB5H/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Ancient Camino (Roman) road and pueblo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ee458ccb-222f-4e1c-bed8-b8bb42a7dc2a/Capella+Rabanal+del+Camino.JPG Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino Spent some time in pew one seat one stage left. (Monk chant (El Canto Gregoriano en el Camino de Santiago) played quietly in the background I had the place to myself for 30 minutes). This chapel is open 24/7. My friends also spent some time here. Katya said she prayed for the first time on Camion here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633365043975-XST0L9HTRKPTUR24CS4J/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1633365290504-5LH6SBWMU78LKPYAU827/public.jpeg Capitulo Tres 3 “A Santiago” - Day 26 To Rabanal del Camino These are two of my three planning tools that I use for 20 minutes every afternoon either before or after a siesta to plan the next day as well as confirm my ideas for the next few days all the way to Santiago. The ‘theoretical stages’ (that most follow except me) map on top as well as my detailed mileage topography with all of the towns shown map below. As stated before, I am more often than not staying in towns not at the official end of a ‘stage’ - it suits my mileage of 20 km a day better as well as I find the less frequented towns more quaint, less busy, and interesting. I supposed I could have used the popular Camino app more but I enjoyed studying the maps daily for distances, topography, and notable points of interest listed https://www.livealagom.life/epilogo-the-long-goodbye daily 0.75 2023-08-21 https://www.livealagom.life/epilogo-the-long-goodbye/ttmfkut2lq4m0l62m2h0rxc7i1mvj4 monthly 0.5 2022-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634935390417-A9M7GPWYSOHT2E32J8SV/4DA4F17B-70BD-4189-B252-306BCB5C0510.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 44 - The ‘end’ - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634934922917-TGB3TYF9RZ328HJRE48M/1AD0B7DF-C4AD-4D8A-8CCD-3851D0B46363.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 44 - The ‘end’ - Make it stand out Last sunset (7:42 post meridian), baptismal swim, and official end to this Camino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634958745098-VK5S7GSLVRZPB8N4KC7B/562A23B3-132B-453C-9AB7-F5150029BA09.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 44 - The ‘end’ - Make it stand out “Yo soy el Camino, y la Verdad, y la Vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí”… Jesús le dijo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634848588719-937CF08N8KOD810M6QLV/6A9D46B1-2399-4E28-BF0A-A054C0416823.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 44 - The ‘end’ - Make it stand out The famous 0.00 km marker ! Much joy in this moment ! Notice there is no yellow arrow on this last marker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4022113d-c87d-48f0-9b75-1c131b5d80fd/su+vida.jpg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 44 - The ‘end’ - Make it stand out -To the pilgrim, “Follow, follow forward and do not return, faithful until the end of the road and your life, do not miss for (for sake of) an easier destination, your feet on ground before not trodden, your eyes in front of what has never been seen before”……. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634935699263-N70B7CE0VPC8CY86YKHM/99C117D5-87E4-47F9-BF68-3D883E10C9E3.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 44 - The ‘end’ - Make it stand out An emotional last sunset… what weather ! what a journey ! https://www.livealagom.life/epilogo-the-long-goodbye/bqd799413uvm2gzh4qn72g2wuo39oa monthly 0.5 2022-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634836086863-63BAUEVCVIQZW9K9IDJO/B22000A5-49B0-4A69-9F07-C3180A0503F7.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 43 - Finsterre ! - Make it stand out I gave the award of the official spice of the Camino to fennel! Intermittently it’s been with me trailside on and off for the whole walk! Sometimes you can catch the scent of it without rubbing it between your hands always beautiful to see it - one of my favorite flavors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634835955487-GG5WYUAS60ORTAZRJ9VS/34CF2FC0-2F4A-4AA0-B4DC-6D64E754FA25.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 43 - Finsterre ! - Make it stand out It’s always enjoyable to leave a town going up a hill on a path like this like - kind of an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ rabbit hole thing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634836269230-CZVCRLRJ1ONRHAV6XSYX/67C798EA-8769-4AE1-8A51-F039D7E79B22.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 43 - Finsterre ! - Make it stand out At last! A wonderful site for sorry eyes as I came around the corner on trail - there is the ocean again the sound of the crashing waves and Finisterre off in the distance. Yay, at last! Only 5 km to go to the ‘end’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634843138824-5ZFVZTXAYZDQASIP5EQ1/DD3A4D50-FB91-434B-A099-030C0DF920B0.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 43 - Finsterre ! - Make it stand out Tonight after the complementary appertivos at my lodge / spa and a sunset drink next-door I went up to my room to call it a night at nine. Half the restaurants in town don’t even open until nine for dinner but this hombre is dog tired. This is the view to my left from bed thru the double doors. I’ve got the door open halfway and I’m listening to the sound of the wild surf a quarter of a kilometer away. It will be awesome night music. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634836683167-0RJCH131CF82L7BQALY3/7C3159EC-50FE-42DC-A025-9E245BC852BD.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 43 - Finsterre ! - Make it stand out 0.00 km to go ! Once in Finsterre, I had a quick lunch and kept walking with my pack. I reached the end of my world ! Notice that there is no yellow arrow indicating which way to go on this last marker. Just over my shoulder and beyond the lighthouse is the ocean. This officially end to the walking portion of my Camino. I am elated and could not wait to tell my family ! Yay- Mission Accomplished ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634836565035-THPH5DZTAY16O8C1KSA8/562DC687-0392-43C0-8922-DFC7F72EB103.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 43 - Finsterre ! - Make it stand out Nuff said, even with a limp I know I had a spring in my step https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634836435391-3244Z9BKU7W4CNWAQJTY/198CF9C5-9E24-4B2A-846C-FEC186F703C0.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 43 - Finsterre ! - Make it stand out The very instant I could I headed to the beach -probably not the official Camino trail -but who cares- I walked barefoot all the way on the beach into Finisterre. It was delightful ! https://www.livealagom.life/epilogo-the-long-goodbye/clrn5brxzi6m4x7yy6evfz54l9waup monthly 0.5 2021-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634740142518-AMQG8JVUY05ZELZXNRCT/AFB2E4B8-8007-4233-A46D-5C007B9A5004.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out Today’s ‘wabana light’ was quite above average https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634747729309-7AEGQ45PBEPJ5GVPWY9G/005A8326-3AB7-48FD-81E1-2DADD1C3A617.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out It was great to walk barefoot on the beach again for the second time this year. The water is cold but not by Minnesota standards and I look forward to my swim tomorrow. I sat down for a 3:30 lunch and the menu was in yet another language -it turns out that this restaurant only speaks in Galician which is not exactly Spanish. I’m going to play it safe I’m gonna order Croquetas de Marisco and a Caesar salad. (A Nosa Cesar) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634740244455-MAW0R4KGSMVQEPI574XJ/4692125A-82A6-407F-B273-E47FCE62A5FD.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out Ashley and Shane left way before me - no way I could catch up to them -so I had the ‘long and winding road’ all to myself. Believe it or not I was able to find and play the Gregorian chant version of this Beatles tune - I guess you had to have been there! (source : Auscultate: Gregorian Chant -The Songs of the Beatles) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634709787990-9BFG5URLAR4Z5O219TVG/7A4D766F-3B89-4D61-879C-872BB8B2A5FC.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out Mount Aro panorama https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634747470959-E4AL70T9WFDQLTIY38SX/8A7557A6-5147-493D-B36F-6C8378B1724F.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out At last, the view I’ve been waiting for; the sound of waves crashing on the shore, the seagulls squawking, and the salty smell - I’ve waited for a very long time to see this. This was a good moment. This is actually the view of Corcubion where I will get a room tonite (and have the best meal of my camino at Juan Carlos’ restaurant. I arrived into Cee by the Sea just in time to see that it was not for me and had enough flee walking around the entire inlet over to the other side before a threatening rain. I think I’m gonna have tonights hotel all to myself. I think tourist season is officially just about over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634740650322-EVHYDJJFRAOT4AEO6HU1/1F5D96CC-4AF0-421B-81C4-621AF33925EE.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out Bear with me -another crossroads - but from the signage on the right marker in the background its straight ahead back into the woods https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634844937253-H2MSIK1HJHCHAYWYRWWC/411D1008-0669-40DB-B60B-CE0459713651.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out I wasn’t that hungry but I knew I had to get some calories in the old bod so at 8 pm I walked down the street and then doubled back to a place that from the street nondescript, went in and was welcomed by Juan Carlos - the proprietor. It was one of these small warm somewhat dimly lit restaurants that had a unique character and charm difficult to put into words. Since the menu had too many options for somebody that wasn’t that all that hungry he suggested a house special but as always a hit - hake (fish) with spider crab in between the two fillets! Unbelievable ! The fish was sort of like a cross between Seabass and walleye but uniquely light and flavorful and since he sells seafood (Marisco Vives) out of the back of the store it could not possibly have been more fresh. I also met the incredible artist chef I’m pretty much only speaks Basque and she was very appreciative of the compliments. I actually got a tour after dinner of all the fish tanks in back with about 15 different types of crustaceans kept alive by constantly flowing see water. Very cool! Then he took me into the little gift shop that was close so I could buy a couple of things and told me over 15 minutes all what it’s taken to get the business up and running and what his goals are for a modest expansion to have more tables. We very much hit it off and I told him even though I don’t do very many Google reviews I was going to do a five star one for him when I got back to the hotel (I became his 345th five star review). I bragged a little and showed him a review I did for a Berlin restaurant seven years ago which has a photo I posted that has over 350,000 views over seven years !) we both laughed and he shrugged his shoulders over the fact that owning a business is a 24/7 physical and mental thing for him. He drove all the way over from Santiago to make sure his reservation of 10 people was well taken care of. I will never forget how enjoyable and meaningful this evening was. It’s moments like this that really make a trip memorable forever. And I completed a very nice review for him later that night. If you’re ever in the area you got to eat there: MercaMaris | Marisco Gallego a domicilio | Restaurante in Corcubion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634747295503-B0G9J4104MYCHT6ZXNUD/C447E986-11A5-4C90-A583-D9004C9D5268.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out The prediction of heavy weather from a mega off shore low pressure system that walloped England later never materialized and eventually the sun started to burn through the lower clouds. It appears that my $60 poncho is not going to get a work out at all the rest of this trip -maybe it was a good luck charm worth the 60 bucks after all. All in all the weather ‘we’ enjoyed was unbelievably fabulous. One stretch of rain in 44 days. How did I deserve such? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634750642723-EOFS3WPIW38UF8Y4BXD6/1487F2D9-193F-4EAE-B9AB-CD5FD95F9731.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out Didn’t see many people refilling their water bottles at this one. . - Photo credit actually to my dear friend Katerina from Czech Republic, who always kept us all smiling and laughing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634740798816-ZAUFMIXTHTL1KODCMWYE/E6E86B9F-241C-4E05-BDB2-DA80283447A7.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out All of these fence lines were laid with rocks that are heavier than one person can lift during field clearing tasks -wow. There are endless kilometers of these everywhere in Spain as you can imagine. Tunes update: I think I’m starting to celebrate early. For the first time I did actually put tunes on (only the fourth time in 40+ days) and listened to a few albums for half the morning and it was wonderful ! Why? One day to go! Credits to: Peter Pupping Band (Latin smooth jazz album-Café Pacifico), Van Morrison, (album-Avalon Sunset), and Vitamin String Quartet album-A Tribute to Enya (VSQ -from 2012 until 2014, their music was played 24 hours a day on FM broadcast station WWHK ) Unusual playlist I know but I guess if you were here seeing the choreography & context, and the live ‘video’ to go with it - ie., Boadicea (VSQ) played to walking up a large hill enveloped in a fog cloud moving thru me horizontally, with a strong wind resonating through the pine trees. Next, Bob Marley ‘take it easy take it slow’. My a.m. playlist ending with Miles Davis -‘Birth of the Cool’. All good. Very good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634747149129-DWZSLXQR5C0CQH667EH7/2E34A030-188A-4F6B-A549-A4B1BED0CCB2.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 42 Finsterre - menos Uno (dia) - Make it stand out My destination lies just beyond that town (Cee / Corcubion) on the horizon just shy of two hours away https://www.livealagom.life/epilogo-the-long-goodbye/29h46mq3mkmr4tufaqgcxsdiwk06ta monthly 0.5 2021-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634660796060-HCQ9KRW8PX7H53QE8ZNZ/31ABAD8F-814F-448A-807D-6B0450426C44.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 41 Finsterre - menos dos (dias) - Make it stand out Saying goodbye to Ola. Much faster walker than me. He’s going to share the best places to visit in Sweden, Friday, when I see him again. He’s walking the Muxia Finsterre loop (adds 35 km more) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634659952246-CAFT0HMJH94EJZNC3ZKQ/E1992B34-00CB-4AD5-999D-295331F15CF0.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 41 Finsterre - menos dos (dias) - Make it stand out Joaquin (from Valencia) gets the award for most Caminos walked! 16 ! He wished me the classic Pilgrim greeting “Ultreia” - keep going - as he sped on down the hill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634659758117-OL6ED7ON8Q093J5W96E2/19433E1D-433E-4018-BDE2-E452AB8A36A9.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 41 Finsterre - menos dos (dias) - Make it stand out Most of the summits of all of these hills are topped with wind turbines - you can hear the whoosh whoosh whoosh as you walk… and hear an electric buzz as you walk under the high-voltage lines ‍ I did the simple calculation that they spin at 15 r.p.m. And produce over one megawatt each ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634662195822-WV8YGYK7QSENHIW1DTXC/DF6CFB3F-47CD-4C6F-A2F0-F240AF1DA3A2.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 41 Finsterre - menos dos (dias) - Make it stand out These little fellas are wandering the property (tonight’s albergue) looking for handouts. Stella I’d like to bring one home for you but they won’t let him on the airplane https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634658358109-S5K0YBYLILG4KDVGNJZT/83EDD077-0B20-4FC7-A210-B6B9ED034C25.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 41 Finsterre - menos dos (dias) - Make it stand out In my rear view mirror this morning https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634659430246-PWQFF0N8JF2LLFR7M5KI/EC11D5F6-F26B-4E21-9734-6643EAC155C9.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 41 Finsterre - menos dos (dias) - Make it stand out Stream crossing before slog up a big hill. Bumped into my Swedish friend Ola here. We’ll see each other again in Finisterre https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634575972381-YTEMTPXE4PT3B5Q95Q33/622471A5-32A4-4939-AF51-15436967B5A5.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 41 Finsterre - menos dos (dias) - Make it stand out Such icons are always crossing my mind https://www.livealagom.life/epilogo-the-long-goodbye/vz2zg38le83cfgvdv4qk93poxza3rr monthly 0.5 2021-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634571975504-L7RJJPSRK66KJ3736MM9/F23673CD-B87F-4CA5-A203-064C0130A602.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 40 Finsterre - menos tres (dias) - Make it stand out Don’t quite know what this means other than that’s what my feet and hips felt like at the end of the day today https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634575013589-RV2J0JEWM6NG867U2WTV/AA2BC84F-F9BB-427B-84D8-7B925EFC9611.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 40 Finsterre - menos tres (dias) - Make it stand out Capellas are chapels. This one looks inviting -gate open -my body aches but the door is locked. So I kind of shook my head and walked on. What’s the point ? ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634662368940-T4CXW20QL3YWVUYUOQTD/77253EAE-F555-49EF-8F39-2BF9DA83B5EA.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 40 Finsterre - menos tres (dias) - Make it stand out My new Camino tribe welcomed me to their dinner last night. Shane, Ashley (left). And Victoria, Michel (right) are wrapping up there Camino - they walked out of their front door from Geneva in July sometime! Wow! Can you believe it ?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634497195423-BV3C8C8N2NGQ1JGF4PRN/324E7F85-21BE-4E90-83E7-7FF670C46156.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 40 Finsterre - menos tres (dias) - Make it stand out Detail maps for the last five days of my Camino. I’ll have spent a night in Negreira (last night), tonight in Santa Marina, Logroso, and Wednesday in Corcubion before I finally get to Finsterre on Thursday (I started walking on a Thursday, and will end my walking on a Thursday) ! Since I will be done walking once I reach Finsterre, I will take a taxi (30 euros) out to Muxia too poke around and say that I’ve been there too before the trip ends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634880305195-RYCLOHNWHEAA7RSL5NVB/9D3A2502-5687-4D9A-8953-7A6586A43FE3.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 40 Finsterre - menos tres (dias) - Make it stand out I like the sign hanging in Paco‘s dining room I believe it is in Galician language. Live, Laugh, Love….. always https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634573861141-YMCJBC0FJHSS81JKJHVM/CE5A18CD-A87C-4BDD-AB1C-1DD22140CCCF.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 40 Finsterre - menos tres (dias) - Make it stand out Best Swedish sushi I know of -fresh sardines or anchoas -Sven F. https://www.livealagom.life/epilogo-the-long-goodbye/4pcp4ou9kqb7etxfpfhjd6mi2od63m monthly 0.5 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634480743821-WUGTU9TIM77GMRVFZNU7/399BA1EC-C982-42DE-98C3-EFCF426B1A41.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out Espana gets the award for the best dahlias - so sorry America https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634478418888-DYX9H9RUYH8CWTKADJ7X/AF6C9E15-482D-4640-B3D0-E199686E4229.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out So really, how do you expect me to see this signage in the dark before the sun comes up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634478795713-OZYQMULH4DOTZZTPRLBN/5A3FF418-FD0A-48C5-853F-D77EA0DDE71F.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out Meet the ‘Funkmaster’. This roadside bar / restaurant stop had the largest gathering of Pilgrims I’ve seen all day (about a dozen). My rule of thumb is if nobody’s at the restaurant move on - this place was packed. However all the tables were soaking wet from the rain, and inside all the tables were cluttered, dirty, and stacked with dishes. This dude named ‘The Funkmaster’ - guarding the way to the bathrooms- took one look at me and said; “hey, hombre, lighten up, take a chill-pill, sit down and enjoy a little deysayuno! So I did. So in spite of the visuals I had probably one of the best tortillas I’ve had my entire Camino this one had red peppers for some beautiful color in it and yes, they had hot sauce to embellish it with. Carbed up, I left quickly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634480208524-0MDCM3GZPUYDPOGYIIVT/F86DBFC9-8F8D-46D5-8131-8BC10910A286.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out At Ponte Maceira: Ponte Maceira is one of the most unique historical sites in Galicia and of all the Ways of Santiago. Visually, very cool. The "Ponte Vella" (Old Bridge) was built in the 13th and 14th centuries and reconstructed in the 18th century. It contains an ogival central arch and two semi-circular on each side with cutwaters. You can also find several horros (raised granaries), old circular dovecotes, cruceiros (stone crosses), water mills, sundials, restored houses, wall beehives ...and other cool stuff Crucial battles also took place here, like the one that faced bishop Xelmrtez and the Count of Traba (12th century). A St. James tradition tells that on the riverside of Negreira, divine intervention would collapse the bridge saving the disciples of the Apostle St. James from the Roman soldiers before they could cross, as reflected in the coat of arms of Negreira town council. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634480480072-SXHBCOEAA8C3FMDTAY9U/E96423E8-5A3B-4D88-AC50-9D701438D50E.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out Ponte Maceiera. There are water driven grinding mills on both sides of the Ponte (bridge) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634479204536-LUGEUKUBVWH9NJ05RQJ6/22254961-A953-4A11-AB61-47FDBE923846.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out 2 km uphill which nobody told me about yesterday, It was difficult, but very enjoyable because of the natural beauty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634480002524-WODIESWEMKO4PX41VEC5/D5D81656-90AC-47A2-8087-27F107EF9599.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out Pretty much every suburban homestead has trellised grape vines which are beautiful and appear to serve three purposes: one - shade in the heart of a Galician hot summer, number two table grapes, and third - homemade wine in the fall. I would love to do this to our backyard patio. My mind has already constructed the trellises https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634480584138-QBZZVT1SSURK1WX62AEC/0757826D-07F4-4B55-851D-6542AD5D6BAE.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out Beautiful countryside of estates abound. Most gardens are extensively cultivated with trellised grapes and all the fruit trees are in well kept orchards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634478466290-8EJS5I7MVMKRJSOB3B73/801E35C6-7FAD-4743-BB0E-D6F2C0AC4927.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out Good news bad news. Good news is I saw another sign. Bad news is it’s 89 km and I thought somebody told me it was like 75 to Finsterre. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1634478564015-JB0ZADYD9JYP96SZT3XN/E3F43655-CCD2-427C-A0BC-4E650B72F0E2.jpeg Epilogo The Long Goodbye - Day 39 Finsterre - menos quatro (dias) - Make it stand out I left my apartment at seven, took a left at the corner and there were certainly not very many lights on at the Convent. Sunday everyone gets to sleep in methinks. Religious orders, convents, and monasteries are disappearing -many of them are shut down and shuttered or being turned into hotel type arrangements - to put it bluntly tourist attractions that have historical appeal but sadly, no modern relevance. They appear to have outlive their usefulness especially in europe which is now very secular. https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1 daily 0.75 2024-07-24 https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/day-22-el-camino-primitivo monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/day-11-to-gihon monthly 0.5 2024-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2d08b699-9d90-41c1-bfff-eb86f36e0f97/IMG_6654.jpg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/571dedb5-2fd2-438b-bbf2-989c42630736/IMG_6678.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out So the rock riddled gravel road I just finished came to this intersection of the paved road and a foot path across the road going straight -no Camino markings whatsoever. So now what do? I went straight and it turned out to be the correct decision. A short cut. go figure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/aa148296-dd90-4637-80ca-79997c4d1c40/IMG_6675.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out I am finally growing accustomed to the daily climbs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ab93aa55-8bfc-45b5-979b-ef540238e990/IMG_6660.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9c6aeb25-b1c8-4993-b37d-747bc257f871/IMG_6689.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out Back at the hotel it occurred to me. This is my last proximity to the ocean and even though I’m still recovering from the stomach bug some days ago, I knew I’d be disappointed if I didn’t go down to the beach and walk in the ocean one last time. It was awesome. Highlight of the day: I have to admit it was the intensity of the effort to pull off this 50 km section most of which occurred in a beautiful pastoral setting. Sure beats a stationary bike at home. “If the desert is holy, it is because it is a forgotten place that allows us to remember the sacred. Perhaps that is why every pilgrimage to the desert is a pilgrimage to the self. There is no place to hide and so we are found.” ~ Terry Tempest Williams Jesus knew all about desert places, Jesus liked desert places. We should all have a desert place to go to from time to time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ff4a02ee-2d8c-4905-b4b0-279ee8773e5b/IMG_6676.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/268a3aa0-c2bf-495d-86ae-94981fe8a0e1/IMG_6626.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f64c8b66-a66a-4deb-b927-269176a97787/IMG_6665.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out Meet Casey! And her brand new Kona steel adventure bike! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6655401c-d9ec-4f85-bc28-c3c246dc93d8/IMG_6681.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out La playa at Gihon. All of the northern Spain beaches are absolutely fabulous with great sand and good clear water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b390f65f-bc17-4de8-8097-d860ce0fa20b/IMG_6666.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out After meeting Casey, I stuck my head in the meat market - clearly ham is kind of the deal in Espana- zoom in on the details of the offerings. Whatever you buy, they’ll slice it paper thin for you on the spot. Point is they are not into the thick slices (American) anywhere I’ve been or seen or eaten. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b64c9ecf-b544-4755-b278-cc4fbf5bfdf0/IMG_6671.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 11 to Gihon - Make it stand out I couldn’t resist taking a snap of this little beauty at the top of todays’ big climb - the mountain- five beautiful, petals, subtle coloring, and less than a centimeter wide. My reward for summiting the mountain called el Cruz at about 2 km an hour. https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/day-10-to-colunga monthly 0.5 2024-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4cf21fc5-7365-4d97-9ddc-d64314e21e7c/71630612835__7046F474-E439-40DB-B2D1-C2D3245DB814.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Dinner number one once I arrived in Colunga, not knowing my lodging was right around the corner 100m away. Very yummy with bread and lots of olive oil…. all washed down by at least 2 cokes. Waiter said “sorry, señor, no paella por uno” today. Come back tomorrow….. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/cb14e33d-1051-4a56-97be-627011043fae/IMG_6605.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out A beautiful departure on this paseo lined with fig trees, with people enjoying conversation underneath them -both old and young. I will say, however, they make one heck of a mess when they drop those over ripe fruit figs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/74e926c6-2d4f-4f1c-a62f-9bd9d9da4e35/IMG_6614.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Riding out of town with a very narrow shoulder with a painful reminder of my food poisoning earlier in the week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f2a7c1e2-2fde-43d0-9209-82aaad8af08b/IMG_6641.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out A beautiful descent into the hippie surfer town called Vega, -picture taken by a (new) friend from Czech Republic named Martin who is walking the entire Norte (he walks very very fast and is way ahead of his walking tribe) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/898f2dd0-fd19-4781-9776-99ddd497d861/IMG_6625.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out The sign indicates there 444 km to go to get to Santiago on the Camino del Norte! Only 100 km on my bike as I switch to walking the Primitivo in a couple of days which is 325 km start to finish. I have ridden about the same amount so far from my starting point in Hondarribia and if you add 46 km from tomorrow’s ride and I’ll end up completing close to 500 km of the Norte after which I take a detour to Oviedo and the start of the Primitivo. I turn in my bike basically by leaving it at the hotel after tomorrow night stay. Finishing the Norte from Gihon to Santiago (via the Ingles) will have to wait for another day (heads up familia :) . I’ll go meet my dear friend Holger from Deutschland in Oviedo on the morning of the 15th ( after touring the spectacular and famous cathedral of Oviedo that apparently started the whole ‘camino thing’ in the 9th century around the year , when King Alfonso II the Chaste began his pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle, which had just been discovered) to start walking a different Camino - the original Camino - called the Primitivo. (from Wiki; The Camino Primitivo is thought of as the "Original Way" because it is reportedly the path taken by the first reported pilgrim, Alfonso II of Asturias (c. 760 – 842), nicknamed the Chaste (Spanish: el Casto). The King left his capital, Oviedo, in the year 814 to travel to the present location of the city of Santiago de Compostela, at the time known as Libredon ). The distance he and I will cover walking on that one is 325 km. So what about finishing the Norte? Well, I guess everyone will just have to stay tuned and see if I get around to doing that in the future especially my Familia. Do you know that German Swede work ethic? Start something finish it ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ad169bd2-edf5-45dd-bc73-e59cb7ea8b3c/IMG_6606.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3d3f22be-8891-4ccb-97c1-4c3476ea2f3e/IMG_6632.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a22a517b-c3c6-4cbe-bcd0-679bb918e44c/IMG_6616.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ffcbd6c1-e546-4f35-be6c-483dcb15ba70/IMG_6656.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Just fabulous. The ambiance in the garden was festive as the other ‘travellers’ came out for evening vino. I got to know one awesome young man who I’ll describe after breakfast tomorrow morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/803f6441-0687-4304-8896-3a2e8c129e70/IMG_6624.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/542be750-4ad9-4d95-b350-1f26e62868cd/IMG_6644.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Do you really expect me to see that marker 30 m in from the side of the road, on the edge of private property, when I’m riding by at 15 km/h? This is the restart of the official route after on the road away from the town of Las Islas. Give me a break ! I blew by it and had to backtrack 200 m to find it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d092fc05-4cf1-4d4f-80e3-0ff9b3d13e97/IMG_6622.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Out of water as I was in this instance late morning, no problem - almost every town or pueblo has a public fountain in the public square or next to a church plaza. If it’s not drinkable, there is usually a sign that says “No tratada or No potable”. If it doesn’t have a sign and the water is flowing fast ( like this one ) because they’re artesian springs. I drink it - I’ve never had a problem. Churches, especially trustworthy, right ? holy water ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/77f5072e-f67b-474f-8d4d-1582b18f02cc/IMG_6645.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Roman bridges coming up - I backtracked so I could bike over these puentes as small as they are https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/708a7320-95dd-4bed-b76c-eb2990bd2b74/IMG_6610.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out When I set up my lodging, my travel agency made sure breakfast is included daily because of the huge calorie intake that is required every day on this ten-day effort. Since the cafés known as bars here don’t open until at least 9 AM it’s just way too late to get nutrition and calories in the tank that late . Breakfast starts at eight today so when I got into the hotel café area I asked when it’s available and she said in Spanish there’s only one option do you want all of it? Since my stomach is very much on the mend, I said sure. You can imagine the complete shock when this all came it was included at no extra charge in my stay at my hotel - el Don Paco - a converted convent from a few hundred years ago! Yes, I ate at all especially the homemade yogurt which I hope is for the good bacteria to restart my bio chemistry. Best desayuno of the Camino so far ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b81cfaa9-4a76-47d7-b133-4d717e9f697a/IMG_6630.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Right turn here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/122049a8-6e3a-4a8e-8ee2-3f3c449cc86b/IMG_6643.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Leaving Vega it’s not all blacktop or crushed gravel. This uphill moment will live in my mind I hope for the rest of my life. I was tired and walked a bunch of it to slow down and take it in knowing i’ll not be on this trail ever again. Welcome to an epic moment on the Camino del Norte. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b8b8e681-fab8-44fe-83da-a1156d2947a0/IMG_6647.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out And in not taking it, had I stayed on the road, I would’ve missed passing this pasture and break in the clouds - yet another metaphor for the cost of not being observant in life, looking for subtle ‘cues’ taking the extra step or slight detour, even if it cost a little I also would not have crossed puente Romana or Roman Bridge still being used by pilgrims to get from point a to point B for over 1800 years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3f1dfc50-2a6c-48d0-9b4f-a9a06ae55f4d/IMG_6650.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Plenty of cozy spots to sit, chill and ruminate about this adventure. Just great journaling time, contemplation, appreciation for being able to do this, albeit a bit lonely when going solo. Such moments are often best shared, hence my propensity to strike up conversations with others -usually pilgrims. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9798fcc2-ac60-4cc2-a076-34029f0f7e17/71631230739__1A10E464-8C8F-4702-B9AA-55A091C1FE2B.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Dehydrated, I opted for what appeared to be a cross between a smoothie and a milk shake ( I ordered a second one). For my second dinner around 7:30 pm I opted for a charcuterie board to satisfy my craving for more wonderful Asturias queso. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ab2aaec0-9328-4074-bab0-ff08ebe99bfb/IMG_6617.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out As stated Spain gets the award for the very best dahlias I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f8727cd3-875b-4f54-9fc0-daede0c01f8d/IMG_6651.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out Down the hill to the left my lodging in Colunga was beautifully landscaped with a really cool courtyard jardiin and nice on-site cafe (dinner, as always, is served late by American standards) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/511cf71c-c487-4e9f-892b-969f90363b20/IMG_6612.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out After ensuring my backpack was properly placed in the reception going to be picked up by Correos to be shipped to tonights lodging in Colunga I went to the bike parking garage and claimed my pony and headed out took a right and rode through this beautiful paseo to get started on my day - heading west https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a3600a99-de84-4813-be54-7733ef1dab10/IMG_6619.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 10 to Colunga - Make it stand out On the road from Llanes to Posada https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/day-9-to-llanes monthly 0.5 2024-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f1424edd-a380-45fe-8b74-48ad098c764a/IMG_6593.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out I had to swerve to avoid this little creature. This little guy who reminded me of who the most meditative insect on the Camino de Santiago is! Well of course it’s a praying mantis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f0160d65-805b-4500-958e-dde0e642da82/IMG_6598.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Wow, was today’s lodging a quite a surprise! My lodging hotel, the Don Paco was previously is 17th century convent of the order of the Augustinas Recoletas. Construction began in 1660 but due to historical events was not quite finished off in 1666 when the architect died. As can often be the sequence of events the building started out as a convent, then become a military barracks, then a college, and now this hotel. More about the Asturias Region (possibly the best kept secret in Europe? !) Asturias is particularly famous for its beautiful landscape. With its impressive mountain ranges and over 200 stunning beaches along the 345-km long coast, the area boasts a broad entertainment offering. About a third of Asturias has the status of protected nature reserve, and UNESCO has named four specific nature reserves of particular interest. Certain unusual natural phenomena Asturias is famous for confirm the impression that the region’s offering goes beyond the ordinary. Indeed, Asturias is one of the oldest kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula and its cities and villages are shrouded in its old, millenary traditions. Despite the growing tourist industry, the traditional rural character - or rustic if you will - is well-preserved in the Asturian architecture and way of life. It is precisely this attachment to old-day traditions that makes Asturias immensely charming and an outstanding vacation area. Asturias offering ranges from modern cities to rather secluded areas that few tourists visit. These areas and cities offer many special sightseeing experiences you will rarely find anywhere else in Europe. By the same token, this goes to show that modern society has not claimed all European land yet. Interestingly enough, people in these remote villages, typically up in the mountains, does not consider themselves poor, but lead a self-sufficient live on small farming or family owned plots and grow much of what the eat year around including fruits and nuts (small well tended orchards) Even if more tourists have woken up to the unique charm of these villages, they are still far from being overrun. I’ll be back, if nothing more than to hang out on some of the best beaches I’ve ever been on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0e6150a2-58ad-4241-b423-98e6c70b3d6c/IMG_6605.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Beautiful paseo to walk thru near my hotel when coming back from my every other night gelato run (pistachio, of course) or returning from the nearby beach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9e428fa4-8894-4497-bc05-16a7fad1dc02/IMG_6603.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Playa del Sabion Great little contained and safe beach. I love swimming in the ocean. It’s a great way to cool off. I’ve done it several times already - tonight was just not the night. I need to eat and get some calories in the tank and take a siesta ….I love taking a siesta before I go to bed. . I generally dont’ run around and sight see end of day due to fatigue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0bc63eff-3c48-4fdd-843f-3270cdd95f64/IMG_6591.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out As I stated, I can’t believe I was there two nights ago, leaving just in the nick of time it appears. This would’ve been an awful start to a cycling day to say the least https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3f07ecad-0484-49eb-8c77-ecbdd59464f5/IMG_6587.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out As stated from my previous Camino, Spain has the best Dahlia varieties I’ve ever seen anywhere, as well as other beautiful, flora, not seen in the United States https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/75796982-e0c1-47fb-acba-f436f3bf8ad9/IMG_6602.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Tonights calories were a wonderful best ever seafood paella. I asked for a smaller portion but received enough to easily feed a family of 4! and enough bread for 8! It was hand crafted culinary excellence. Now I know what to do with fresh clams and mussels when home. What an easy to make delicacy ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/71b058e3-b07f-4fc0-88aa-7e253b76ef7f/IMG_6565.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Up and down day. All in all quite memorable as the kilometers ‘flew by’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c2782ccd-902b-4b1d-9b45-15b2d831c042/IMG_6585.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/91b80a78-d998-4f16-b9d3-cd499a791d8c/IMG_6579.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Oyambre Natural Park is formed by the estuaries of San Vicente de la Barquera and La Rabia which, with beaches, dunes and the great expanse of Monte Corona, form one of the most beautiful and well-preserved natural parks in Cantabria. This pristine natural area covers 5,758 hectares and, along with the Saja-Besaya Natural Park (over 24,500 hectares) and Liencres Dunes (only 257 hectares), is one of the largest natural parks in Cantabria. That is, of course, not counting the Picos de Europa National Park which extends throughout more than 64,000 hectares in Cantabria, Asturias, and Leon. It was declared a Natural Park on November 21, 1988 and has since been a protected place and a reserve for water birds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/735adddf-0b4e-45a2-b1b2-7aa9bc42b33b/IMG_6588.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Fuchsia Boliviana or ‘lady eardrops’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/85baa069-7802-4aad-965b-dc67a503cd51/IMG_6589.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0427be72-94b1-4e36-9453-9f708ea34a15/Screenshot+2024-06-27+at+12.23.38%E2%80%AFPM.png Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Sidra bars (hard apple cider) are popular all throughout Asturias. As I walked to a recommded bar for a good seafood dinner (hopefully paella) I witnessed a Sidra being served up to some patrons. Sidra is poured blindly over the shoulder without spilling a drop…. ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1222ef1b-4b4a-4249-a6a4-53f89cd9aab7/IMG_6595.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out End of todays ride I focused on a biker up ahead of me which gave me motivation to keep up with him to try to beat what looks like a building storm creating a race to get to town before any deluge . It actually did not materialize but you can see how quickly the weather can come up on the Catabrian and Asturias coast. By the way, when I stopped at a gas station for a water refill and to grab a fresh baked baguette (yup, fresh bread baked in the gas station ) …..look at what the headlines were from what happened in Santandar last night - ‘Las Tormentas Inundate!’ Remember I left Santandar two days ago !!! Aye Carumba! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/52e151c7-f9b4-44b2-b165-e872c8782699/IMG_6580.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Playa de Oyambre. As always fabulous panoramas on the horizon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5c60d466-ee43-4c39-acd9-211834a3efa0/IMG_6600.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/24b50d6a-b604-43e5-ab76-ecbe225abab2/IMG_6604.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 9 to Llanes - Make it stand out Llanes promenade peaceful relaxed welcoming https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/day-8-to-camillas monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/8f008d02-9186-43c1-be3a-45accf774cb1/IMG_6522.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Yup, go right https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e41c4b9d-36b0-4463-b91d-079b7e59a693/IMG_6538.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out 12th century cloisters https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/7f5f52f9-3c51-4de5-901b-9e165b4470f7/IMG_6530.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0cf5b663-c9d4-43e2-a5f4-6884fd12077e/IMG_6517.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Yellow is Camino Route, Red is bicycle variant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fc07b935-db8d-4d83-92cd-b6c4584ff111/IMG_6549.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Rogelio Gonzalez (de Arroyo). “Poco a poco” paco a paco” = good wisdom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2dff4560-1355-43f0-92bd-0d4738143218/IMG_6525.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Entrance to the beautiful (touristy) 8th century cobblestone paved town of Santillana Del Mar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/af164722-3f46-44b2-bde4-d50a52909853/IMG_6515.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9c063d5b-b2e0-404b-800d-2525a1cde959/IMG_6518.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out These on my plate turned out to be mock angulas called gulas made from a fish like pollock, same as it is used in mock crab. These were the base of my shrimp dish with sautéed garlic slices all served in boiling butter. I’m sure in the whole thing would’ve been fabulous. I just couldn’t handle eels after being eel pun intended ____ Note: please forgive voice transcription errors, formatting errors, and some grammar issues. I don’t always catch them on the fly as I am updating the entire website on an iPhone during the siesta I take right after I am done riding for the day. Additionally, the ability to put captions directly on the pictures is not working so I add a text box underneath to capture my thoughts, as was the case on my last Camino, I will endeavor to clean up the website this winter after a very long siesta this fall … my goal right now, is to get images in the correct order of occurrence and immediate thoughts and impressions associated with the moment. (embellishment to occur at a later date.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/529148c9-1524-4410-937c-83872fc037af/IMG_6541.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Santillana del Mar Collegiate Church, Santillana Del Mar, Espana Wow, what a really cool little town that showed up out of nowhere!, (worthy of a side trip if you are in the area (yes it’s more than a little touristy, but the church was worth a stop alone) cobblestone streets, shops lining both sides, cafés, and bars you name it just beautiful. I walked my bike because cobblestones and biking don’t always agree with me. Well, the majority of the Capellas, hermitages, and churches are closed with the exception of Sundays. This world UNESCO site was open! So I paid my 5 euro, got my sello (stamp) and went in. I discovered that the cloisters were open for tour as well as the sanctuary, I was also able to get a stamp here to continue to document my progress on the Camino Del Norte as required daily. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/71df9253-535c-44db-9261-c0055c541c33/IMG_6570.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Stages of the Vuelta. You can see the 12th and 13th September overlap with my Camino ‘tour’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4cef86d9-91eb-40fd-b60f-20cfb954273a/IMG_6557.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Some surfers out, and one lady out for a swim, but it looks like a pretty dangerous undertow situation. I pulled over at a bar for another Coke seriously over priced as in the 8 ounce bottle for $2.80. €. I chose not to eat lunch there accordingly knowing I was taken advantage of. Average price is 1 € https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/531da648-6c81-4d2a-9dcf-59ae49e5620b/IMG_6559.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Just a little roadside chapel, with an offer of a sello / stamp for my pilgrim passport, so I took advantage of it, and received in return in the silence the following message “do this in remembrance of Me” I always enjoy and look for receiving such impressions. A walking peregrino popped in so I left giving him to his private moment of contemplation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ed1bd1e8-30e4-4173-8a19-f18d3214ed89/IMG_6528.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d5d81877-3bc7-4142-b8bc-86876b560325/IMG_6569.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out The Comillas Pontifical University which is now a college campus of technological education of seven schools and disciplines - law, divinity, engineering, nursing. Neo-Gothic buildings abound. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d40a53ff-d310-4a4d-abeb-404579b34b89/IMG_6571.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Warmup riding prior to todays stage of La Vuelta https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c283647e-8e33-47af-af42-a4af60aca117/IMG_6554.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out A little more pavement (tarmac as they say over here) riding but not a problem because it’s a brand new ribbon of tarmac, and it is so beautiful to ride on. Up this hill down the other side to a beautiful little beach before my last cruise into Comillas (at last) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/482a9fab-b28d-4031-ade1-56287b094bc6/IMG_6542.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out The Main Street thru town is lined with artisan shops. A lot of leather goods, nick nacks and foods - cheeses, chocolates, meats, candies. This shop was full of home made jams, preserves and jellies….this sign alone has over 60 varieties listed ! On the bicycle I just didn’t have the (weight) capacity to buy anything….. once again this town would be worthy of a re-visit with my esposa some time in the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/eccb7117-3b0d-46c3-84df-08f41c804771/IMG_6546.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out I had to push my steed up the paved street until I got to this camino path. Still uphill but manageable on my trail bike https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b49e5924-2aed-4c25-b9e7-f5d9dd8f156f/IMG_6532.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/77f0c2a7-4015-473c-b756-04f2614c27bd/IMG_6562.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out I doubled back to take a picture of this fig tree, obviously very very old, supported by 11 branch supports. Prolly where the expression low lying fruit came from. Go fig-ure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3ae45dc0-257b-48f2-b236-3f65bd14aed6/IMG_6519.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out I never pass up my early morning rocket fuel (with cafe con leche) ritual https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/49f65bc8-1ed7-4277-949a-e4c325fc910d/IMG_6547.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/db7fbc8b-214e-4459-bcb9-4d4a667dfc5e/IMG_6555.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Leche; the udder cola! This region of Spain is famous for artisan cheese production and the lowly vaca (cow) is duly celebrated! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e42d5f2f-254b-4671-91e5-3ee553452be8/IMG_6523.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 8 to Comillas - Make it stand out Note small white post upper right with small yellow ‘flecha’ https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/to-day-8 monthly 0.5 2024-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/08f80418-1df0-4a9d-8806-0a10f357dc25/IMG_6506.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 7 to Mogro - Make it stand out Away from the city and on yet another Camino variant en route to Mogro, a long and winding road, the view over my shoulder back downhill was gorgeous https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9701e347-b3bc-4023-b613-87ba70609006/Bareyo.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 7 to Mogro - Make it stand out My beautiful room near Mogro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4db78a00-8979-424f-b5c2-5f25f0dca2d4/IMG_6513.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 7 to Mogro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3161794e-f99f-48df-9904-088f72aefd97/IMG_6512.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 7 to Mogro - Make it stand out View from my second-floor window this morning the rain off in the distance never caught up with me. Weather forecast often involve the threat of moderate to heavy rain, but these storms often don’t materialize, but when they do, they’re intense, but usually move through rather quickly from what I’m told. This was a very very nice pension I stayed at kind of in the middle of nowhere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/255ddbe9-19a5-4bf5-a299-bfe1c0bd6ec3/IMG_6514.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 7 to Mogro - Make it stand out View from Marina del Cudeyo of the big city of Santandar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/32a6416b-6ced-438a-a378-e43da3fc3da1/Santona.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 7 to Mogro - Make it stand out The waterfront at Santander is very beautiful. Leaving such a large town as Santander is sometimes a bit of a challenge to find shortest way out and still stay on the Camino ‘trail’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/84688bd5-5b4f-46db-a9de-d6ac1419a532/IMG_6510.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 7 to Mogro - Make it stand out Siesta time in one of the ‘common areas’ at my inn in Mogro https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/to-day-7 monthly 0.5 2024-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/60ed167a-719a-4415-81ba-9bb6682b200e/IMG_6493.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out Some of the trail like this is rideable on a mountain bike, but definitely not on a gravel bike or road bike. When it did get too bumpy, with rocky areas I chose to simply walk the bike for a 100m or so and enjoy the scenery. If I weren’t so concerned about the kilometers there are many such idyllic spots for a picnic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/7a87d4a4-a635-40ec-abe8-8276d5aa8498/IMG_6492.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out The plot thickens the paved 6 foot wide trail abruptly ended at a gate (close after entering to keep livestock on their turf) which I opened and had to walk my bike up through this mess -arguably difficult to even walk on, but it only went on for about 300m and opened onto a cliffside walking trail amidst lush green fields once again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/dc345254-50c0-44c3-8847-6819b397dcb8/IMG_6488.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out Fruit trees abound throughout Spain most on private property but many gone rogue on abandoned land https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/da7f476c-0054-442f-8213-c201fd250947/IMG_6500.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out Crossing over to the other side to the small town of Santona. I had to push my bike up the narrow gangplank which was a little tricky https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/609e8aee-e07d-4909-865c-108dd494e41a/IMG_6507.JPG Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out My barco ticket - one way - not viceversa route https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/67c5af3a-431c-428e-9476-871a2bc0c10c/IMG_6502.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out Beautiful Santona ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/760bc50b-3d5e-475e-834c-873827cb0f62/IMG_6482.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/68bd0f18-eddf-4dc9-a693-de177dc4bd7a/IMG_6487.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out I just love the wall murals depicting daily life of days gone by - beautifully crafted https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c2eafd2e-9c9b-4ebf-b4c4-d30c9b5d3516/IMG_6498.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out At the end of the beautiful and very long Laredo beach, you come to the bay which you can either ride around (2 plus hours) or jump on a boat to cross over to the other side, which to me was a no-brainer for four euros. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/bc83883e-5cb3-4ef0-82f7-c77c5bb083a4/IMG_6494.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out This section was quite rideable for about a kilometer, and when I did come across walkers, I simply rolled off into the field around them to not affect their progress. Curiously this section did not appear to be heavily travelled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e902b6c9-a1bc-4cd2-9a17-cf24e767fc8a/IMG_6512.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out And finally to my lodging in Guemes. I was ‘beat’ and I beat the rain which usually shows up late afternoon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9969941f-0b76-4005-a0ab-c2024f983cd3/IMG_6496.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out On today’s stage, as is the case many times on most Camino rutas, there are alternate routes that one can take based on scenery, physical exertion, level of convenience, distance, or critical (safety) requirement in my case, such as being a bicigrino on a bike. Much of the Camino is simply not passable by a bike due to inclines, rocks, mud, turns you name it. All in all, this was a very good day of cycling maybe the best yet from a panorama standpoint https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/cfd1b6d5-4bb4-4195-a361-37a94064d584/IMG_6486.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out Puerto de Castro Urdiales at sunrise offering a beautiful departure out of town. It was bustling with people last night but at 8:30 a.m. only a few out for a stroll on the paseo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9e7146af-fa28-4d83-9261-064fe14177ad/IMG_6491.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 6 to Güemes - Make it stand out After winding my way out of town on the streets on and off the official trail, I eventually found myself on a more representative and beautiful pastoral trail and started encountering more walkers. Traffic however, was light. I should have really slowed down to enjoy these sections more. Why do I rush? https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/to-day-6 monthly 0.5 2024-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3f1a5acf-5af0-4bb3-affa-0792bd32df4c/IMG_6453.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out The Puente de Vizcaya Since July 13, 2006 the Puente de Vizcaya is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the only such monument in Basque Country, and the only one in the Industrial Heritage category in all of Spain. It was the first transporter bridge in the world and has been in service since its inauguration in 1893. This excellent feat of engineering was designed by Biscay-born architect Alberto de Palacio, a follower and collaborator of Gustave Eiffel, the creator of the famous tower in Paris. Indeed, the bridge resembles the tower quite closely; it stands at the point where the estuary of Bilbao widens to join the sea. Popularly known as the “Puente Colgante” (hanging bridge), it is a spectacular iron structure that links the towns of Portugalete and Getxo, on either side of the estuary. After paying the €1.5 fare two of us bikers got on and crossed with pedestrians and cars to get to the other side. The tram is hung by cables and can be seen in the lower left at street level. While a bit primitive by modern standards it was a very big deal back at its inception. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5d7fa50f-a3ba-4424-914f-a90a92b7410f/IMG_6468.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e7539ba5-1cec-4c45-8108-ddde22611ab6/IMG_6457.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out As much as I was paying attention to navigation this signage for the turn to return to the Cantabrian Sea was very difficult not only to see but to decipher. How do you decipher ambiguous? Hmmm, left or right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5a16817f-a5b8-4d4d-bed6-e13d47c95a0e/IMG_6446.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/398f4c73-a73c-4c0e-9504-828affe38644/IMG_6474.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out Destination in the distance - delightful Castro Urdiales https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/05f3804f-33b8-47dc-af1a-aa75e671da68/IMG_6451.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out Biking past the Guggenheim Museum Many of Spain’s major boulevards (larger cities) are very bike friendly with dedicated lanes that are heavily used. I would love to see the much higher adoption to bike commuting back home - but the ‘love affair’ with the automobile and gigantic SUVs and trucks is actually increasing. It also is commonly known that bikers get a 1.5 m rightaway on roads with no shoulder. And on smaller highways bikers out on road bikes for long rides typically take up half of the entire lane and cars have to wait to go around when it’s OK to pass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1e423b4f-f14e-4d6e-a807-1926201a974e/IMG_6471.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d4cf516e-632d-4f9e-a8d8-c744a8ea37a2/IMG_6461.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out What a great trail down to el mar y la playa del Plastron ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/54d49605-f2d6-4d79-983d-3faa2b472f27/IMG_6463.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out La playa del Lastron https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b8c18691-f3a7-423c-8aa3-ed30259ead0c/IMG_6475.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out Several stretches had guard rail missing and yes, a couple of the adjacent posts had flower bouquet memorials ! Biking in the niebla (fog) and going over the edge ? :( https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ebe46f7d-02df-46b1-bf0f-44ad858d908f/IMG_6466.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 5 to Castro Urdiales - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/day-4 monthly 0.5 2024-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3bb1aa10-b80c-49b7-b060-d1e2d6f1819f/IMG_6428.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/03f48789-1c3d-48e3-893d-1bd18b13d328/IMG_6877.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out I am convinced that there’s nothing in the world like a blue cheese. I will have to look for the triple Leche version (goat, cow, and sheep milk ) at home hopefully get lucky to see it and be able to buy it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/bc830752-e209-4e25-8857-032896f06005/IMG_6431.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/64d665d2-d9b4-43e5-bef9-e113afad9395/IMG_6436.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out This is a Hermitage at the beginning of the climb of Mount Avril. I took a break here to size everything up, drink some water, which I was running rather short of.. I was very hot and dripping wet with sweat at this point. While I took a break here to cool down I wondered who is staffed this hermitage in the centuries gone by, I was just disappointed that it was all locked up to at least get a look inside and sit and rest. Unfortunately, my experience at these points of interest have been very frustrating. They are usually all locked up whether it be a hermitage sanctuary, church, or old small basilica. Still soaking wet here at this location with a long way to go uphill I set off again- Oofdah! Pretty much walked up the steepest part of this 13+ degree incline https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/70af9f42-1eba-4547-9a0b-42cbf9d266f4/IMG_6435.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/52ba4bf4-b3eb-4b35-9cb7-74ae470e3c39/IMG_6392.JPG Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out Awesome painted building street art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d7d75409-1d32-4089-ad1d-baf3511c65f5/IMG_6438.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out Basilica of Our Lady of Begoña Built in the early sixteenth century on the site of the old wooden church—which has loomed over the city of Bilbao and the Nervión river for centuries. During Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in August 1808, French troops looted the basilica, killing the parish priest and causing heavy damage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1d4ef448-dc2e-480b-8a55-89cc65c3f87c/IMG_6429.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 4 to Bilboa - Make it stand out I would say half of my road riding is with good shoulders, and half looked like this ! Very tight / non existent bike ‘lane’. Naturally downhill you are running at fairly high speeds even on the turns some of which are switch back curves. Again it is nice to see that Spanish drivers are used to lots of bicycles on the road whether bike clubs out on long rides on their road bikes or bicycle pilgrims like me . https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/blog-post-title-two-r4adk monthly 0.5 2024-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/91636ed6-b79b-491d-930d-bad3122cd745/IMG_6430.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Typical display of food at a tapas bar (tomorrow mornings wonderful ‘find’ in Gernika) -pick and choose what you will. Spanish tortilla bottom, flan sweets above, bocadillo sandwiches left, and the ever present croissants. They generally range from 2 to 4 euro. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b140c515-8cd2-4f04-860c-aa1b10f22ab0/IMG_6404.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Simon Bolibar Plaza (Camino cross-roads for biking & walking) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1b08b4a6-6398-4e2a-ac90-c1f93075a29a/IMG_6406.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out The chance to stay in a remote monastery that dated back to the 10th century (as a church run ‘hospital’ (14th century) couldn’t be passed up. The Monastery was founded sometime in the 900s. The story goes that, at the Feast of the Assumption on August 15, 968, the people of Gerrikaitz were celebrating mass when an eagle swooped in to the ossuary of the cemetery and seized a skull in its claws. The people followed it as it flew until it reached the slope of Zenarruza, in the foothills of Mount Oiz, where it dropped the skull. The skull fell into a thick patch of dwarf elder. The people took this as a sign that they should build a hermitage to the Virgin on that slope. The coat-of-arms of the Monastery features the eagle and skull. The Monasterio de Zenarruza became a key part of my 2023 Camino story along with a stellar picture from across the valley on my onward bicycling tomorrow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fb5fd81f-4639-4010-abbb-77c8d5734161/IMG_6384.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d2488d1d-9bab-48dc-baf2-7109b74de20f/IMG_6388.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out a lot of details to decipher on Camino signage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/435f376f-e90c-4190-8337-2538a5981d18/IMG_6434.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Separatist sentiments https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/114be3cf-1e81-4eb3-a3c9-2c1b3b445d2e/IMG_6378.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Aritistic tapas offerings- some are works of art; Anchovies, sardines, bacon and shrimp …. what more could a calorie devouring bicyclist want ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/373466f4-fc0c-40f1-a3e7-b23246c3ba37/IMG_6386.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out From Zarautz to Getaria the Mar Cantábrico or Cantabrian Sea is the term used mostly in Spain to describe the coastal sea of the Atlantic Ocean that borders the northern coast of Spain and the southwest side of the Atlantic coast of France, included in the Bay of Biscay https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6e69522c-97ec-4b97-8e66-a8f7377efe24/IMG_6415.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Not finding me checked in on the ‘reservation roster’ a monk came to me later in the hostel and said my travel agency had assigned me to a private room an in renovated part of the monastery adjacent to the sanctuary ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b883c0e0-7154-45ef-bb0e-63e1e7084fcb/IMG_6445.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5cd950a5-8fea-4529-8022-9ceb0787868a/71571478609__6987FBF4-2765-4B02-8A28-DC4739ACC22E.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out As always ! get the daily laundry done before dinner and get it drying as much as possible before morning. Below is our (my first) communal dinner, which was very enjoyable, preceded by many with copious amounts of beer and wine. A lot of latecomers but nobody was turned away even though the rooms were essentially sold out as it is not always necessary to make reservations along the Camino- our hosts eventually found a place to put everybody -some of the latest arrivals simply slept outside while some slept on the floor in a parking garage. The Camino provides! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b2bdf674-8a39-40c4-ba75-c3b6f67ac6ff/Basque+day+3.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4b426643-67fe-44fe-94fd-e7fcdd09fcae/IMG_6389.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Exquisite ‘bocadillo’ tapas snack. Shop owners are expert at cutting ham paper thin! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5ca9c3e2-1525-482f-9b75-896b1954f330/IMG_6408.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out My first room assignment after parking my bicycle was upper bunk in a room for 6 pilgrims, but…… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5f0d7edf-218c-4cda-acb9-83f577c57ebe/IMG_6401.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Church at crossroads in ‎⁨Artibai Ibaia⁩, ⁨Markina-Xemein⁩, ⁨Bizkaia⁩ (Bassque and spanish names) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/28727d62-3470-4c93-9ea8-08b2116029e6/IMG_6414.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out The cloister of Zenarruza inspires, like almost everything else on this site. Old and moss-covered, the grass-filled courtyard reflected light onto delicate arches etched with the scallop shell and the cross of St James himself. What’s wonderful about staying in a place such as a monastery or a hostel or an albergue is that you meet many people from all over Europe and around the world, have a great time, and form simple emotional social connections that will be remembered for many years to come. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/27fe5cc2-6a7f-4e65-bc26-ee21c10add2e/IMG_6405.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Access the 15th century Monastery of Zenarruza along the remains of an ancient cobbled road, used in the past by pilgrims to Santiago. (I had to bike via the road however) As I rode away from Bolobar plaza up the road to the monastery -here’s the turn off for the walkers -(not bikable due to incline), so I was thankful to see the cycle arrow on the sign at left. (This segment and town bears witness to significant historical events. Passing through Bolibar, the birthplace of the ancestral liberator Simón Bolívar, you'll then reach Gernika, known worldwide for the tragic events of April 1937, immortalized in Pablo Picasso's renowned masterpiece "Guernica.") https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/cde34eca-604c-4d21-a476-573bfe3e0648/IMG_6421.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out One of many shared meals common at albergues on Camino, while I don’t remember many names I will treasure each of you and that evening in my heart ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/76c3e0fe-d23c-4363-a283-122b64df7edf/IMG_6402.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out What stories could this place tell about ‘its day’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/24caac6d-49f0-4249-b030-8ae1da1b0ae5/Monestary.jpg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Three cross approach to the Monasterio de Zenarruza property (photo credit to Beth J - 7/2018) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/947a3289-295c-49fb-9637-2fde6f887ad3/IMG_6390.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 3 to Ziortza-Boliba - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/blog-post-title-three-gk45h monthly 0.5 2024-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/8cd8ffd9-fc2c-46e8-b480-afce205e24b8/leaving+D+San+Seb.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out Some of my early bicycle / Camino trail navigation leaving San Sebastián was a real eye opener. I had little room to push my bicycle up this trail, what will unfold over the next 450 km of cycling? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a8333ff8-e27d-416a-bafb-2fecfc179c7e/IMG_6369.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out Approach to Zarutz-Mendilauta (Basque) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/75125684-1bb1-486e-9eb1-df5e95067d46/IMG_6029.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out View looking back, downhill toward Hondarribia from the church halfway up the hill…..Church of San Giovanni Battista Dripping wet with sweat, I grabbed two back to back coca colas, used a bano and continued up the hill and was eventually treated to my first (biking) sight of the ocean! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0d45fb90-6336-4f7e-9ba2-b9bd021fb5ef/San+Sebastian+beach.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out Alderdi Eder Lorategiak (Basque) beach The beach at San Sebastián is HUGE and epically beautiful. The old town area, while touristy, is very beautiful and welcoming. Unfortunately, I was driven to get some miles under my seat and I moved on fairly quickly. This would be a fabulous welcome long weekend retreat for anyone looking for an awesome norther Spain getaway. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ff3d603f-d8cf-4691-ac32-b750c19440b6/IMG_6035.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out Time to eat in Donastia / San Sebastián / Alta https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b1202a2e-0ca5-4543-8ccc-45311cec97ff/IMG_6033.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out At last, my first Zona Rural / Caseiros. A tough tough climb but oh, what a view. (I’m already out of water !) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/44e52441-55dd-4a8f-a588-db7506c9342b/IMG_6030.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out Church of San Giovanni Battista outside Hondarribia (note the ship) from night before https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/477d9b16-7221-4767-8997-0ce33d42fdb6/IMG_6444.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out I’ll add the daily route and elevation changes via these graphics included in my daily travel itinerary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0e7fa6bd-8038-4ae6-906e-30275c213d18/IMG_6027.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out My first Camino marker sign, not exactly visible to the average walker or biker. Getting here was a wee bit of a challenge. I started the day heading in the wrong direction and making multiple wrong turns costing me at least ninety minutes. Frustrated, I pulled over into a cafe for a croissant and coffee ‘regroup’. Battery nearly drained on my cell phone I tried to get basic GPS bearings. I doubled back toward my starting point and asked a guy on a scooter “where’s the shortest road to the ocean”. He asked if I could keep up on my bike and led me to the correct road out of town. I thanked him and shortly came across my first yellow arrow. Yay, a win ! (before the big climb) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4fe60979-7730-43df-a773-690e168cdba6/IMG_6378.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out Tapas in Basque are excellent ~ around 4 Euro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/cf162972-d223-4783-85bd-c20e2dfb7c89/IMG_6367.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 2 to Zaurautz - Make it stand out Note instruction and sign for bikers to go left - going to the right would not be a very good idea even on a mountain bike. I met many that took the ‘doesn’t apply to me modus operandi’ but this was not my approach. I learned on and on again, that the bicycle routes are there for a very good reason as many of these trails are difficult enough on foot and simply non-navigable for cyclists. https://www.livealagom.life/blog-1-1/blog-post-title-four-bw2a8 monthly 0.5 2024-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2b651cf5-3904-4cf4-8aaa-16a508b38650/IMG_6003.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 1 in Hondarribia, Espana - Make it stand out Hondarribia by the sea Hondarribia is a Basque town situated on the west shore of Bidasoa river's mouth on the northeaster border of Spain with France This border town is situated on a little promontory facing Hendaye (Basque language neighboring French town) over the Txingudi bay. A service boat makes the trip between the two cities. The town holds an ancient old quarter with walls and a castle. In addition, Hondarribia features a beach across the Bidasoa. Siege of Fuenterrabía (1638) was the outcome of a siege by the invading forces of Louis XIII, led by Condé. 27,000 French soldiers besieged the city for two months, firing 16,000 shells into the walled city, leaving only 300 survivors, most of them women and children. The city was virtually destroyed, but nevertheless did not surrender. The Spanish soldiers were successful in ultimately defending their city, and the raising of the siege is celebrated annually on 8 September in a parade, known as Alarde. It is likely that the ‘party' and festival I witnessed tonight is in fact this celebration !!! It was recommended that I start here instead of a more typical Norte start in either Irun, Spain, or Bayonne, France (separated by the Pyrenees) by my travel advisor due to its smaller size, and historical beauty. It was beautiful, indeed and a great first day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a2f89ee2-fc13-41b4-b89d-52a9fbfe8a36/IMG_6020.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 1 in Hondarribia, Espana - Make it stand out Anchoas & pan and olive oil https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/dc0e9dcd-ff12-44d1-8b51-b4768053da16/IMG_5989.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 1 in Hondarribia, Espana - Make it stand out Awesome first nights’ stay. Bike in a storage closed across the street downstairs along with two other bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e36fa7ae-51c3-4da5-9c93-2ab0ad8edac7/IMG_5992.jpeg Camino del Norte 2023 - Day 1 in Hondarribia, Espana - Make it stand out First sello / stamp, make sure official I’ve been on my Camino! Next a little first nite happy hour vino from the on-site cafe. Now that I’m all set I walked around the area near my hotel watched a couple of celebrations in honor of somebody that I have no clue who they were. The music and drumming was well attended and enjoyed by all. And had some tapas and tried to work out some nervous energy before I went to bed, very jet-lagged https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023 daily 0.75 2024-07-24 https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/reflections monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/31b8aec3-efb0-4b91-b529-b14e5a3b1c1d/IMG_7302.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Reflections - Make it stand out The birth of the savior with Joseph wondering what on earth happened ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e0b4afdc-9a43-4352-a299-ef429fd58a21/IMG_7306.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Reflections - Make it stand out “After three days they (his parents) found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/40f24345-d416-440b-aed6-5e2e6df2fc40/IMG_7299.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Reflections - Make it stand out View from my last hostel stay in Bilbao - Begoñako Basilika Bilbao 16th century medieval. a magnificent remnant of 16th century Gothic styled architecture in Spain. What is remarkable about the Basilica is that it took about a hundred years to build. That resulted in the union of different styles of architecture over the original Gothic design. The clock tower atop the Basilica has an incredible 24 bells, with the heaviest one weighing a tonne. I attended my last service here. It was in Basque language ! Picture below: The sanctuary was filled with enormous incredibly beautiful paintings (greater than 4m x 6m) on the side walls here are two: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0092f452-8d4c-49d8-88f5-8402b7f0ae89/IMG_7288.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Reflections - Make it stand out This is the view landing in Bilbao showing elevation changes for the cycling portion of my Camino. Primitivo also contains challenging elevation changes. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-27-in-santiago-de-compostela monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/709666ed-e649-427d-a91b-693577859c9e/IMG_7272.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 27 in Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out Evening goodbye to Santiago Cathedral https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/975d6c89-238a-406a-ba2e-ac4550fa27dd/IMG_7278.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 27 in Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out Very long line for church service but I got into the 7 pm service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1d5dc731-0228-4f4a-a6e3-a45f22aeb6be/IMG_7244.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 27 in Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-26-to-santiago-de-compostela monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/089848ae-f229-4b04-838a-06a07bc93c52/IMG_7254.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out A great moment of triumph for both of us! We reminisced over the physical intensity of walking the Primitivo and debated comparisons of the efforts on the Frances (where we met on Day One at Albergue Borda two years ago, September 2021). Both Caminos were very different qualitatively, and had different ‘energy’ as Holger puts it but both still had the common thread of this thing called pilgrimage and the friendship embodied. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/52cd7b77-fb3b-4003-8dcc-34140ede4d3c/IMG_7229.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/7a77d0bf-e357-482d-bf56-5f1fe6a8aa2c/IMG_7242.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out A very emotional entrance to Santiago Plaza. I can’t begin to describe my feelings. there are simply aren’t words after my 3 1/2 week journey to describe reaching this moment. Yup it was tearful. A guy saw me fumbling with my phone, trying to take a selfie and graciously agreed to take this picture. He arrived yesterday, and somebody helped him with a picture and agreed. It was a very emotional arrival beyond words. Thank you, friend. Out of the blue as I wandered around dazed on this huge plaza, Ellen came up behind me, said hello, and we gave each other a hug. To see someone I knew at this endpoint was so awesome. Thank you Ellen! (Holger was in church service and yes he saw the ‘holy bim-bam swing!). She had to runoff and catch a bus for Finisterre and the ocean! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6dfc16ee-7ab7-45fd-8003-74e381cff909/IMG_7243.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out I have the same shot from two years ago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/cfb32cd6-6754-4aba-b36e-f34b7ca896b2/IMG_7238.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out At last! I know ‘I’ve got this’ from here but it was reallllllllyyyy slow going with my left ankle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/46dfec12-4f8b-4509-86ff-49d2dcbb882a/IMG_7247.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out As you can see, Spain offers many many routes, all leading to Santiago and for those wondering or asking will I come back and do it again -all I can say is I never did finish the Norte all the way to Santiago, did I? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5318fa34-0624-437c-92dd-5eb0f5424010/IMG_7246.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out And my Compostellae. I was offered, and also accepted a separate beautiful certificate of total mileage and documentation of partial completion of the Norte for future reference and continuation. My official mileage was 400 km on the Norte and 325 km, completing the Primitivo in its entirety from Oviedo (I think my cycling added up to a bit longer distance) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/af4deaaf-a619-4961-87c1-f454afa0f97c/IMG_7225.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 26 to Santiago de Compostela - Make it stand out Temperature was a wonderful 15°C only needed a T-shirt to start walking in today. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-25-to monthly 0.5 2023-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/55d015d2-0013-453b-91c9-02344aa4a6a6/IMG_7192.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 25 to O Pedouzo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/37bca360-39ed-4087-9259-de7d789c59b7/IMG_7186.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 25 to O Pedouzo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/37346fca-c893-4fa1-adb1-8335ec459164/IMG_7210.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 25 to O Pedouzo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fcbfc373-5fc1-4bbc-9b9a-050bebd47c29/IMG_7196.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 25 to O Pedouzo - Make it stand out Wall mural https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/28a263a1-1754-43ae-aab7-1ab59462972e/IMG_7197.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 25 to O Pedouzo - Make it stand out Vintage technology I like this one with an electric light. It has seen a few kilometers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9c1e74d6-e574-49c4-bb17-ed1b09d5c095/IMG_7216.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 25 to O Pedouzo - Make it stand out Everybody who knows me there knows there’s only one choice of flavor of gelato on earth that one should choose. This was the end of the evening https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/da6a5980-c988-420e-a5c1-bd4550af7848/IMG_7191.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 25 to O Pedouzo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-24-to monthly 0.5 2023-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/53705541-5487-4b10-b5ac-52843d648254/IMG_7180.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Most hostels and Albergues have a communal kitchen that pilgrims can cook meals either individually or more communally for a contributory joint effort group dinner. I have not chosen to participate in this for a variety of reasons, but it’s pretty cool that it’s common and people all chip in different things they either bought or having their backpacks to make a group dinner. Most interestingly pictured here is a dad and his two sons that are walking their first family Camino the boys are seven and twelve and I asked the dad from Australia about their Camino and he said they walk anywhere from 7 to 12 miles which is enough for the boys and it is achievable! 100 US miles in all. Wow what a life experience https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/da4d0a4d-6b61-417b-a302-18d66368d4dd/IMG_7163.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out My credential is getting filled up. I only have five remaining spots for stamps. You are supposed to obtain two per day to document your daily progress. Obviously the last one is the cathedral in Santiago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/316a27bf-9c2c-4071-a9d7-36642b2ee322/IMG_7171.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out I will miss these forests of such otherworldly dimensions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/92db1bed-4b52-4565-ab15-cd3dd0013d30/IMG_7148.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out This is the oldest stone cross in Galicia at the edge of town leaving Melide ***A cruceiro is a monument consisting of a stone cross on a pillar, built mainly at crossroads or next to churches. They can be seen throughout Galicia, but also in Portugal and other places in northern Spain. They are one of the most representative elements of the Galician landscape and were built as a means of protection for travellers on these roads in ancient times. There are currently more than 12,000 cruceiros (stone crosses) scattered throughout Galicia. As you know, I am always taking pictures of them when I come to a crossroad They are also closely linked to the legend of the Santa Compaña, a procession of souls in pain who wandered the roads at night. Those who encountered the Santa Compaña were captured to lead the parade of souls in pain. For protection, the safest way was to run to a cruceiro, where the souls had no power to capture you. History of the oldest cruceiro in Galicia The Cruceiro de Melide is considered the oldest in Galicia, it is Gothic in style and dates back to the 14th century. It is located in the heart of the town of Melide, next to the church of San Roque. The front of the cruceiro depicts a seated Christ in Majesty with wounds in his hands and a cloth covering his legs. On the reverse is a Calvary, a crucified Christ accompanied by the figures of Saint John and the Virgin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/7849195a-c406-4fa6-a767-cf37417d0432/IMG_7179.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ecccc193-01e6-4fd3-a0ae-296775b91b2a/IMG_7151.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/457f5635-8ad2-4faf-916d-55c22bc6a327/IMG_7165.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f67306ce-5679-4237-b611-f9f902e53ec0/IMG_7155.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out It is strange and wonderful to cross this bridge that I crossed two years ago in a land so far away, anyway, this bridge is exactly 50 km to go to Santiago believe it or not https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/13b2f048-421f-4366-819b-bb93494e6d4c/IMG_7169.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Here is a variation on the theme, left side bathtub size wash basin or you can water the pigs or cows on the right side is the water source or fountain for freshwater yes, it’s drinkable! Two years ago I happened upon acquaintance, Peregrina, Sylvia, getting her water and brushing her teeth. She was tent camping the whole Camino no formal accommodations whatsoever.! BELOW: another cool wall mural on a building done during the Jacobean year 2021 when I walked the Frances dedicated to the ‘special year’ pilgrimage of Camino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/acc67b7c-608f-48d0-a63e-b6bc2dd474ee/IMG_7153.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3c600d69-06a3-4525-92d7-0704bf69fd03/IMG_7162.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/334712b3-6408-45fd-b793-2a9d98765be7/IMG_7172.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/82bd7620-702d-4394-b215-c8796a5b1468/IMG_7174.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out So it was my turn to pick the lodging. This one looked good on the Internet but Holger disagrees and says “Tom this is the nightmare on Elm Street”. Cut me some slack. I pick one dud and you throw me under the bus of Freddie Krueger. The lentil soup was actually pretty good, and the ubiquitous baguette bread took up the slack in calorie fulfillment BELOW: Minimally every other day, first item on the agenda after checking in, is to get the laundry done. This is typical outdoor wash basin clothesline around the corner. I had six items to wash and onto the line they go. It’s typically a damp night so they will finish drying hanging on my backpack walking during the day, everybody does this (men and women, boys and girls ) it’s not one of my oddities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0e365861-999a-4a11-9ef3-fb60c0fecd36/IMG_7176.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3e8c75f5-8b17-4140-8632-553ce3415d75/IMG_7182.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Dinner company-Ladies from Italia ( 2 on first Caminos, 1 Camino continuation from one started years ago. - she’s absolutely thrilled to be completing it! ) Carson (self admitted 5 Camino addict) from Denmark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b952a498-3501-4ee4-830c-936ef9cf7bb8/IMG_7146.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Always a good reminder to look behind you when you’re walking forward to see what is happening. Holger reminded me to turn around and this is the ‘Wabana light’ - earliest light of the day as we left Melide! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9a30444c-ccfe-42af-b7a1-559669dc94e5/IMG_7178.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/59456664-749f-4ece-bd85-70b9306229c1/IMG_7160.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6a31ff42-0f6c-4e7c-ba31-d437ef92d167/IMG_7167.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 24 to Cruceiro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-23-to-melide monthly 0.5 2023-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/208d8875-1505-4448-b549-2de2722acf08/IMG_7123.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fd190c4c-f4be-4711-9735-c1440c649330/IMG_7131.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/56cbe3ce-4302-4612-b3dd-3df65eba0eb6/IMG_7126.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c9dd5d1b-cb3a-447c-bb28-4c0cf775d4f6/IMG_7158.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/8b623dd8-e276-4b51-a6c3-fea8f7609e0a/IMG_7125.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Many home gardeners grow the famous white bean for Galileo Zopa. Galician soup https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/872d5155-7d41-4e34-9fd1-632929b7ae94/IMG_7129.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6432325c-427b-46ae-b5ba-6c6c5766a39d/IMG_7132.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out These are the famous Padron peppers they’re cooked à la plancha (grilled) over high heat and salted absolutely fabulous, not spicy at all https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/682edc6f-e120-421b-bcb9-9a0e89e7c4b2/IMG_7138.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Yup,, another humongous long Roman bridge crossing back to our apartmentamento after a very mediocre paella dinner -but calories are calories. This on is a multi arch wonder with a modern redone surface with safe sides. Highlight of the day: surviving a very very long day of walking. Having enough food and water ( nuts and sardines ) “The danger of adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort” ~Paulo Coelho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5fda9a28-0014-44d5-bb33-d13685ab94ad/IMG_7116.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 23 to Melide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-22-to monthly 0.5 2023-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fef31355-3465-4b34-9911-a767f0767467/IMG_7081.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out After 10 km, this little tiny oasis with a picnic table and available ‘aseos’ ( restrooms) came at a good juncture. Holger and I were at a supermercado this morning right after they opened and loaded up with over a kilo of supplies; bread sardines, cheese, cured meat, mandarin orange, atun (tuna) chocolate and water, we could not have eaten out at the restaurant as well as we did right here Juliana (Sweden) was willing to walk with us and joined up and we had a great time for about 40 minutes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fa77074f-93a9-4b7f-b8c0-13287d050008/IMG_7065.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out There are a handful of nods to the Roman conquest and occupation, but only a few, likely for obvious reasons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/05ba408b-8ff8-4bd5-a5cc-45ca77a0182e/IMG_7068.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/36cdef32-4c7f-4d7d-b264-139a4c51cb55/IMG_7104.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out Our wine infused hypothesis is that the Wi-Fi is coming from this one. It comes and goes. What on earth would we do on Camino Primitivo without the Wi-Fi ‍ Oof dah https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0506683e-e4f8-4ed8-8b47-7fc05b2fa325/IMG_7095.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out The kilometers fly by when you are walking with new friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2b5eca0f-0fa0-40cb-9214-55dede6c601d/IMG_7066.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e1beb644-f0f2-4093-ade8-91bdd6bb53fe/IMG_7082.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c1d8979b-2bb2-42a5-bf8d-f83f0a8deb44/IMG_7097.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out Capella de San Ramao- don’t know the history maybe the altar image Locked as always dominate I snapped through the keyhole speaks for itself. The cementario was right there as well, and Spanish gravestones indicate total age years lived -different than America https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4735f697-93ab-4320-b04d-842335897951/IMG_7098.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3cecd1c8-5235-4f51-90ce-09249cfd5b63/IMG_7101.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out My closest friend in San Romoa today, . He is helping me to stay ‘in the flow’ and understand what ‘the flow’ really is all about..… thank you brother Herr Holger! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/eb85581d-f6f9-4357-b06d-2eeec714192e/IMG_7091.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out We all took selfies here it was such a beautiful inspired corner of the Camino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/26b5ca9a-985c-4a16-834c-fbd93e9aface/IMG_7067.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 22 to San Romao - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-21-to-lugo monthly 0.5 2023-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ff351c9a-56d9-4b81-a94f-22310a3145b5/IMG_7029.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out I am still astounded by the tens of thousands of kilometers of fence borders - materials pulled from clearing the fields over the eons. How many people does it take to lift each stone into position since these were all built before the advent of the internal combustion engine. Precision and care was employed always with attention to plumb lines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/31b6e1b8-c910-4ac0-a0d0-4976063bca1f/IMG_7015.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5a3602f9-aeb9-4992-892e-1c8001d26d35/IMG_7056.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/49746bcc-dbed-4bc6-a9de-b90b4db399c2/IMG_7045.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2e4a0827-de13-43ab-abef-67e06a9ebc80/IMG_7043.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b5a69768-899b-4841-9c58-95520001cf59/IMG_7024.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Beautiful new farmstead under development, newly landscaped, plowed, with a man-made lake in the middle, giving off the mist. Somebody’s giving it a go - looks like a new dairy farm in the middle of nowhere https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a7f66e04-ea63-400f-82e2-0808cba1ec45/IMG_7016.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0cd037dc-4330-482e-b316-991672f56357/IMG_7046.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0166b86b-8b03-493e-bf61-a1ec11dd6e47/IMG_7060.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/acd9e19f-6fdf-4bd4-a37e-6974bfd6fecf/IMG_7027.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d9a8850a-240e-48ee-8f6d-c996b858a772/IMG_7025.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/226dc848-2721-486c-9ab6-e11d948155c6/IMG_7031.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Here’s today’s after church family outing -pulling the potatoes. The tractor lifts them out of the soil shakes off the dirt they plop onto the ground and the rest of the family gather them up by the hundreds. Probably my highlight of the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2bc6f6f8-2ec6-43ff-b72c-0870c85e1063/IMG_7048.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5c3bb6bd-87c8-4e1f-a9d6-9b4188f1bf5f/IMG_7059.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Walking the Roman wall that in circles, the city was amazing, and most unfathomable, considering the number of slaves that it took to build it- Unbelievable! There are many access points from the street below to climb the roughly 7 to 9 m to get up to the height on top. Again the walls were built between 263 and 276 A.D. to defend the Roman town of Lucus Augusti(present-day Lugo) against local tribesmen and Germanic invaders BELOW The national beer company is ‘Estella’ commissions, many wall, murals throughout Spain and often on Camino, including the Français. I’ve seen some great ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2bcf865e-f979-49e4-8dba-0f801ad2dc49/IMG_7017.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b04dc8e2-1399-42af-b020-3ecebd4bb530/IMG_7037.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Finally, I arrive at the walled city. It was an easy walking day. I’m exhausted it was only 17 km. Again, the Roman walls stretch 2,120 metres (6,960 ft) around the Old Town. The fortifications, were built in the third century AD to defend the ancient Roman town of Lucus Augusti. The width of the walls is around 4.2 metres (14 ft) and their height varies between 8 metres (26 ft) and 12 metres (39 ft). The walls consist of internal and external stone facing with a core of earth mixed with gravel, pebbles and worked Roman stone recycled from demolished buildings, cemented with water. During the Middle Ages pilgrims passed through the gates of the Lugo walls, particularly Porta Miña, on their way to Santiago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/8b0ca233-6250-4f29-abeb-22024c16e80a/IMG_7040.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/dd8c7b81-db0a-4a50-8664-ef7b88152b7b/IMG_7019.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2d6feeb1-ee9e-4a18-a411-d73bdb1d0170/IMG_7018.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 21 to Lugo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-20-to-vilar-de-cas monthly 0.5 2023-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/20fc0f94-44f1-4a96-8990-0c0cf4d6996e/IMG_6982.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/016ec302-528b-47e1-9354-a41613b22fb9/IMG_6948.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out My first greeting of the morning. I love you too.! up and over that hill and then short level stretch, then downhill until destination https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c5c1a09a-08ee-483c-a442-f6eeb3f10a45/IMG_6994.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6f4c6569-7a9a-4cdd-af3e-27304c198918/IMG_6984.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out This is a communal kitchen if the pilgrims wanna prepare their own meal, which is a wonderful concept in itself, there is also a tambourine, ukulele and guitar( which I tuned on the wall behind me) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/536c4607-4a55-4384-9935-54b1b85dad1d/IMG_6983.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2160cc07-ff1d-43f5-af96-a21520dde93d/IMG_6963.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b3076288-5394-4160-aabc-93a4fb665c2e/IMG_6952.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/0e786436-9b80-4486-a3f6-75d773e1b539/IMG_6982.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out One of many common community areas to journal and chill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/353b2f60-0dde-43c3-983c-1e01676ece60/IMG_7003.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3c9b83bf-2378-4ff8-95cf-15bc6a1f8839/IMG_6985.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b2f3e0e5-ca5e-43f5-8d10-8b2c24f39f7d/IMG_6974.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/69074d33-d45e-44ea-ac5b-e9843204c43a/IMG_7010.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4c218507-6ced-4379-9f5c-b488b50908d3/IMG_6957.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5fab45ed-dc37-4d4e-8ac7-7f41e5bd0555/IMG_6956.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f3e5c7ab-e6c7-4fcd-b65c-e38a031c623d/IMG_6962.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/612e8738-7471-48c2-83ce-8c6a979e069d/IMG_6953.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out I’m on the level and yes my destinations out there down lower. It turned out to be a very good day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e240270b-b53b-480f-92ee-529281b79d0c/IMG_6976.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b2a79486-b8a1-4105-b210-f6102e124730/IMG_6960.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out This church had flying buttresses to support the interior arches, which naturally have an enormous amount of weight, pushing on the outside walls This was a good one. I had my moments of silence here (most come in for their stamp, in and out and move on like a tourist attraction to me they’re always more than that) I really did not understand the altars as much as I tried to decipher the message. Interesting but I gave up I post the details. (NOTE: I don’t think Eaglebrook will do this altar anytime soon even if it lasted for 300 years ! Details are lengthy but relevant-Skip over them as you wish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/88276e8e-d7dc-4fbb-a1a9-0481e168df87/IMG_6988.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out So this was a First for me -Walter offered for me to put my laundry, dirty that is, in with theirs- theirs being multiple people of both genders I paid for it and it was awesome. I didn’t have to hand wash- it’s all on the line. As I state before I meet the most amazing people in the hostels- rarely when I get a private room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/acb70c75-033c-4335-8470-6dad172cff22/IMG_7011.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9e92792e-a11d-462a-b788-10d480be0f5b/IMG_6959.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 20 to Vilar de Cas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-19-to monthly 0.5 2023-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/68d24bdd-50ea-420f-b256-4c322127825a/IMG_6918.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out Today we lived in the clouds as you can see. In the distance it’s cloudy, and if you look carefully, you can see heavy, downpours those moved in and out of our life, most of the morning and part of the afternoon. At the first Apex or pass, we came across this little chapel, unfortunately locked so we couldn’t get it I think the reason is the powers to be don’t want any camping or vandalism or worse. Sad and unfortunate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5e97889a-1d06-44f5-be85-b071e2dc5610/IMG_6927.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out Sun came out …. For like 10 minutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/dbd6a915-62a7-4124-85a0-b08dd535c6d0/IMG_6924.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out Besides dahlias, Spain, kind of has the hydrangea thing nailed . We will never catch up in America. They’re the most beautiful I’ve seen, and they’re the size of a volleyball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ab55c2ad-c2b3-4192-b05a-4477ae8c2a44/IMG_6917.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out I think if you look at the background, you can see that it is raining rather intentionally, what you can’t see or feel is the 15 knot wind. Of course I always look inside to see what’s going on and there was good old Santiago standing guard wishing me “Ultreia!” - press on -don’t give up is what that word means https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ac6d1e30-d0d6-4e1c-812d-76f2b03db079/IMG_6920.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out My good friend Cornel from deutschland. I tell him about RAGBRAI. He’s considering it for next year. Wow he’s also a unbelievable photographer taking pictures of just about everything. He shared with me some of his future plans. I can’t wait to hear about which direction he’ll go. Maybe he decides over the winter. These are friendships to be valued and continued I guess via email for now https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4ede34c2-25d8-4105-88e3-2a6682f8f554/IMG_6922.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out This is the bar at the bottom of the big hill that saved my life. They were very disorganized and many walkers moved onto the next town wherever that is, I stayed. Holger was leaving, but I got an omelette which is basically cooked egg with nothing inside and a bocadillo -, which is a giant baguette with ham and cheese and then I got a café con Leche . Note: I supersized everything I told the owner make everything Gigante!!! I kid you not those calories saved me today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/14dcde13-7e16-4777-8c35-aa7da24bdb61/IMG_6938.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out You can see the elevation changes as well as the physical map. We enter from the right and move to the left to today’s town. Today believe it or not it was 1000 m of vertical and 1000 m of descent Oofdah over a seven hour day. The initial elevation increase was actually pretty brutal on top of that steady rain 15 knot wind which created a windchill and how do you spell mud management?! And fun! I think Santiago in James one says it best: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/018c7f47-783a-461f-9d8b-91f9c54b6105/IMG_6914.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fb485d0c-ddfe-4a54-9948-e22f574c22e5/IMG_6937.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out M & M s. = mud management system required https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/68dbd04e-e74c-40ed-a980-a5ba56d7043b/IMG_6935.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 19 to O Cadavo - Make it stand out Walking the dream ! Thank you to mi espousa for blessing me to do this https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-to-fonsagrada monthly 0.5 2023-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/35865938-2d92-457e-b182-8b50028316a7/IMG_6900.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/580835f4-fb3f-4f2d-96df-be93dae32f20/IMG_6903.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5a49cf54-9968-4a22-a651-0ecfc56f6da6/IMG_1014.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f5c581cc-03b7-452d-8728-0de3b834e8ae/IMG_1240.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out Credits for this picture are given to Herr Holger with his current model iPhone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/57990ff0-68a6-43dc-a4fe-5ce5e1b97069/IMG_6899.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out Surprisingly long but gentle up hill climb to the wind turbines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/706294cd-b177-43d0-a380-cd23ca17a05a/IMG_6892.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out Another wow start to our day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6c0586fb-3bdd-4c34-978b-b15e5d65aeb8/IMG_6898.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/680c2c1d-937c-4b1c-89a0-1e78c8c0f18e/IMG_6894.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 18 To Fonsagrada - Make it stand out New Camino friend Valerie from Quebec! https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-17 monthly 0.5 2023-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/84b1e86e-ed87-4796-9658-8e649964fee8/8f8d59fa-b347-4158-a391-7c8c01016dad.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out New friends were made today, Ellen (Manchester), Cali (UK) Holger, Walter (nederlands), yo, Steve (Butte Montana) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c566804a-e6c1-4e86-8763-5c7bfc131f68/IMG_6875.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out A tree that was born before the start of the century survived two world wars and the Spanish revolution! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4747c91d-64dc-4a05-acdf-008e1e685fd3/IMG_6885.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out Around the bar and getting our cello stamp for our pilgrim passports after dinner. Proprietors Sean (Ireland) and Meinhardt (South Africa) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/cf4f229e-1803-4c8c-84bf-14e9980ae6b9/IMG_6874.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out So we came down that whole other side of the mountain had to go around the reservoir and off to this other side- it took four hours. It was interesting and contemplative. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d9dce9bf-b2ff-4608-ba4e-0b5af5a325a9/IMG_6872.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out These memorials show up every other day or thereabouts. They are sad to pass by. This young lady Paula evidently passed away before midnight June 2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2bc21d1e-b457-458a-a088-919a4649fe0c/IMG_6881.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out At last some level ground after a Very Long slog-so very nice very beautiful more climbing tomorrow! But a few more paces to what turned out to be fabulous lodging! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1a0e9bbd-c094-4fdb-80ea-986495c65051/IMG_6865.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b90ba5d4-400d-4afe-bff2-df0eeb98877c/IMG_6867.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/afcf44ab-a098-4f6d-93c1-a127a55c9ff1/IMG_6866.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out Beautiful ’sidewalk’ watch your step.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/bc966448-d668-4a68-9727-292657ead56c/IMG_6887.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out Painting in the bar in restaurante Polavila at Sean & Meinhardts Highlight of the day: the ‘ refugio’ of Sean & Meinhardts accommodations at San Julian. I really hope to return and stay for 2 days next time. Thank you for your gift of hospitality! “I am all that I have always longed to be when walking..." ~anonymous https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/cd30902a-08a4-46ea-b714-b79a82512d92/IMG_6871.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/450ec953-b295-4acb-b623-f2adcf2edad4/IMG_6889.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro - Make it stand out San Julian Apartmento. Sean and his partner Meinhardt have created a real paradise in the little hamlet of Saint Julian. The restoration of the farmstead was just fabulous! Restoration was completed early in 2019 (April or May) and then Covid blew up in the world! Sadly, Sean had a heart attack that same summer, but has recovered nicely. They’re in is a real labor of love. They both work the kitchen, and are gourmet all the way right down the homemade jams and jellies from fruit in their Orchard.. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-16-to-berducedo monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b66bf8f5-8bc4-4c03-8281-43f7d39f73d1/IMG_6832.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out This meadow was rather busy as we passed thru…their turf! These are wild horses https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/e7ddc0d8-2ecb-49a1-b972-eafc511f4e04/IMG_6835.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/118ff705-4cb6-4156-8e3e-ff53fc9280ad/IMG_6852.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Once at the Albergue in Aldea la Mesa, everyone worked equally hard to relax and unwind. The shoes come off first ! It was a difficult day for all… plenty of satisfaction to go around, during happy hour; Gin, Vino, or Cervesa - or a combination thereof! Everyone was rather, tired at this point - blessed again with awesome weather 22C and sunny https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6183c352-71ac-4bac-8c18-e0fd63cf2e97/IMG_6847.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Mary no worse for the wear… she is in very very good physical condition ! A solo Peregrina en bici at that ! Inspiring ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/8c9c5eb8-6fe8-4e0e-99e9-f4f4d902b60f/IMG_6858.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Yo, Stefan (deutschland), Holger, Tania (Mexico) at another wonderful Albergue near Grandas de Salime. We all share the joy of Camino without a care in the world - cherishing the moment is the modus operandi. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/79f0889c-e9df-4529-ac1b-2c87e1ac9ca6/IMG_6862.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Map shows common Etapas (stages). Most towns were our daily overnights as well ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d75f5f45-3197-42dc-8ead-c58b628473f5/IMG_6801.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Last chance to decide which route to take https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d43398f8-ed30-478a-b251-eaf9e2925087/IMG_6824.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Just incredible to be at a sub alpine level and such an elevation on a day like this. We heard the days leading up to our day and those days after were not very weather conducive to these panoramic views https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/126dcb21-96fc-4013-a6f7-603cdc0d111e/IMG_6807.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a0269fd3-1bb5-4164-94b9-aa79682e184e/IMG_6855.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/88279d89-137c-4b49-8ec3-d1459d1b0f95/IMG_1143.JPG Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Glad to be off bicycle……good luck, Mary ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/13f61806-6c78-45c2-aee8-0dc7d9ef186c/IMG_6808.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/50914f09-1a95-4ea4-a6bd-533e099bac93/IMG_6838.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out We had a nice lunch off to the side here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/35754adb-8d4d-48b1-aae8-903ac1cba783/IMG_6806.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d4974478-283b-44e6-bac9-f36bd05a63df/IMG_6805.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Morning ‘Wabana’ light was stunning today. We started in that valley yonder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/39e8dac1-d354-4c7d-8d04-df2eb0199d36/IMG_6826.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a0dd3c1f-9afd-4f9f-800e-3a8727e375a3/IMG_1187.JPG Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Summit Success ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/da893c33-e5e2-4168-b4d5-32c9a9864948/IMG_6774.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out In this image, we start at the red arrow and head west, which is heading left on this graphic you can see the elevation change, and the two routes. We will attempt the Hospitales route versus the alternate one with all of the little towns. It is a long and un- supported stage- all are advised to bring enough water and food to get through an eight hour day. Consequently, we will have to set out as early as possible this morning, and hope for no fog during the start and no appearance of afternoon, rain or storms -as of now none are forecast. The route is named for the presence of three hospitals (ruins) that during the Middle Ages gave shelter or medical assistance to the pilgrims who had to take this path. Okay Hospitales-Let’s do this! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6473281b-602b-445e-8246-d42b2ad95277/IMG_6843.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ac140683-7a99-459b-9cc0-162fbef91ad9/IMG_6810.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Part of the ‘Why’ needing no explanation. This ultimately became my favorite picture of the entire Camino! from which I had a wall size canvas made https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/28d2a254-93b2-447c-a141-4f13f8c27f1e/IMG_6811.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6e4c1185-59b0-45d5-b92e-7bd5e65829ac/IMG_6842.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 16 to La Mesa - Make it stand out Now, descend the other side https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-15-to-campiello monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/7db575b3-29bc-4a3b-b395-d9495925e463/IMG_6789.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 15 to Campiello - Make it stand out The grade was modest, but it was steady for the first half of the day all the way to the pass https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fa5b9297-0eea-4e27-aa19-49b3dc30f51b/IMG_6785.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 15 to Campiello - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/baff36af-1e65-49ba-960d-3006dc206d95/IMG_6786.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 15 to Campiello - Make it stand out Interestingly, many of the walkers blazed by some of the amazing vistas -expediency over contemplation I found that juxtaposition odd and wondered what they are missing by walking so quickly - and missing out on gratitude moments in God’s creation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/a8f37ef4-ea4e-4e30-a76f-cca2a8db31f4/IMG_1074.JPG Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 15 to Campiello - Make it stand out Much of the Camino is on private property with ‘right of way’ given through the countryside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/115bd5e8-c044-4917-bb64-37a634d1a12b/IMG_6795.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 15 to Campiello - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/15a97fb6-0c30-4890-beec-f66e8cb3bd09/IMG_6790.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 15 to Campiello - Make it stand out The morning light today in this and preceding images was just spectacular. I think most of the foliage has a sheen of water from the overnight rain, which magnifies and saturates the colors. https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-14-to monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ef727be6-5c6f-411f-a10c-6ec4f644516d/IMG_6744.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9dd7b926-4c53-4bf5-a6da-4210f68d591a/IMG_1056.JPG Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b871f53e-5d15-4cd4-9536-68df72bb9798/IMG_6752.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/17ac70a3-47e8-4ed3-be50-b3cd48e716fd/IMG_6761.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Roadside Capella https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2ce4ac24-7d88-4b44-b2e9-f03d62dceb0a/IMG_6769.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d78b2bb0-a3f0-4fb0-aeb1-a1c805ba0df5/IMG_6762.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out I can relive sections like this in my mind for years to come. While the km flew by, I willed them to slowly pass in my mind https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/600f950c-bc7c-4bf5-9bc2-c90d5dbc8f59/IMG_1063.JPG Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/60d20594-13f5-44fe-84d8-8c983fd957ca/IMG_6781.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c538a5d4-5879-4cfc-b328-e1d65b822f24/IMG_6771.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Yet more moments I’d like to last forever. Imagery like this will keep me want to return again on Camino https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/eb4c9a88-f241-4525-8e83-99dd316f4699/IMG_6759.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Ancient path https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ea5c8660-6454-4908-a307-867ccf82ac62/IMG_6763.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Herr Holger back in the ‘flow’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b599feb9-1bc1-442c-b471-4cec00d49ce2/IMG_6754.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3451465a-e5e3-49f6-a03b-ebaf40d74048/IMG_6755.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 14 to Tineo - Make it stand out Next Camino I will opt for ‘high-top’ trail runner footwear to lessen likelihood of ankle sprain https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-13 monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c215f4d6-7e91-484e-9453-c7ceb31080fa/IMG_6742.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Beautiful hórreo restored as a bunkhouse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/f953b1b7-b78c-4779-bd4f-6ddf6683dd87/IMG_6740.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Daily laundry done here hand washed in bathroom shower area https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ea8de308-72b5-41e7-9604-28114d9e6c25/IMG_6738.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Tired hombre, still an hour to go with thunder off in the distance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9f79d4a1-a258-4d31-9497-ae1cc32b849e/IMG_1025.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Camino wisdom of the day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/5c924a97-930e-4bbf-a2e4-a325b3a0f292/IMG_1040.JPG Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Dinner here all tables filled with peregrinos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/84c6a149-7c3b-4d17-ab2e-487df95a1641/IMG_6741.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Many common areas to chill, relax, journal and chat with fellow pilgrims https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2e293b60-a317-46ac-80da-bde5234d1e18/IMG_6731.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Don’t know them but I like the picture and the fact they are hiking as a couple I see a pair of mountain bike tracks! Even if ebikes it is a non tenable situation to ride this trail- miserably bumpy stony rocky… slick mud / just plain dangerous. Buena suerte ciclistas, Buen suerte https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b4fa4392-9e2e-428b-a8f3-3381ec1b7093/IMG_6736.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out 267 km to go, about 12-13 days. At this point I believe I can manage the 13-15 mile days to get to the goal line. I am clearly ‘concerned’ about my legs and ankles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/44949d6a-45e2-44de-92f2-b749f64501d8/IMG_6734.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4e7ab62e-578a-4dee-8fc4-34aaa570094f/IMG_6739.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Home sweet home for the nite at Salas, showered, laundry done (2 items) siesta. What a great beautifully remodeled farm / hostel. The group fixed plate- one option- pilgrim meal dinner was outstanding! I had a kale like lentil soup and bread (stomach still not 100%) followed by chicken cutlets ( all I could smell upstairs during siesta was garlic -yay ! My postre choice was yogurt (for medicinal reasons) This was the best Albergue I’ve ever stayed in thus far - see web link to get an idea of layout - lafigaldexugabolos.es https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b140eb03-3759-4f4b-bab5-149bace6b864/IMG_1043.JPG Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Outdoor lounge was magnificent ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d0a1c3df-cbb9-400b-90c6-40f0d313f4ea/IMG_6727.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 13 to ‎⁨Salas - Make it stand out Epic Asturian countryside is absolutely as beautiful as promoted. Other than the Pyrenees on the Frances we believe our ruta is more challenging physically due to the climbing, but thankfully of shorter (2 week) duration. For those of you without the luxury of a month long Camino the Primitivo is a great one! https://www.livealagom.life/camino-primitivo-2023/day-12-el-primitivo monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/c2109ff7-48eb-4855-9793-6d82305a66d1/IMG_6696.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Pipes - still can’t find anyone to play Bach toccata and fugue in D minor. O snap ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/bbf05b63-6c6b-494d-872b-8e564f29e443/IMG_6713.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Beautiful walking together beating the weather - rain clouds which tend to form mid afternoon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fb05dd73-62d2-437c-92f1-fac2f3451a02/IMG_6724.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Fall roses in Espana https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/fe3766e0-7fdf-409d-a73e-d1a5808c1346/IMG_6708.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Back on track ( no intentional cheat kilometers ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/ff5c2757-657e-4d23-a283-4501f17fb9c2/IMG_6698.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/37df1513-9687-4107-bfce-8d589ddf224e/IMG_6725.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/15c605a5-028a-4c98-b6a4-3c5614ca1665/IMG_6691.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Altar in Cathedral Oviedo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/6b7f8dc3-0c4c-43b6-9b5a-583d7daac5ac/IMG_6710.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Capellini de Santa Carmen where we got our second sello / stamp of the Primitvo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2136cdf6-f052-441f-a7f3-3f2654ef22ed/IMG_6719.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out I want this jersey bad! (I found it in a bike shop store in Santiago and bought one. I’m thrilled) My biking friend Antonio is 71 anos de edad. we compared notes in the morning about our aches and pains he can no longer walk long distances due to his back. Kind of sounds like me. He has ridden 7000 km YTD! A good justification for the use of an electric bike his day today will be 71 km. Ours will be in the neighborhood of 20 to 22 max. ( I have a 15 mile maximum daily limit right now until my body adjust, but even at 15 that gets me to the finish line on schedule.). Antonio (and friend) bike all over most of the year - what a great retirement and how fortunate to simple live on Camino on a bicycle, albergue to albergue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/b6872e46-5c41-422a-b93e-6283b59c2ba1/IMG_6716.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out This ancient chestnut tree still had some life left in it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/d72cbd1c-6451-43a2-ac63-f674e7302c24/IMG_6714.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Way marker. The rays of the shell all converge pointing west -the direction we head https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/9cb1e5a7-b09b-459e-be30-8131262a38e9/IMG_6694.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out The image of El Salvador (The Saviour), who the Cathedral is named after, is a 13th century polychrome stone sculpture that has characteristics of the transitional style from Romanesque to Gothic. The image represents Christ the Redeemer blessing with his right hand and with the left he is holding the cosmic orb, symbol of his omnipotence in the Universe. It is an image of special devotion for the pilgrims following the "Way of Saint James", a trail that starts in Oviedo and ends at the Apostle's tomb. King Alfonso lI, The chaste, was purportedly the first person to trek it. The "Original Way" starts at the Cathedral, but it also a pilgrimage destination, as a result of the remarkable relics that are conserved in the Holy Chamber. (This statue was the single item I found most interesting in the cathedral beside the organ of course). I found it a moving sculpture Those pilgrims who visit this cathedral keep in mind a fragment of a French song that says: "Whoever goes to Santiago and not to the Saviour visits the servant and forgets the Lord." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/2e56ef13-afa8-4814-8c9a-2401769022be/IMG_6693.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out El Salvador at Oviedo Cathedral https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/88c3170f-ae18-4903-b054-7b3c8a5426a3/IMG_6701.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Well, we got off to a colorful start walking actually back north somehow. Unintentional Camino variant we named Nora y Carmen (with assistance by Jaime Tesla taxi driver). Yup we got a wee bit lost but got dropped off by taxi back on Camino route roughly where we should have been initially to minimize (cheat) kilometers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/da505e04-6a16-4a21-ba82-20dd8271c24a/IMG_6717.jpeg Camino Primitivo 2023 - Day 12 el Primitivo Oviedo to ‎⁨Las Regueras⁩ - Make it stand out Our Albergue 24€ a nite. Maybe 15 people staying overnight. This was a great stay with a wonderful meal in their improv restaurant https://www.livealagom.life/home daily 1.0 2025-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631377079725-75VQXS1FMATMBS4SDAEN/public.jpeg https://www.livealagom.life/maps daily 0.75 2023-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/4bf4b2fa-10d0-4d69-87ba-7d19d8a715ac/Camino+Routes.gif https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/3e83eb32-7e0c-4234-a1b2-171a3761695f/Spain+Northern+Autonomous+Regions.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1e5ddf75-6cac-44a7-8c89-3b423500f8d4/Norte+Camino.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/dd71f0b4-f600-4490-ad00-9a4aac634830/Primitivo+Camino.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611aec4f3afd170e50d3052b/1631591224665-U2RG9UY0IHFCNX9NDHZ1/public.jpeg 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