Today we pushed on through pouring rain, other types of rain, hail, winds, and sun, in order to meet 2 Internet forum friends in Santiago.   We followed the sidewalk shells into Santiago de Compostela… Up to the cathedral… Then we had 20 minutes to check into Hospedaria San Martin Pinario,  peel off sodden clothes…

Today I decided to try eating a big breakfast to fuel me better for a long day of walking. However MB had her usual small breakfast and had to stop to eat anyway, so I ate at all those stops too. Springtime is nice for the baby animals we see. I’ve not bored you with…

The distance was officially 27.5 km but we did quite a tour of Melide before settling in to the Hotel Xaneiro. The conditions underfoot and the weather were easier today. except for a few patches… More typical Galician scenery… Lil a candle in the church in Palas de Rei… Looked back to see a school…

For a few days, we have been a little dismayed by how long it takes us to walk 15 km these days! We are zigzagging constantly to avoid running water and mud on the path and we need to stop for lengthy discussions of things we see. Furthermore the weather is capricious and MB (who…

A good walk up, down, along Galicia roads through settlements that are not really villages. Approaching Barbados,  I told MB that last year an old fellow was waiting to offer an visit to the nearby 9th century church. Sure enough, there he was waiting in his car at the turnoff. We stalled a little, reading…

Another day started wet. All streams are running full and water seeps from the hillsides. After rejoining the regular Camino Frances from the Samos route,” we can admire new Galician markers which show the distance remaining before Santiago – to the metre! We make it a short day, stopping in Sarria to do laundry. Stayed…

After a night of wind and lashing rain, we faced a morning of wind and lashing rain. As we walk, we dawdle a lot – putting on clothes, taking them off, stopping to look at interesting things. We realize what modern urban creatures we are, as we try to figure out this different setting. Every…

Drums, horns and clackers woke us at 6 a.m. to get ready for Good Friday. Very dismal sounds.  On the street before 9 a.m. the penitents assembled. The procession began… The slow motion of the floats is dramatic and dreadful. (Sorry, I can’t seem to upload my video!) Resuming our own pilgrimage, we eventually left…