"If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk." Raymond Inmon
Friday, September 24, STAGE 29
Sarria to Portomarín
Team North America at the 100 km marker!
We are only 60 miles from Santiago de Compostela now but because the Camino's rules state that you have completed the Camino if you can prove you travelled just these last 100 km either on foot, on a bike or by horseback, the path has a lot of new faces.
Fortunately for us, the light drizzle has kept a lot of newbies from starting today's Stage just yet in such awful conditions.
Jean Claude from France
Jean Claude has been travelling with us for weeks and sets a very fast pace indeed.
Our first donkey sighting
Ste. Jillian walking solo for a bit
The road can be rocky at times
Gallego for
Year of Santiago 2010 the Holy Year
Definitely not a Roman Bridge
Our albergue in Portomarín for the night is that first white building on the far side left of this bridge.
Queso de Tetilla
I wonder why they call it Tetilla? It was expensive but really good.
How did they carve these
so well 600 years ago?
You might want to say a prayer to her
for your favorite team this weekend
Portomarín's Church Tower
Ste. Julie's backpack is
a bit bigger than mine
Saturday, September 25, STAGE 30
Portomarín to Palas de Rei
Mexico again?
Corn Storage Sheds
These are all over Galicia and remember, corn is grown mainly to feed the animals.
Camelia
Lots of roosters
All the hens were in another pen.
Working cowboys not peregrinos
Pulpo
Galícia is reknowned for their octopus so we had to order some. In a garlic sauce, it was amazingly good!
Estrella Galícia
This is where they draw those great ice cold cañas, I want one of these for the house.
Ste. Jillian and Ste. Trine
Ste. Jillian is still licking her fingers because of the pulpo's sauce.
Propane is THE power source in Galícia
The Clam Shell and the Cross of Santiago
Madonna and Child, a favorite in these parts
Palas de Rei Bell Tower
Sunday, September 26, STAGE 31
Palas de Rei to Ribadiso
Just in case you can't make it to
your next albergue on your own
Team Oregon
Evan, Anna and Keeley
They went to high school together in Portland and have all just graduated from colleges in the east or midwest. Their high energy gave me a lot of animos throughout our days on the Camino, great young ladies.
A unique arrow
How many bridges did the
Romans build in España?
Festa in Melide
Cream filled, chocolate dipped churros, what's not to like about these?
The aromas were overpowering
A butcher selling pig's feet. . .
. . . and pig's faces
As I was told, marinate these in salt water for two days and then cook it any way you want. . . DELICIOUS!
Ste. Julie and Ste. Jillian
blazing the way
Fording a treacherous river
Now that's a GREAT
dangerous dog warning tile!
This stream runs about 30 meters
from my bed in tonight's albergue
Is she bowling?
The zummo machine in the background dispenses the absolute best fresh squeezed orange juice.
Monday, September 27, STAGE 32
Ribadiso to Arca do Pino
I couldn't decide between this sunrise photo. . .
. . . and this one I took about ten minutes
later, so I posted both of them
Another great day for walking
Return Arrow
These blue arrows mark the way for peregrinos travelling back from Santiago de Compostela.
Casi
It means almost, but when you start to see these you still have a long way to go on the day's Stage.
Fuschia
The line up at our last albergue
We got there at about 12:15 but it didn't open until 1:oo p.m.
My blister that developed on
the 32nd day of the Camino
Free First Aid was just across the street
This was the seed that grew into my long, rambling "The Camino Provides" post.
Check out the eyes
Tuesday, September 28, STAGE 33
Arca do Pino to Santiago de Compostela
Now you can say "CASI"
Even the trees were aglow at our imminent
arrival in Santiago de Compostela
Camino Monument in San Marcos
Pope John Paul II came to
Santiago de Compostela once
That's great but how close are we?
4.7 km? That's all?
YAHOO!!!!
Our first sighting of one of the
Cathedral's towers in the distance
Talk about excited, the pace quickened and I might have even skipped a little.
We're close but that's not it
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
After 33 days of walking 798.6 km/496.2 miles and 192 hours and 31 minutes from St. Jean Pied-de-Port, France we made it!
Indescribable feeling!
A Close up of the Cathedral
Closer still
A tired peregrino
I know that we smell bad but please don't look at us that way as we enter the Cathedral for the Peregrino Mass
St. Hans from Holland would love
a shot at playing this organ!
The Main Altar
Ornamentation is the Rule of the Day
Santiago slaying some more Moors
The flowers are a clever attempt to cover this up but you can still see them oozing life if you look closely.
Gold, gold, gold. . .
Words for peregrinos to live by
as we wait to get our Compostelas
The Compostela is a certificate you are given if you can prove through the stamps in your Pilgrim's Passport that you have successfully travelled at least the last 100 km/60 miles of the Camino.
The priests entering the Cathedral
for today's Peregrino Mass
The incense is lit, start the thurber swinging!
Lots of emotional turmoil at this point as you realize that the Camino experience is finally over and you are much better because of it.
As I said, I like bell towers
Atlas
The Holy Door
It is only open in Holy Year's, i.e., when Santiago's Feast Day falls on a Sunday as happened this year. Entry here allows you to go behind the Santiago statue above the main altar and hug it, I opted for a hand on its back. However you touch/hug the Apostle's statue, it was time to give thanks for the influence that Abuelo, Abuela and Dad had on my life.
I hope to honor their memories through my actions for the rest of my days.
Now, THAT'S a guitar!!!
With Ste. Trine relaxed and ready for some vino tinto
So, let's go over some Camino facts before we close out this chapter of my life.
Total Days Walking the Camino, 33
Total Distance Walked, 798.6 km/496.2 miles
Total Time Walking, 192 hours and 31 minutes
Total Cost of 32 Nights in Albergues, 192 Euros
Average Daily Distance Walked, 24.2 km/
15.0 miles
Average Daily Time Walked, 5 hours and
50 minutes
Average Cost of a Night in an Albergue,
6 Euros
Shortest Distance Walked, Stage 20, Mansilla de las Mulas to León, 18.6 km/11.6 miles
Shortest Time Walked, Stage 20,
Mansilla de las Mulas to León, 4 hours and 06 minutes
Longest Distance Walked, Stage 26, Villafranca del Bierzo to O'Cebreiro,
30.9 km/19.2 miles
Longest Time Walked, Stage 1, St. Jean Pied-de-Port, France to Roncesvalles, Spain,
8 hours and 55 minutes
In closing, you now have my Camino experience in both words and pictures. Thank you for following along with my adventure and giving me so much encouragement via e-mails and blog comments.
A huge thank you to all of the people I met on the Camino that gave me animos, smiles and laughter.
But most of all, thank you to my Camino family. . .
TEAM NORTH AMERICA ROCKS!!!
5 comments:
Coach, great blog really loved the picture, too. Camino Buddies has a link to your site. Buen Camino
I'm a friend of Jillian's, who pointed me over to your blog so I could see the narrative of the trip. Your pics are beautiful, and the trip seems inspiring. Jill speaks highly of you, and I'm glad she found such a steadfast friend during this once-in-a-lifetime trip. :)
Congratulations George. We've really enjoyed following your journey, and it sounds as though it was a wonderful experience for you. Glad you got back home safe to Laurie :-)
Thanks to your wonderful narrative and amazing pictures, I have enjoyed my vicarious journey along the Camino de Santiago. So much so, that I seemed to feel a small part of the emotion that you undoubtedly felt as you came in sight of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Wow!!!
Bravo San Jorge.....BRAVO!!!!!
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