Blogs from Fisterra, Galicia, Spain, Europe

THE LAST HUNDRED KILOMETERS I must apologize. I mix kilometers with miles, indiscriminately in this accounting of our walk to Santiago, Spain. Lauren took special interest in the signposts along the way, in kilometers, as they marked our progress. When we reached Sarria, we expected to encounter many more pilgrims because if you walk from here, the last 100 kilometers, you get the same certificate of completion as those of us who walked the 500 miles from St Jean Pied de Port. I was relieved to discover that after the first few days the trail really wasn’t that congested (especially since we were still starting very early in the morning). A few cafes were really hammered by large groups of people, but we tried to keep a pleasant demeanor and remember that everyone walking the Camino ... read more

3 October 2016, Cee to Fisterre, Monday, Day 4. Hotel Larry to Hotel Rustico Prado da Vine. 16.88 miles We awake to a beautiful day. Pepe. the proprietor at Hotel Larry, serves up a very satisfying omelette to fuel us on our way. We meet his daughter who is now manning the reception desk. We figure it is her husband that checked us in the previous night. We are told there is a grandchild and he is being taken care of by Daddy. We find our way back to the water's edge, passing through a large park with interesting nautical sculpture. And who should appear but the two Lindas striding off to our side. One of the duo has done this portion of the Camino before in the spring of this year. The guide sheets we ... read more

1 October 2016, Saturday, day 2 from Santiago de Compostela to Cape Finisterre, Negreira to Olveiroa. 22.7 miles. It was a foggy morning as Jo and I set out for this very long day of walking. Leaving Negreira, we passed a statue of a woman and oxen in the center of town and followed the main road to the walls and city gate, then over a stone bridge. Another statue near the city wall had interesting figures on two sides of a wall. I would like to know the artist's message of the man with hobo bag on stick walking away with a blanket at his feet and a young boy tugging at his pant leg through the window in the wall. The other side of the wall shows the back of the boy and a ... read more

This was a day that included most everything. I got to sleep in as I was only walking 14k today. I went half way to Muxia (Martin Sheen's ending in The Way where he comes to the ocean) to Lires.Just for background - Muxia is also supposedly where the "vrigin Mary" can ashore to meet John I think it was to provide him encouragement. I am not sure as I have heard some conflicting stories. So the day started well - with an easy morning and then a wonderful farewell breakfast with friends. We went to this awesome cafe where the dear fraulein fixed me a real German brutwerst for breakfast. It was amazing. Of course breakfast had to end and bittersweet goodbyes ensued. I was heading out for Muxia. My dear Camino Angels (Chanelle and ... read more

Thursday was a totally chilled day. We did very little. We went on the beach, had a paddle walking along (so did the dogs) and walked to the small village of Louro and back (not far). Unfortunately we didn´t take the camera with us and the beach scenery is quite dramatic here. We shall be walking this way again so there will be other opportunities to photograph the beaches (but we might not have the sunshine that we had on Thursday). Late afternoon we went in to the town of Muros (our campsite is between Louro and Muros), found an Eroski supermarket and stocked up. Apart from these two little excursions we did nothing else, just lounged in the sunshine and enjoyed the day. Glorious! Galicia is renowned for its changeable climate! Yesterday, we woke up ... read more