Blogs from Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain, Europe - page 8

What can you do when it is raining and you are on holiday? Today we are going to find out. We have been blessed with great, dry weather for the three BBA’s so far and it has always seemed disappointing when one morning we wake up and it’s raining and the forecast says 90% chance of rain for most of the day. At home we would stay in bed longer, as long as it wasn’t a work day, and read the newspaper more extensively than we usually have time for. But we haven’t found an English newspaper on this journey so far. Rain always means though that it is a good time to catch up on the administrative chores and the washing bag was full of clothes to be given the once over in the washing ... read more

13 October 2015, Tuesday Stage 37. A Rua to Santiago de Compostela. We arrive in Santiago de Compostela GPS: 13.22 miles. 5 hours 8 minutes moving. Left Hotel O Pino at 0856. Arrived the cathedral in Santiago at 1620. Then spent 90 minutes in the line to get our official Compostela. Get to our lovely Hotel Pazo do Altamira at 1830. Fitbit: 14.29 miles, 32,712 Steps, 129 Stairs/floors DEDICATION: For those who have followed all, or some, of the stages of our blog, we would like you to know this idea of recording our camino came as we want our two grand-daughters to know adventures, or caminos, can happen at all stages of life. May their own caminos be rewarding and fruitful. God bless both of them. O 'Pino hotel had a nice hot breakfast buffet ... read more

October 6,2015 The morning started off with a heavy drizzle. It rained off and on all morning and let up in the afternoon. Don't we look pretty in our blue rain gear. The trail was for the most part in groves of trees until we reached the airport where we had to circle round the airport. Again we had some grapes, walnuts and chestnuts from the overhangs on the roadside. This day was 28 km as we wanted to get closer to Santiago to shorten tomorrow. Tomorrow is a small 11 km so we will be in Santiago in good time for the noon mass... read more

October 4,2015 Wet to our bones! Even the ant in the picture doesn't like it. Welcome to Galicia which is known to give rain more often. I do have to give thanks that we have only had 3 days of rain, 2 difficult. Today's travel was from Portomarin to Palas de Rei. The path was good in that it was not as challenging as a lot of them having a sand/gravel base. Unfortunately it was raining for most of the 4 hours on the trail. Early on it was only misting with lots of fog but it didn't take long to soak us. Some of the trail was sheltered with trees but more of the trail was open allowing the wind and rain to get to our bones. It is now 9pm and our shoes are ... read more

The Productive Learning workshop officially wrapped up last night so today is a free day. We slept in till 8:00 when Gary got up to go to the official "office of pilgrims" to get his certificate of completion. To get the certificate a walker must collect evidence, in the form of decorative ink stamps at cafes and hotels along the way, of having walked 100 km. Bicyclists must show 200 km, and horse riders 300 km. (We were passed by many cyclists but did not see any horse riders till a group came into Santiago yesterday.) By getting to the office when it opens at 8:00 Gary hoped to avoid the long lines, which reportedly reach 2-3 hours long as new pilgrims arrive. Surprise, the office chose to open at 9:00 this morning only, so Gary ... read more