Misc Camino Stuff

Note:  The entire set of Camino pictures are spread over the previous 5 posts.  This post is the last of the five.

Here is a variety of Camino stuff just to wrap it all up

A couple of stories - As I was walking around the Santiago airport, which is still a day's walk from Santiago unless you are pushing it, I came across a lady in her late 60's or early 70's who was hiking the opposite direction.  I asked her if she was walking home and she said, no, she was a bit embarrassed because she was only walking back as far as Leon (300 kms).  I asked her where she started and she said St Jean Pied de Port - so her Camino was going to be 1100 kms!!!

One night in Santiago, it was raining and very dark.  I could not see the Cathedral's steeple which I used to find my way back all of the time.  I got totally lost and could not find my way back.  I asked two young girls if they could direct me back.  They spoke very little English but said although they were not going my direction, that they would walk along with me to make sure that I did not get lost again.  I was so grateful as I was soaked, very cold, and lost.

I met a lady who is a psychiatrist from Austria.  I told her that I did not want her to get into my head.  She said that she only got into people's head's who had fat wallets.  I told her that I was safe then.

Almost all of the people I met on the trail, I met again in Santiago either in the streets or in the Cathedral, over the couple of days there.

Here are a bunch of pictures, in no particular order.  I may be walking the Camino again next September.  My friends from Sarnia, Canada, and Arizona, USA - want to do the last 100 kms.  The more the merrier so if you, or you know anyone who might want to join - please let me know.  I do not need to go back for myself, but if people want me to guide them there, I would be honoured to do so.

This is Colin and his friend.  His wife was just outside the door to my room.  They came to get me to come and join them for a while.  They were lots of fun and they have my e-mail address so I do hope that they write me

This statute of a Pilgrim is about half way between Finisterre and  the lighthouse

This monument was right at the lighthouse - the furthest west that you can walk in Europe

This gentleman reminded me of the 'Old man and the sea'

There was no worry that Tim the Fat Canadian, which is my name on the Camino Forum, would come back skinny

One of the many cafes - they were always busy 

I was at this one restaurant so much that they put me to work!

This couple were from Australia.  They too have my e-mail so hopefully they will contact me

This is the owner, his wife, and the waitress from the restaurant in Santiago who fed me the most.  They tried their best to teach me to speak Spanish but to no avail.  They were some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life.

This is Colin, his wife on his right, and their friend on his left - trying to figure out in their guidebook where the heck they were!

Frank from Texas and myself posing at one of the markers.

I took this picture because this gentleman looks exactly like my friend Dennis who I ride motorcycle with

These three ladies were from Holland - spoke only partial English but were very nice


And then, that is it.  That is all folks.  Until my next adventure.

Santiago - At Last

From the time I first heard about The Way, or Camino de Santiago - to the time I arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago - it took me three years.  But here at last :)  The very modern streets lead to the old section of the city

As you make your way into the old part of the city, the streets narrow

This is a sculpture of Napoleon at the top of the building where I stayed

First glance of one of the steeples of the Cathedral

This is the Pilgrim's Office where you get your credentials examined, and if approved, you get the certificate that certifies that you walked the Camino

The streets are alive with shoppers before 2 pm, and then come alive again after 7 pm.  In between that time is siesta and during that time, almost everything closes.  Those stores, mostly cafes that stay open, they are mostly empty.

Sculptures on the side of the Cathedral

This was my room - small, but private, with private washroom including shower, maid service, and as mentioned before, included free breakfast

Note how narrow the streets are.  Cars and small trucks actually travel down these streets, but they go very slow and the people even slower, move out of the way.  I suspect that there is a law about beeping their horns because I never heard one.

This is the casket holding St James, in the basement of the Cathedral

Some of the gold sculptures

Did I mention narrow streets?

The Cathedral is so huge that it is hard to get it to fit into a picture

After Santiago, I took the bus to Finisterre.  This is me sitting on the edge of the world

Pilgrims climbing the cliff by the lighthouse

The ocean and the sky were brilliant colours of blue

This was a fisherman's boat that is used to get out to the larger boat

These seagulls were looking for a free ride

This is me hugging the statute of St James which is completely made of gold and is behind the alter.  Photos are strictly not allowed so we had to take this very quickly

Pilgrims and Tourists mingling just outside of the cathedral

This is a hostel located just to the south of the city.  It is very large and old -rumours say that it is haunted.  It was magically lit by the sun one evening - calling me to stay there....but I already had somewhere....sorry ghosts!

Note:  Somewhere the picture of the building I stayed in got deleted in this posting so I will include it in the next post - which will be the last.

Pictures, Part 4

I went for a walk today.  I added an extra loop and when I measured it in the car, it turned out to be 5.5 miles, or about 9 kms.  It felt good to be walking again.  I walked on my first day home from the Camino, but my knee hurt afterwards.  I was hoping that the hurt was coming from the 30 hour trip home.  Today, there was no pain.  I hope you enjoy this segment of pictures - there will likely be two more after this one.

No real way of knowing how old this church was, but it was amazing inside as you will see by the pictures below

OK, so I am a sucker for medevil bridges

More churches

Now in the city of Melida, which is famous for its octopus

Pulperia is Spanish for octopus

This section of Spain had enormous oak trees

Can you imagine how much these rock slabs weight and the building of this by hand?

There were a lot of bikers, and most of them wore their skin tight bike suits.  The bikers always seems to pass you on a downhill section and went by very fast.  Most did not have bells but instead, squeaky brakes applied to prevent from hitting you.

A window repairman could make a lot of money in the countryside of Northern Spain

Notice how tall the oak trees are compared to the hiker

I seldom take pictures of graffiti but this one had me laughing out loud.  It was towards the end of the Camino.

This massive church was in Lavacolla

Sunrise in Lavacolla

This monument was built on Monte de Gozo to celebrate when  Pope John Paul held World Youth  Day there.  The mountain, or at least very large hill, overlooks Santiago

This was the very first view of the city of Santiago