Pictures, Part 3

More pictures - remember to click on them to enlarge to get the full benefit of the picture.

Just outside of Portomarin where in the 1200's there was an open air brothel.  It was gone by the time I got there  (:

Tree-lined path

There was some sections that went along the highways, but  this was rare

The scenery was awesome!

These two pictures show where a Pilgrim's hospital once stood in the year of 1000 AD.

This chicken could not decide whether to jump or not!  I think it was chicken!

There are two of my favourite pictures, especially with the bright blue sky

This is a place where the public can come and wash their clothes - note the slanted sides that are used for washboards

I did not see one bed bug!

Frank from Texas and myself

Amazing stained glass 

Equally amazing statues in the church

Another grain crib

The top of this bridge has been repaired but still retains its charm

Another busy cafe

One of the fancier arrows we came across

Pictures, Part 2

See comments with each picture

Being from North America, it was strange to see the above ground burial sites

The bridges there were awesome and one can only guess how old some of them are

This was the 100km post.  I am not a fan of the graffiti

This was a brand new cafe, built right on the trail.  Most of the cafes had free WIFI, but they pronounce it WeeFee

I lost my $80 Tiley hat, so this is a $14 replacement

The trails were really cool in that over the past 1000 years, they have sunk below the land on both sides

There were many dogs along the Camino - some like this you would not want to mess around with

Sunset at Morgade

There were fantastic churches

Three Amigos???

The Camino has a lot of drinking fountains - each one had a sign telling you if the water was safe to drink or not

I like these next two pictures as they seem to indicate that there is light as the end of the tunnel

A typical farming villiage

In the country, and sometimes even in the city,  almost every house has a grain crib

This bridge is at the entrance to Portomarin.  You can see the original mid-evil bridge below.  The new one is very high and you have to walk over it.  It was not windy when we walked over it, but still scary - although some pilgrims told me that when they walked it, it was very windy.

As you cross over the bridge in the previous picture, you then come to these stairs which you have to climb to arrive in the downtown area of the city.

This massive church in the center courtyard of Portomarin, was once in the lower valley.  All of the bricks were numbered, the church was dismantled, and reconstructed on higher ground.

Leading out of Portomarin, this sign clearly indicated the way to go.

Pictures, Part 1

Not sure how to organize these pictures, so I am going to do it by how I travelled.  At the bottom of each picture, I will leave a caption.  Remember that if you click on the picture, it will enlarge.  More pictures in Part 2.

Where I spent my first two nights in Leon

My first marker - just outside my hotel

Leon had lots of large statues

The Camino does provide - found this in Leon

They were not serving the Pilgrim's meal

Leon had lots of parks

Another Statue

There were markers everywhere

The skinniest apartment building ever!

Pilgrim statute in Leon resting his feet

Another Marker - should not get lost if there are this many markers

He was thinking the same things I was - OMG, how did I get into this?

Thought I would join him

Awesome scenery

You can see the trail

Very hilly

Blue skies to kill for

Kathy from Texas

You can see the tail as it winds through the hills

First of many large churches

Frank from Texas - met in Leon and walked to Santiago with him and Cathy

I'm Back!!!

Returned from the Camino.  I have over 4000 pictures to sort through and will try to post them by the end of this week - well some of them at least.

In re-reading my last post, I did not explain what had changed in making it possible for me to go.  I apologize for that.  I think it was because now that I was going, it was a real panic to make all of the arrangements.

Here is what happened.  I went to my doctor for a regularly scheduled appointment.  He asked if I was really excited about going to the Camino and I told him that I had cancelled it.  He asked why because I was so excited about going last time I had seen him, which was about 6 months ago.  I told him that my knee was really acting up - some days I was limping pretty bad.

He asked how my arthritis was and I told him it was under control.  So he said that he would just concentrate  his time looking at my knee.  He removed two syringes of fluid from my knee and gave me an injection of cortisone.  He said that I was to take it easy for two days - and then I would be as good as new.  And I was.  So it was off to the races - or in my case - the Camino.

Stay tune for some pictures and a story or two.

Hang on Tight - Here I Go!

No fancy pictures - no jokes.

I am going.  Flying from Toronto to Madrid, Spain leaving on September 9th and arriving on September 10th.  Will make my way to Leon and will rest for two days before embarking on a reduced Camino - planning on covering 319 kms - which is still a good walk!  If everything goes well, I should arrive in Santiago on September 29 - spend two days there - and then fly back on October 1st.  Wish me luck - I will need it!