Day 9: May 4th, "Sarria" via Samos and back to Madrid
As we walk into Samos we have a great view of this beautiful famous Monastery from the road above the town. We went to see it but it was closed to the public that afternoon.
We had intended to stay in Samos for the night but as we arrived around noon we decided to walk on to Sarria. Stopped at a store and got some food and then walked on.
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Another view of the Monastery at Samos
We arrived in Sarria after a 21km plus walk. It was a long day up and down all day. Off the main roads. No place to stop for refreshments. Misty with light rain.
We stayed at the Hotel Alfonso in Sarria. It was a very modern hotel with a nice dining room. Bill Hall and his wife were staying there also. We were invited to their room for drinks and snacks. A pleasant interlude to meet Ann Hall. Ann was traveling by bus or taxi from town to town to meet Bill most nights. "Bill keeps popping up".
We have also met many nice Spanish people who are very good about helping the perigrinos. Many people we speak to are here doing this pilgrimage for spiritual reasons but I am just a tourist passing through.
We walked around and found the internet cafe close to the hotel. The internet places are filled with young people playing games. This seems to be the main use for them in Spain.
Day 10: May 5th, "Portomarin"
Arrived around 5 pm after about a 24 km walk. Up and down hills all day. Lovely scenery all day. Had to climb to reach the lower part of the town. Met some work men and asked them where the Taberna Perez, the hotel we planned to stay at, was. They pointed up and Said "Arriba", "Arriba". More climbing to the restaurant where we made arrangements for the hotel and then more climbing to get to the room at the top of the town. Very nice place 24 euro. Had to walk down again for supper. I went on down to the lower town to return the keys from Sarria which I had forgotten to turn in. Dropped them in a mail box. Then found an internet cafe to e-mail home.
Day 11: May 6th, "Palas de Rei"
Another 24 km walk today. The weather was good and the scenery spectacular. Hills and valleys, green and rich looking, Very pastoral surroundings. We walk through little villages and sometimes through the barn yards. Lots of cow plops around.I am pretty tired tonight and we plan on a shorter day tomorrow. We again have found a nice place to stay. We definitly need the little bit of Spanish we know.
Day 12: May 7th, "Melide"
Hotel Carlos 33 euro.
The hotel is right on the main road and is run by an English speaking family. Met up with Helen the Irish girl we had met before. This is in the province of Galicia and the regional speciality is pulpo (octopus). We were not very hungry and did not think we could cope with it tonight.
Day 13: May 8th, "Arzua"
Meson de Perigrino 28 euro
We are ahead of schedule by one day. Walked about 15km today. It was misty and rainy but good walking. Lots of ups and down. The guide books say it is relatively flat but does not seem so to us. We arrived in town about one PM. Walked around, had something to eat. It is quite cold here and no heat in our room. We decide to have some dessert and go back to the hotel, have a warm bath and go to bed. We left our books in Madrid and the television is all in spanish so not much to do.
Day 14: May 9th, "Rua de Arca"
Hostal O'Pino 38.58 euro
We walked on to the next town but there was no place to stay so we walked back to the O'Pino. Helen the English girl we had met and the two young men from Canada were also staying there. We had a great evening with much spirited conversation. Darian was a doctor from Ottawa and his brother was living in London England. We had met them at an internet cafe at another town.
Day 15: May 10th, "Santiago de Compostella"
We arrived in Santiago de Compostalla May 10th and stayed until the 13th. We stopped at Monte de Gozo a large monument on the way into the city. There is a huge hostel here where many perigrinos stay and go into the city for the day. There is regular bus service for this. We stopped and had something to eat at the restaurant. We met two ladies who had walked from the French border and the one women had fallen and broken her arm at the begining of their walk. She had it set and continued on the journey. What courage.
The picture of the sign to Santiago I found on the internet
It is quite a long walk into the city but finally we arrive at the cathderal. We had walked all day in the rain, sometimes pouring. We have been lucky as that was the only really bad rain we have had. We enter the church and follow the pilgrims to the focal point of the interior, the 13th century statue of St James. We climb the stairs to embrace the statue from behind. The tradition known as "a hug for the apostle". After looking around for a while we decide to go and find accomodations. We get a room at the Hostal Mapoula which is quite nice. It was good not to have to walk another 20 km tomorrow. My feet are pretty sore and tired.  Botafumerio in the cathederal with clouds of incense. |
 Portico de la Gloria in the Catederal |
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Day 16, 17: May 11th, May 12th, May 13th "Santiago de Compostella" 
We explore the city and attend a mass at the Cathderal where they swing the giant censer, known as the botafumeiro because of the clouds of incense it emits (originally to fumigate the assembled pilgrims). We check out the Tree of Jesse and follow the centuries old tradition of placing our hands on the very worn spot on it. On the 13th we had planned on taking the bus to Finisterre, but on waking that morning it was pouring rain so decided to stay in Santiago and take the night train back to Madrid. |
May 13 th Back to Madrid on the night train.
 Back to Violetta's with our backpacks and then went exploring. I think the picture on the left is the Plaza de Colon in Madrid. We then went to museo Carmen Thyssen Bornamisza, Paseo del Prado 8. One of my favorite paintings was one of the "Virgin and Child" by Luini Bernardino.  |
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