DAY 201 - Walking 10 miles on the Pilgrim Trail

Oct 6 - Last Day in Spain 

I really wanted to experience walking on the Camino, so we caught a bus that took us about 30 minutes out of the city of Santiago de Compostela.  The driver let us out in a tiny village and there wasn't a soul around. 

 We followed some signs and asked a kooky-looking guy that was walking by with walking sticks.  He thought we were nuts for asking, but just said to follow him and he was off.  (We didn't keep up with him and he must have been 80 years old)

The Road of St. James

Traveling with my best friend and wonderful companion - what a day this will be!

Someone had painted "Red Zone" - mmm??

We saw some interesting things along the way.  There was a small river where evidently the Pilgrims would camp and wash.  It was said if they washed their feet here, they would be cleansed from their sins.

Beautiful forest of trees planted along the way MANY years ago.

Rich is feeding the "wildlife" - ha!

We found it odd to see a "stop sign" in English in a foreign country.

This was not a uncommon sight.  People would put signs and hang shirts and hats from the fence or trees.  There were even shoes that had been given up.

This was the most amazing spider with his beautiful web for everyone to see.  For generations, his ancestors had been spinning these perfect webs to rejoice and celebrate the people who had come from miles and miles.  They were sacrificing time and money to get their certificate stamped in each town and then to finally be assured eternal salvation through the apostle Saint James as they reached the final destination at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

The Pilgrims would make crosses out of sticks and display them everywhere on the path. 

So many people had been before us, walking this same path for nearly 2,000 years.

I like to take photos of OLD huts and interesting things along the way.  What a wonderful day it was!

This one was abandoned and behind a lot of overgrowth.

Finally we came to a sweet little chapel, the only thing left on this hill with history.  The chapel portrays on its base both John Paul's visit and a pilgrimage of Saint Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century.

The Chapel of San Marcos

 There were beautiful Eucalyptus trees all around....whoa!  How many years had they seen all the people come to visit?

A very large sculpture was built where the Pilgrims could see for the very first time the Cathedral of Santiago.  It lifted their spirits as they had been traveling for a very long time.  It was know as 'Mount Joy' (Monte do Gozo).

Here is where all would cry out for joy because you could see the spires of the Cathedral ahead.

It used to be a quiet green mountain, but when the Pope visited in 1989, it was leveled to make room for the crowds of people that would come for the open-air mass.

We only had an hour left for our journey.

Right about here is where Rich went back home to our host's house.  We had already been to the Cathedral twice, so he didn't care to go again, but I wanted to make the trek as if I were a true Pilgrim.

 I followed these seashell markers along the way on the sidewalks and along the paths.  Most everyone would buy a special concha shell one they got into town.  There was a story that explained why these shells and the Pilgrimage was so important for each other.  Read here....

  Some photos as I came into town following the shells in the pavement and the signs along the path.  It was hard to get lost with those.  Also, there were plenty of people as I got closer, coming from different directions into the city. 

 This woman was interesting to watch - note her pack and the bandage on her knee.  But - she made it!

 

YEAH!  We made it!!

It was amazing to watch all the people come into the city.  It was truly an unforgettable experience!  Now - I had to make my way back home, so I walked and walked until I found the bus connection.  I still had quite a ways to walk, so I definitely got my exercise today.

Back home with Gloria - she and Rich fixed a wonderful meal!

Baked Salmon, mashed potatoes, and a Mediterranean Salad - scrumptious!

Thank-you for the lovely meal and the wonderful four days we spent here!

What a sweet lady to host us when she was so busy with teaching school!

October Fruit for Dessert

We've had a fantastic time here in the northeast part of Spain.  We feel fortunate to have met Gloria in the Summer of 2012 when she came to our home in Idaho.  She and Roxanne, from Canada, couch surfed at our home on their way to Yellowstone National Park.   Now we're friends for life!