Stage 29: Portomarín to A Graña. 29 km.

 

Monterosso

Palas de Rei

A Graña

zorza--chorizo, batatas and padrones.

Stage 28: Sarria to Portomarin 22 km

Kurt (US), Hector, Carolyn, John, ? (Canada)

Leaving Sarria

Horreos (Granary storage for corn and grain in Galicia)

100 kilometers to go!

The resevoir in Portomarin. The original city was moved to higher ground when the valley was dammed

San Xoan church was painstakingly rebuilt, stone by stone, when the original site was submerged under the reservoir.

Hector, Linda (Denmark), John, Francisco (Spain--Catalunya)

Stage 27: O Biduedo to Sarria 31 km

 

Slate roofs in Galicia look like dragon's backs

Benedictine Monastery at Samos

Alfonso el Casto

Sarria

Sarria

9/27/24

Sarria.

“Pilgrims arrive via bus and rail stations and from this point on the route becomes crowded with new arrivals. Note: be aware of any signs of resentment at such an intrusion to ‘my’ camino–remember that many of the new arrivals may be nervous starting out and the last thing they need is aloofness built on the false sense of superiority. A loving pilgrim welcomes all they more along the path–without judgment.

–John Brierly pp 246

I have to admit that I felt overwhelmed (and a bit resentment) when I arrived at O Cebreiro. After trudging through the mud and muck I arrived at the small town to Celtic bagpipes and a large group of pilgrims who had just deboarded a bus. They went to the beautifully lit church and I followed. I realized that I didn’t need to be among the crowd so I left. I noticed the first two bars were filled with pilgrims and there ere Korean pilgrims in yellow ponchos (for the rain) along the road. I have to admit that I was a bit resentful–they had not experienced how hard the beginning of the pilgrimage was. But perhaps they were experiencing it now. Detachment and non-judgement.

Reme (from Sevilla) said the qualify of the new;y arriving  pilgrims is different. When she saw a few doing push-ups she called them “exhibicionistas!”

Stage 26: Herrerías (Castilla & León) to O Biduedo (Galicia) 22 km

 

Spring Meadow Saffron Colchicum bulbocodium, is a species of alpine bulbous plant native to the mountain regions of Europe. It is poisonous.

Hiking up to O Cebreiro

Caldo Gallego

John and Hector (just before a rainstorm)

9/30/2024  Mario

This evening I met at Mario, a man who was helping the hopsitalera with evening meals. He mentioned that has completed 57 Caminos. He is now retired but he had a job that allowed him to make them.

He said that once he walked some 77 days starting from just outside of Paris. He said there aren’t many services until you get to Le Puy–so he’d stay with Templar Knights. He also mentioned that he does the Caminos in January-February. I said it is cold then. He mentioned that “pilgrims who do it then, know what they want and I prefer to walk with them.”

I mentioned that with three days left, there is a kind of sadness know. A big difference from when we started and Santiago seemed like a far away prospect. Mario said there is a nostalgia that comes as the Camino comes to a close.