Camino Ingles 2024

 Today is our last full day in Spain. I am happy to be headed home although it has been a great trip. Yesterday we spent all day either walking to or visiting art museums. I don’t have too many pictures to show of Madrid because we were using my phone to navigate. My traveling companion’s service for data has basically disappeared😝 We started at the Prado where I used a handheld audio guide to get info. It took me about 1/2 hour but with the help of a museum info fella I was able to scratch the surface of the place. Overwhelming for sure.  I’m not sure what this building is but I thought it was remarkable enough to photograph along with the next one. You weren’t allowed to take photos in the Prado. So there are none. After about 2 hours we had lunch at a cafe. I had gazpacho and French fries and discovered that there is ketchup in Spain!   I guess you just gotta know where to go ….. After lunch we headed to the Thyssen-Bornemisza art museum. I liked this museum better be...

 Been busy. I forgot to fill you all in on a happenstance that I experienced before leaving Santiago on Tuesday morning. Left with a couple hours on my hand I headed out the door of our hostel and ran right into the Cathedral. Watching people enter I decided I would visit the church. There was a security guard checking purses and bags at the door and he asked if I was there for mass. I said no, just to visit. He said you have to come back at 10:30. Okay I said, I’ll go to mass. In I went. The funny thing about attending mass being said in another language (in this case Spanish) is that the responses that I usually say automatically in English totally fail me when the appropriate time hits. In other words, when it came time to say the Lord’s Prayer, because everyone was saying it in Spanish, I was unable to remember the words in English. Ya well that’s how my brain works, or doesn’t.  The surprise came at the end of masss when they broke out the Botafumerio ! This was 9:30 am. ...

 I didn’t post anything actually yesterday but it is Tuesday morning and I am waiting for my roommate to wake up.  Monday we got up REALLY early and caught the bus from Muxía to Santiago. The bus pickup point had changed because of the Blessed Mother festival (yes, carnival rides and all) in town. We got super lucky finding the alternated stop because the directions we had been given by the police (tourist office wasn’t open) we, to say the least, sketchy and all in Spanish. We stowed our backpacks in the side trunk of the bus, squishing them into the space with about 15 others, and climbed aboard.  For the 1.5 hour journey through the dark on the twisty roads, I marveled at the bus driver’s prowess! We arrived safely in Santiago and had so much time we decided to go next door to the train station to procure our tickets for Wednesday’s trip to Madrid. The tickets would not go on sale until 9 am we were told so off we went in search of breakfast. Found a cafe and enjoyed c...

 Missed a couple of days, I know. Yesterday (Saturday) we walked from Finisterre to Lires which is roughly 1/2 way to Muxia which was our final goal. This stretch and the one after it made this entire trip so worthwhile! No longer long stretches of asphalt and crowds. Just plain beautiful forest! Followed by tiny hamlets: And bunnies Last night we stayed at a place in Lires which was a family home, built by Jesus and Lola. It was utterly charming and located between Finesterra and Muxia. Sleep was not so good but eventually I got up and played Facebook enough to see the light of day whereby I packed up my stuff and left. Stopped at the local cafe for great cup of cafe americano with a little more ague caliente, some toast and jelly.  I had decided to leave when I was ready because my hiking buddy is way faster than me and this way I wouldn’t have to feel like I always had to catch up and she wouldn’t have to feel like she always had to wait. I don’t know what time she left but...

 We left our private cell in the old seminary in Santiago this morning after a hearty breakfast of croissant, coffee, yogurt and orange juice that tasted amazingly like tang with a bit of pulp included. Departed Santiago by Monbus and sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the 3 hour scenic tour to Finsterra (which I believe translates to “end of land.” ). Upon arrival we searched an open restaurant looking for lunch. I was surprised to find so many restaurants serving food at this hour of the day 13:00 but when I looked around I saw a huge amount of pilgrims. I thought to myself, “well these places have wised up! They realize that in order to make money, you need to make your business accessible to your customers. Not the other way around!” We settled on a place on the malecon and shared a salad and pulpo. It was yummy but rich! Following lunch we made our way, uphill always, to our digs where we checked in and entertained by Diego our hospitelero. The place is clean, tidy and boasts a bea...

 We made it! Left the Albergue at 8:30 and walked the 15km with my pack. As an aside, I have observed that only 1 of 10 pilgrims on the Camino are carrying a full pack. Very interesting and very different from the last 2 Caminos I have done. In any event this walk was also in a light drizzle. We passed through old villages and some abandoned buildings. Here is one I would be happy to sell someone: The sign says “for sale.” There is no contact info, so how do you purchase? The woman who took this picture asked me what were the selling points? I answered “location” and sure enough here are the neighbors! On I went into what was called “the enchanted forest” Yep, pretty much looked like one. Cirila waited for me (she walks faster) and we entered the square in front of the Cathedral of Santiago at about 1:15pm. Uleria!! We made our way to the credential office where I showed my pilgrim passport with the required stamps and I received my Compostela! This is my third. That office is run ...