LP and VQT

 Posted by LP …..we are definitely in the home stretch - VQT told you the details of our day, but here are a few photos from me: Photo - Tina (from Germany) walking over and ancient bridge (still early and misty) Photo - VQT walking along a misty woodland trail  Photo - Tina and VQT walking along misty trail (you can probably see there are lots of pilgrims, it was a busy day on the Camino) Photo - Tina petting one of the many cats we saw along the way  Photo - lots of cows (and cow waste products) on the trail - here is a calf suckling  Photo - we saw several horses too  Photo - and we saw donkeys too  Photo - we saw lots of large pumpkins  Photo - VQT walking along another part of the woodland trail (sunnier and not so misty by this time)  Photo - another horse trying to get VQT’s attention  Photo - water trickling down the rock wall of the trail  Photo - one of the many dogs we said hello to today (those are the tips of my walking pole...

 Posted by VQT Very pretty walk through woodland paths and small farming villages.  We saw countless cows, sheep, cats, horses and 2 adorable donkeys.   Portomarin is on a very steep hill.  Here’s some history:  Relocation of Portomarín In the 1960s, an event unfolded that would forever change the face of Portomarín. The construction of the Belesar Reservoir led to the damming of the Miño River, threatening the original village with submersion. This village, established in the Middle Ages beside a Roman bridge, faced an existential crisis. The response? A bold and unprecedented move to relocate the entire village to higher ground. Preserving Portomarín’s Heritage The relocation of Portomarín wasn’t just a matter of moving a community; it was about preserving its historical soul. Key historical structures, like the 12th-century Romanesque church of San Xoán de Portomarín and the Capela de San Pedro, were carefully dismantled, stone by stone, and reconstructed in ...

 Posted by VQT Headed to Portomarin - a 13 mile walk on woodland paths and gravel tracks.  The early section is uphill to rolling and ending with a long downhill.  The guidebook mentions we will walk through a small town with an official population of 1.   Per the author, John Brierley, of our guidebook: “Beware of signs of irritation at the intrusion on “my” Camino - remember that many of the new arrivals may be nervous starting out and the last thing they need is aloofness built on a false sense of superiority.  A loving pilgrim welcomes all they meet along the path with an open mind and an open heart…without judgement”  Photo of a Sarria pilgrim tour bus.   We will try our best to smile at the “bus” pilgrims.