LP and VQT

 Posted by VQT Photo: Bird House It was a challenging Camino in several ways.   It was the first time I had to walk one whole day in a torrential rain.    And other days in rain for part of the day.    There’s wet and then there’s miserable wet.    It was miserable wet.    We had one of the worst hotel rooms ever.    Not only was the room inadequate but the locals partied outside our room all night.    Seriously it didn’t stop until around 6:30 am.   I had to walk solo.  I didn’t like it but I did it!     Everyday I missed having my Camino friend with me.    I’m so thankful that LP was willing to taxi everyday so I could complete this walk.    I know taking a taxi was not fun or how she envisioned her Camino experience.    On the Spiritual Variant I saw some of the prettiest scenery (we’ve seen pretty scenery on our prior Caminos but this was really...

Posted by VQT At the end of our Camino we like to recap a few numbers.   Taxis - 13 Shuttle buses - 3 Planes - 3 Train - 1 Boat - 1 Coming from the US it takes 2 days to reach the starting city and 2 days to get back home.   Hotels - 16 Days Gone - 19 Miles Walked LP - 42 Miles Walked VQT - 170 Laundromat- 1 (🤭) Blisters - NONE Toenails lost - NONE We decided to spend our time in Santiago shopping and seeing people and not doing laundry so we are coming home with very dirty clothes.  But, we are both wearing a new Camino t-shirt.   Photo: Portugues t- shirt 

Posted by VQT Great day in Santiago.  Perfect weather - but maybe a little too hot?  There’s nothing worse than being here after completing a Camino and it’s raining.  So much of the post celebration is to sit outside at a cafe and see people you’ve met along the way or just others celebrating and if it’s raining you can’t be outside. So a little bit hot is much better than rain   We headed out this morning with a shopping list and we successfully purchased everything on it plus a few extra things.  I have a ceramic tile refrigerator magnet collection that I started in 2022.  This year I added substantially to it.  Our backpacks are stuffed to capacity- it’s a good thing we do not have to carry them very far to the train station.  Photo: 5 new magnets  Photo: 6 new magnets Photo: LP, VQT and Shawna from Australia  Shawna had a suitcase filled with clean and glamorous clothes shipped to Santiago  Photo: Anthony & Andrea from VA, ...

 Posted by LP This was not the Camino I anticipated - I am sad that I had to bow out, but I am still thrilled with the opportunity to even walk for part of the way, and proud that VQT is a bold and brave solo walker  My heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who shared words of sympathy and support….you are very kind, especially when I needed to feel such kindness  Special recognition to GJA, the most supportive spouse in the world and VQT, the best Camino partner ever 💚 …..and now for the next installment of the green door adventure :) Photo - Santiago urban green door with graffiti  Photo - not a green door, but an arch in the old city limits of Santiago  Photo - impressive green door (to one if the University of Santiago buildings) Photo - green (but it is open so you cannot see it) surrounded by impressive stonework   Photo - VQT and LP at lunch today (Monday)with Jayne and Arthur from Manchester, UK - VQT walked alongside Jayne and Arthur for p...

 Posted by VQT It’s 63 degrees here.  Perfect for tea and pastries outside.  The Botafumeiro is not going to be used for several months while structural repairs are made to the Cathedral dome.   Here are some interesting facts: What speed does the Botafumeiro reach when in motion? The Botafumeiro can reach a speed of up to 68 km/h, rising to a height of 21 meters and drawing an arc of 65 meters. How many times has the Botafumeiro of the Santiago Cathedral flown off? The Botafumeiro has flown off 3 times throughout history: in 1499, 1622, and 1937. Because it swings from side to side of the Santiago Cathedral at high speed, it can reach great force, which on those occasions caused the rope to break, sending it flying. And if you are wondering how to pronounce Botafumeiro:  The  Botafumeiro  is a famous  thurible  used at the  Santiago de Compostela Cathedral , in  Spain . Its name comes from the  Galician language , where  ...

 Posted by LP Photo - vegan menu on the board at The Green House (in English and Spanish) - we shared a little bit of everything (curries, stews, falafel….all mildly spicy and very tasty) Photo - VQT and LP sitting at dinner with Micah and Brecken from Ohio and Alessandro from Turin, Italy   Photo - Brecken, Micah, Alessandro, VQT and LP enjoying the perfect end to a very pleasant evening…..Bico (local) ice cream 🍦 

 Posted by VQT I skipped day 12 which was Saturday’s boat pilgrimage.   What a day!!! Last night the local teenagers or college kids had an all night party in the courtyard outside our hotel.  Hotel was not air conditioned and was sweltering hot so we had the windows open.  They weren’t open for long.  Even closing the windows couldn’t block the noise.  I’m assuming Spain doesn’t have a noise ordinance??? So when the alarm rang at 6:15 am for me to get up and go walk 15 miles I didn’t exactly jump up.  But I was so outraged by the total lack of consideration of the partiers that I wanted away from there.   It was a cool morning and I hoped to get through many miles before the sun came out.   Photo: Large graffiti of a Camino pilgrim and their trusty dog.  Photo: Close up of the trusty dog.  Photo: A concrete dog dressed as a pilgrim at a dog daycare center.  When I left the horrible hotel it was dark.  Found a couple that ...

Posted by VQT Photo. VQT holding up her Credential book containing all her collected stamps in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.  

 Posted by LP I had a great day  Photo - VQT on the boat….”the way of stone and water” from Vila Nova de Arosa to Padrón  Photo - this is the sister boat to the one we were in Photo - the boat captain - he helped us see dolphins; all kinds of other wild life; crosses to indicate the way of the boat that legend says carried the bones of St. James; replica Viking boats; ancient forts; protected marsh lands and national parks Photo - LP next to a Camino marker……I walked from the boat docking into Padron (no taxis!) Photo - LP and VQT in the boat with Angela from Wyoming and Normand from France Photo - LP and VQT with our Compostela/certificates for completing the way of stone and water (or boat ride ) Photo - LP with an artist in Padron - he used a variety of materials to make book marks, and similar, for donations - we “bought” some delightful pieces  I had a great day :) 

 Posted by LP Photo - VQT took this photo (for me!) on the way to Vila Nova de Arosa yesterday (Friday) morning 💚

 Posted by VQT I started walking at 8:00.  After 14 miles I reached tonight’s hotel at 3:00.  For the first hour and a half I saw no one else.  I was starting to think I’d made a wrong turn when another person appeared.  The path went through a wooded area next to a rushing stream.  Along the stream banks were the remains of grain mills.  About 60% of today’s walk was along a stream or a river.  Very pleasant walking.  I walked solo for all of today with the exception of a passing word or two with other Camino people.  Makes for a long day.   Here are a few photos.  Photo: Stone foundation of an old mill      Photo: Remains of another stone mill house.  I didn’t count how many of these mill houses I walked by but I’d guess at least a dozen.   Photo: Creek that runs by and under the old mill houses.  Photo: Workers harvesting grapes.  Saw so many vineyards being harvested.  Photo: Snails o...

 Posted by VQT Lots to catch up on.  Monastery we stayed at last night was interesting.  Huge.  Kinda had a Jack Nicholson The Shining feel to it.  There were lots of people cleaning and coming and going through doors but not many guests around.  Furnishings and ambiance were a 70s look.  Room was acceptable. Unfortunately there was a group of young adults who hollered and laughed till 1:30 am.  No one from the Monastery did anything about shutting them down.   Photo: Sealed up archway.     Makes me wonder what’s behind it?    Photo: They call this a granary.  From other Camino trips I’ve always through they were called corn cribs. This one is unique due to its size.  Photo: Mosaics of saints.  Monastery had giant mosaics.   Photo: Our bedroom window with my walking shorts and t shirt hanging out to dry. 

Photo (by VQT) - modern mosaic of tiny pieces of marble) of the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela   Posted by LP - we spend the night in a very interesting location (shame the beds were so uncomfortable!) Photo - I sat in the shade under this arbor of grapes Photo - VQT in the 16th century cloister  Photo - magnificent green door in the old monastery    Photo - beautiful ceilings in the cloister  Photo - (not doing justice to) looking out from the cloister to the ornate church Photo - mosaic of chickens…..part of a huge and wonderful mosaic illustrating the Camino - some of you may remember my delight at the chickens in the cathedral in Santa Domingo de la Calzada on the Camino Francis 🐓💚

Posted by LP - photos by VQT Photo - dark green door to business  Photo - very tatty double green doors with graffiti  Photo - well maintained dark green double doors  Photo - green front door  My reduced mobility has limited the number of green doors I have seen on this Camino (our long time supporters know what great importance these are to me), but not to worry, VQT has kept up the tradition and pleased me with a variety 💚