Camino de Santiago - Part 2

Finishing up traveling across the flat Meseta, and back into the mountains in Western Spain and on to Santiago!

Walking the endless wheat-fields of the Meseta

A typical international communal meal, Reliegos, Spain - Irish, German, Austrian and American

The magnificent Gothic Cathedral at Leon

Connie spent her days saving the snails!

Rocky road coming in to Astorga

As in most places in the West, rural to urban migration has left many abandoned buildings

Celtic origins of Galicia

Sunrise above the clouds Foncebadon, Spain

A long mornings hike, rewarded with an excellent lunch - Riego de Ambros

Left our prayer stones at the Cruz de Ferro, Sunrise,  Oct. 2, 2016

The Castle of the Knights Templar, Ponferrada

Hiking on top of the world

Sunrise above the clouds

Plugging Maine Sport, who helped us with a bunch of our gear!

Blisters are a constant companion, and real pain!

Back in Grape Country

Just beyond O'Cebreiro - Highest point on the Camino!

Ubiquitous Horreos (corn cribs) throughout Galicia

The typical picnic lunch (ham and cheese sandwich)

Inside Sarria (the 100km mark) the Way gets more crowded with Pilgrims

A typical "offering" at a waymark

Happy smiles on the hill entering Santiago

The cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, at last!  Day 33.

A bus tour, day trip to Finisterre and the 0 km marker for that leg of the Camino

Camino de Santiago - Part 1

October 26, 2016 - Mattapoisett, MA - Well, what a long strange trip it's been!
We've had a couple of weeks to "decompress" since Connie and I completed a 33 day, 500 mile (800 km) pilgrimage from St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostella, Spain across central and northern Spain.  Had a chance to think, ponder, reflect on many things, friends, family, past and future.  Thought I'd provide a summary (tried to keep it to one image a day, but overshot as usual), of some of the experience.  Here goes:

Sep. 10 - Crossing the Pyrenees, felt like Julie Andrews in Sound of Music

Sep. 11 - A little more walking to do.

Hiking from Roncesvalles

Reward for our first three days!

One of many cathedrals we'd visit - Pamplona

The Pilgrim (Peregrino) Sculpture - Alto del Perdon

Walking the Way, vineyards and hillside villages

A Real Fountain of Wine! Bodega Irache

Stork Nests at Los Arcos

Just another beautiful village on a beautiful day

Unbelievable cathedral at Burgos

Hiking up into the clouds

Memorials and inspiration along the Way

A church ceremony at the Cathedral in Santo Domingo

Our only live Stork siting!  Burgos

Approaching the magical town of Castrojeriz

Inspiration along the Way

And, another cathedral

Bodega - Wine/root cellar dug into the hillside

A reward at the end of a long day's walk. Day 17 - Ledigos, Spain