Thurs, 11 June: Margi said: "Slipped into Santiago in the rain with gratitude for a wonderful Camino. Will rest here a few days."
Santiago de Compostela (St James in the Field of the Stars) the end of the Camino. The city was founded after the discovery of the remains of the apostle Santiago (James) in the 9th century. Santiago soon became a pilgrimage centre. |
Tues, 08 June: Margi said: "Sleeping very cold in St Irene."
The village is named after the virgin saint, Irene, who was martyred in 653 for her faith in Jesus Christ. 29 km from Santiago.
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Mon, 08 June: Margi said: " Just passed Arzua. All is well"
This stretch of the Camino the path passes along shady lanes and wooded paths and crosses many little streams. Crossing streams sounds innocuous, but every stream has created a valley, which must be climbed down and then back up. The woodlands are eucalyptus forests. |
Fri, 05 June: Margi said: "Walking to Sarria today."
Sarria is a new town (by Galician standards) and was built in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with little to offer in the way of history. What Sarria is famous for is antique fairs. Sarria is the antique capitol of Galicia and has a roaring trade in everything from furniture to art. |
Thurs, 04 June: Margi said: "It was tough but OK. Slept in Fonfria last night."
Wonderful views from the top. Once over the O'Cebreiro ridge it is downhill into Galicia all the way to Sarria - from 1,297m to 480. It appears to be easy but the ups and downs are not what they seem with many steep slopes. |
Wed, 03 June : Margi said: "Climbing O'Cebreiro today."
O'Cebreiro, a tiny village, with one albergue, is at 1,297 m, in many ways the heart of the Camino. This is said to be the toughest climb of the Camino. The church dates back to the 9th century - possibly the oldest structure on the Camino.
(Where a 100kg bear was killed last year.... Read more.) |
Mon, 01 June: Spring Day in Europe and International Children's day. Margi is meeting up with other cleaning volunteers at the Friends of the Pilgrims’ office in Ponferrada.
On to Villafranca - rich with religious sites. The albergue is adjacent to the C12 Romanesque church of Santiago which has a Puerta del Perdon (Door of Forgiveness) through which pilgrims too ill to continue might enter and receive the same indulgences as for completion of the Camino. |
Sun, 31 May: Margi said: " I am doing well. Very hot. On way to Ponferrada."
26º C. Ponferrada lies 500m above sea level.
The Knights Templar, at the height of their power and perhaps because of it, were disbanded by Church decree in 1312. Their great castle on the Camino is at Ponferrada, completed only in 1282. It´s the centre of this town. |
Sat, 30 May: Margi said: "Hips hurting as I climb to the iron cross to leave my stones and those I am carrying for others. All is as it should be"
Cruz de Ferro (Cross of Iron), is a small iron cross on top of a tall wooden pole, with a large cairn or rockpile at its base. Pilgrims traditionally bring a stone or pebble from their hometown with them to add to the pile, with a prayer. At 1,505 m above sea level this is the highest point of the Camino - a major milestone on the pilgrim's journey. |
Fri, 29 May: Margi said: "It is a beautiful day. Back to Rabanal today and on to Cruz de Ferro tomorrow."
Now a major pilgrimage centre, Rabanal was a deserted village when exemplary Refugio Gaucelmo was opened by the CSJ in 1991. There are now two other hostels, as well as a hotel, two bars, two churches and a three-monk monastery. |
