We decided to walk the final 113km of the Camino Frances, on the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James). You must walk 100kms uninterrupted to the Cathedral to get your Certificate. The walk takes 5 days, and ends at the Cathedral of Santiago!
We flew from BCN to Santiago. Our first glimpse of the Camino was at the airport arrivals hall- we were welcomed with a Camino milestone marker.
This is the Santiago Tourism Office at the airport. Scallop shells and yellow arrows are the symbols of the Camino.
From the Santiago Airport, we took a bus 2 hours to the town of Sarria- the starting point for our Camino.
Sarria's one claim to fame is that it lies at the 100km minimum starting point for the Camino. So everything is Camino-themed....this is the riverside promenade, with scallop shells in the railings.
These are wall-mounted garbage cans in Sarria! Scallop shells are the symbol of the Camino because Pilgrims would use them as dishes and cups along the walk, and now Pilgrims tie them to our backpacks for good luck.
Our hostal for the night: Pension Puente-Ribera. It is literally on the Camino- the walkway to the door is signposted as part of the Camino.
When you see other Pilgrims on the Camino, you don't say "hola," you say "Buen Camino." So we prepped for our walk tomorrow at Cafe Buen Camino.
6am the next morning: We leave the hostal, and get our first stamp in our Pilgrim's Credentials. Pilgrims must get at least 2 stamps per day in the Credential, and show the stamped Credential at the Cathedral to get the Pilgrim's Certificate.
Day 1, 6:30am, Sarria to Portomarin, 21kms. It begins! The start of our Camino, outside our hostal.
Saying good-bye to Sarria as we walk out of the town.
Our Camino begins.
As we followed the yellow arrows out of Sarria into the forest, we see our very first Camino milestone.
About 90 minutes later, we arrive at the next village.
We stopped for a beer- there is Peregrina (Pilgrim) Beer! I am in love.
Our walk gets kinda spooky.
Walking through the Galician forest.
Resting my tired feet.
The forest opens up into lush meadow.
We stopped for a bocadillo (sandwich) break in the late morning. This mouse-Pilgrim mural was everywhere on the Camino.
My Way