tomorrow we are getting on a plane to Tirana, capitol of Albania. No backpack and hiking boots this time….just easy travel with some other hopefully nice people. With my posts and pictures I hope to show you the sites along the way again.

Here is our route:

The next morning we went to Pilgrim Mass. It was very beautiful and moving, they announced each country and the starting point of the walk for the pilgrims arriving the day before. After mass we boarded the bus to Finisterre. It turns out, we were very lucky with the weather while walking, except for the day we had to go up to O Cebreiro, we had excellent walking weather. It is raining heavy non stop since our arrival here. Some people had planned to walk to Finisterre, another 90 km, but opted for the bus also because of the really heavy rain and cold wind. We stayed for one night in Finisterre, it wasn’t to much fun…rain, wind, tired and no beautiful sun down at the “End of the Earth”.

We are back in Santiago since we could not get a place on the train to Madrid until the 4th. One more day to check out Santiago and it’s history…….

Thank you for fallowing us on “The Way”.  Hasta Luego Amigos!

Just before Pilgrim Mass – someone took a blurry picture of us….o well

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela

Finisterre

Hello Amigos! 20.7 km/12.5 miles to Santiago. Starting out I wondered how it would feel to be at this point…..well, it feels pretty darn good.
The morning was quite cold ….we could have used gloves. Then the sun burned through the fog and soon we had to take our jackets off. Nice dry day. The terrain continues to be rolling and we walk up and down through Eucalyptus forrest and farm land. We encountered all the people we met over the last 13 days of and on at rest stops, on the trail and in the evening. Everyone is very interesting to talk to….some have more time and will walk the three more days to Finisterre, but the majority goes by bus.

They were so, so close……

The sights of the day:

A cloudy, cool day today. It rained during the night, so everything was pretty wet. The vistas are now less exciting and we walk mostly next to the road.

Palas de Rei – pop. 4200 and once home to a kings palace has little left to remind of it’s colorful past.

Only three more walking days to Santiago…Yeah!

 Beauty of the Forrest

The view today

He is doing his job guarding – this is how cows should live

Look what comes down the road

He has to work hard

One step at a time….

Farm house

Town Hall of Palas de Rei

Portomarin – pop. 2000 and located on the Rio Mino. In 1960 the river was dammed and the village had to be relocated. The most historic buildings were moved brick by brick into the new town. The 12th century Romanesque Iglesia de San Nicolas being one of those buildings were each brick was numbered for rebuilding.

Blessed morning

“Hola”  amigos

100 km marker

Oak trees

Galicia

Memorial

Rio Mino

Bridge over Rio Mino

Iglesia de San Nicolas

Galicia shares many historical and physical similarities to other Celtic regions, especially western Ireland. The language “Galega” is still spoken and understood by the majority. Fish dishes such as steamed octopus “Pulpo” and shellfish are served here accompanied by Ribeiros or Albariño, the white wine of the region.

Sarria – pop. 13,000 of Celtic origin, is a major medieval center for pilgrims. In order to get the Compostela (the certificate) a pilgrim must at least walk from Sarria, these are the last 120 km to Santiago. Many Spaniards walk this stretch yearly for their pilgrimage.

A beautiful morning

Breakfast

Shell fountain San Xil

At a Cucina for coffee con leche

Trees on the trail

Bare rock – careful when wet

A few of these….

….and a few of these

Sarria in the distance