Walking the Camino de Santiago
We set out about dawn on the morning of April 28, 2016 from the village of Barbadelo. Our goal today was the village of Gonzar. Despite the fact that we roared out of the gate this morning, we wouldn’t make it nearly that far. Date: 28 April 2016 Place: between Barbadelo and Rente (Galicia, Spain)
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This is the altar of the tiny little Capela de San Silvestre, located next to our albergue in Barbadelo, Casa de Carmen. Charming and rustic, the chapel was the perfect place to get a needed moment of quiet while I prayed Vespers. Good night. Date: 27 April 2016 Place: Barbadelo (Galicia, Spain)
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We arrived at the village of Barbadelo positively wiped out, as Rebecca here would tell you if she were awake. Some days on the Camino are just like that. Funnily enough, in our case they mostly seem to involve Sarria… Date: 27 April 2016 Place: Barbadelo (Galicia, Spain) Today’s Maps:
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This sign commemorates the Jacobean Holy Year of 1943. These years are those on which the Feast of Saint James – 25 July – falls on a Sunday. In these years, pilgrims can obtain a plenary indulgence. Typically, the number of pilgrims spike during a holy year. Of course, the number of pilgrims keeps increasing every year. Date: 27 April […]
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Prior to each of our previous Camino pilgrimages, I’ve tried to articulate why it is that we walk. Everybody’s answer is, of course, different. It has ever been thus. Before my first Camino, I had this sense that God was calling me to it, and maybe that was enough of a reason. Maybe it was partly the sense of adventure […]
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This small medieval bridge, known as the Ponte Aspera – the bridge of the stars – crosses the Río Celerio. While we certainly appear to be walking through a forested countryside, I am given to understand that this bridge marks the limits of the town of Sarria. Date: 27 April 2016 Place: Between Sarria and Barbadelo (Galicia, Spain) Today’s Maps:
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We bid our adieus to Sarria at this impressive mosaic sign featuring the town’s arms. Quite suddenly thereafter, we find ourselves in the forested countryside of Galicia once again. It’s about 3:30 in the afternoon, and we have about another 3.5km to go before reaching our planned albergue for the night in Barbedelo. Date: 27 April 2016 Place: Sarria (Galicia, […]
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This door leads into the tiny Romanesque Iglesia de San Salvador. This appears to have been a sacristy door, but as the front door of the church is sealed shut, it’s now the only one you can get in through. Rúa Major has become Rúa do Castelo, and we are heading out of Sarria. In fact, from here we’ll be […]
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Here our faithful pilgrims Francine and Rebecca sit at an outdoor café, awaiting their tardy afternoon lunch. It feels good to sit a rest a bit. We were fairly exhausted at this point, but we were also determined that we were not going to spend the night in Sarria with thousands of other pilgrims. Date: 27 April 2016 Place: Sarria […]
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This statue of King Alfonso IX of León and Galicia is one of my favourites on the Camino. It’s just off the Rúa Major in Sarria. While it’s not a particularly realistic image, it certainly conveys something of the stubborn and tragic character of the man, who was the last independent king of León. Date: 27 April 2016 Place: Sarria […]
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