Author: Thom

Although there aren’t any in this photo, there are more cows than people in Galicia, and there are signs to remind you even when the cows aren’t in view. Indeed, we heard from several people the ironic unofficial motto of the country is, no hay vacas en Galicia. Because they’re everywhere – there are even monuments to them, as we […]

Ribadiso was once a traditional Galician farming village left nearly vacant as its inhabitants sought work in the industrializing cities, although it was never entirely abandoned. In the early 1990s, it was restored and re-established primarily as a pilgrim village with albergues and amenities. In this, it was returning to its roots, for several of these buildings once belonged to […]

In contrast to the immaculately kept suburban yards and houses on the road into the village of Castañeda, the old village itself was considerably more run down. Ruined, even. I note that on the current images available in Google maps that these buildings are either gone or unrecognizably restored. As the Camino has continued to gain in popularity, nearly approaching […]

Needless to say, this statue is very different from the one I posted yesterday! It’s found in the immaculately kept front yard of a suburban house in a little row of bourgeoisie homes before you get to the village of Castañeda. It has become something of a waymarker for us in this section of the Camino. When we passed in […]

This rustic statue of Santiago resides in the high altar of the Igrexa Parroquial de Santiago de Boente. While it’s no work of high art, it has a certain primitive charm that has made it iconic on this part of the Camino. Holy cards featuring the image and a passport stamp are always cheerfully given, which last long after you’ve […]

On a rainy afternoon, Francine walks into the town of Boente. To the right, we can see the local parish church of Santiago de Boente. Built in the 19th century, it’s a fairly unremarkable structure, but inside it contains bits that were salvaged from the previous church on this site, which dates to the 12th century. It also contains one […]

Here we see Francine posing with calla lilies somewhere along the Way. She loves these flowers, and we had them as the central floral theme of our wedding. She’s got this almost Mona Lisa smile here, which I just adore. Date: 30 April 2013 Place: between Melide and Boente (Province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain) Today started: Palas de Rei […]

At the very edge of Melide we find this marker, which indicates 50km to Santiago. What I find interesting about this marker – at least according to Google maps – is that it’s still in place and hasn’t been replaced by one of the newer markers. Only 50km to go! The 800km journey from Roncesvalles is now almost 94% complete. […]

Like many of the major towns along the Camino, Melide is incredibly urban… until suddenly it’s not. You step out from a neighbourhood of close-packed row houses off the sidewalk and onto a dirt path. To our left, just past a hidden Carmelite chapel, is the municipal cemetery. This marks the end of Melide in more ways than one. Date: […]