Pilgrims on the Way

Just past yesterday’s monstrosity, we come to this. What is it? A forgotten wayside shrine perhaps, with its central image removed? It speaks to the age and romance of the Camino, if nothing else, but I can’t help but wonder who built it and why. Date: 01 May 2016 Place: near Santa Irene (Galicia, Spain) The final map:

Throughout Galicia, you’ll see this fellow on older signs. He was apparently the mascot / logo for the Camino during one of the holy years in the 1990s. This is its largest incarnation, rising like a monolith above a parking lot. Clearly, the 1990s were a wacky time. Date: 01 May 2016 Place: Santa Irene (Galicia, Spain) The final map:

This fountain was built for the Holy Year of 1999. There is some question in my head over the question of how one actually renders 1999 into Roman numerals. Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s MCMXCIX… or is that MIM? Date: 01 May 2016 Place: Santa Irene (Galicia, Spain) The final map:

We’ve posted many, many photos of the memorials to fallen pilgrims on the Camino. They seem to come in waves, and these last 30 or 40 kilometers have more than their share. Pilgrims will often leave stones at these memorials in tribute to the fallen. I long ago lost count of the number of these memorials. Date: 01 May 2016 […]

After Calzada, we started running into some old friends we hadn’t seen for awhile. Here’s the three musketeers with just two of them. From left to right we have Rebecca, Alicia, Stijn, Francine, and Billy. Date: 01 May 2016 Place: Somewhere near Salceda (Galicia, Spain) The final map:

The Camino is littered with various cafés and bars, and they’re especially thick on the ground for the final 40 or 50 kilometers. I think we’ve stopped at this one in Calzada on each of our three Caminos. I think it’s because you become extremely conscious of the approaching end, and you want to make this glorious experience last. It’s […]

Galicia contains many abandoned buildings and even whole villages. Folks left the rural countryside to find work in the cities, and many of these abandoned properties can be had at an absurdly low price. I remember seeing a village for sale that was less than we paid for Pistachio House. With the spread of the Internet and work-from-home culture, there’s […]

This is a better photo of the woodlands beyond Arzúa, which we walked in the morning light, although our doughty pilgrims are noticeably absent from the image. Date: 01 May 2016 Place: Approaching As Barrosas (Galicia, Spain) The final map:

Our determined pilgrims walk the forests beyond Arzúa, which are beautiful in the morning light. Some day I’ll learn to take these kinds of photos without shadowbombing them. Date: 01 May 2016 Place: Approaching As Barrosas (Galicia, Spain) The final map: