Finisterre Camino July 2013

20 June - Cee to Finisterre - Stage 4

I powered on from Cee, along the coast and inland, up hill and down dale, through towns and country side.

Games tables in the street, left overnight, no guard, no theft.

Beautiful walk

Reached Finisterre. Did not leave my bag at a hotel, just walked up the long hill. In hindsight totally crazy. In the rain.

Such important landmarks

Dinner, thick soup to warm up. The table mat was a map of the area.

The fishing museum is well worth a visit

Hooray! The Compostella to prove your pilgrimage

19 June - Olveiroa to Cee - Stage 3

I left Olveiroa in the rain.

Thank goodness for the poncho. Mud.

Through the trees saw the sea

Came out of the mountains to the coast

Getting nearer to the 'end of the world' or Finisterre

Booked into a hotel. Lovely menu. The Spanish use many types of shellfish in their menus. These are razor clams.

The bathroom/shower had fittings that were new to me

18 June - Negreira to Olveiroa - Stage 2

I walked and walked. I was powerfully walking.

Stopped for coffee at bars patronised by pilgrims

I arrived at a town and could not get accommodation in an albergue or hotel. I landed up at a home which had a room. Met two young persons, who had colds and gave me a cold.

Starch and protein for dinner

17 June - Santiago to Negreira – Stage 1 - about 17km

Left huge, cold, awful albergue of Seminario Menor Albergue de Peregrinos. This place was used by pilgrims for centuries. We have become pampered and do not like cold or sleeping in dormitories.

As I walked into the medieval centre of Santiago I watched the high school drop-off congestion.
Went to Obradoiro Square in front of the Cathedral. Took some photos and took the route suggested at Santiago tourism – Galician tourism had been closed (late and Sunday) and no book shops had been open. I just followed the yellow arrows. Bumped into Petra as she was going into the centre from her albergue. Saw all the Santiago mothers and fathers taking their kids to crèche.

The path meandered out of town. I had no map! I just followed arrows that did not seem to follow a clear direction. Felt much better when some people overtook me, it meant I was on the right road. It started to rain. Visibility became poor. On I went. At a bar met some youngsters who gave me a map, so small it would fit in the palm of my hand. And that was the only map I had for my rainy wet trip to Fisterra. The route was marked for three walking days, 22, 33 and 30. There was no way I could do those long distances but ...

I walked, I walked. I bought and carried extra bocadellios in view of no bars on the map.

First town of Negreira – I went into the first hotel, Tamara, to get accommodation. They must get used to dripping people arriving with their sticks, rucksacks and ponchos. Dinner was served after 8 so I washed clothes, towel-dried them, slept, and went down later. The bar/dining room was managed by 1 person with at least 10 tables, and about 15 at the bar. These Spanish people move quicker than South African hotel/bar staff. The rain continued throughout the meal.

The pilgrim passport collected many stamps.