El Camino

We stood up at about 7am and said goodbye to Saya, the very nice japanese pelegrina we ate with yesterday. She made photos while we were going. We hadn’t any breakfast so we were really thankful for a bar where we could donate how much we wanted to pay. And there were dogs and cats and Laura didn’t want to go away from the cat so we had to wait a long time till she had enough from petting. After about 14km we arrived at Finisterre and we ate at the bar Etel & Pan Burgers and it was very tasty, this was also a recommendation from Saya.
Now we’re sitting at the end of the world (cape Finisterre) and it’s about 1 and a half hour before sunset and it looks really beautiful and gorgeous.

Today we walked about 14 km from Muxia to Lires on our way to Finisterre. There were many ups and downs, cute little cats, hens and chicks, wind power plants and Eucalyptus trees. We downloaded the gpx tracks for the Camino Finisterre for Laura and Johanna. Then Laura walked on her own most of the time. At noon we arrived in Lires and checked into our Albergue. Then we saw many fish and herons (Fischreiher) on our walk in the afternoon.

Yesterday in the evening we had a very nice dinner with Maylin and Alessa. Afterwards we spotted the shadow-pilgrim, that you can only see at night.
Today we stood up at 6 a.m. and had our breakfast at the Seminario Menor. After that we went to the bus station and saw two other pilgrims again. Then we took the bus to Muxia and the ride took more than 2 hours. After checking in, in the albergue we had lunch. We went up a hill with a very nice view and a cross. The wind was so strong that we could lean into the wind. Then we went to the church and the lighthouse of Murxia. The waves were high and we had a very nice scenery. Afterwards we went back to the albergue and had the normal routine (Taking a shower, power nap, preparing the bagpacks for the next day, shopping at Froiz, selecting a restaurant,…). A Spanish couple asked for the brand of Johannas sunglasses because the wife liked it so much. Then we answered with the help of google translator that it was from a tourist shop in Rome. We are missing the pilgeims of the last days(Maylin, Alessa, Daniel, Andrea, Petra, …)

We had breakfast at the Seminario Menor after sleeping really well. The croissants were tasteful. After that Laura and Johanna went to the center of Santiago and looked around. Martin went to the bus station so we have tickets to Muxia for tomorrow. Then we saw the tomb of Saint James and layed our hands on his shoulders (a statue of him). In the Museum of the cathedral we learned more about the history, architecture and about pilgrimage to Santiago. And we saw the burning coal for the Botufameiro.

Laura bought a necklace of black onix stone and Johanna bought a chain for the chain pendant a woman had given us on the beginning of our pilgrimage. We ate lunch in the park of the Seminario Menor. We made a power nap and the reservations for the next days.

Afterwards we want to meet Maylin and Alessa for dinner and we are looking forward to it.

Today we walked about 16 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. Our alarm rang at 4.00 and we started walking at about4. 40. It was dark for some time and we walked below the moon and the stars. We ate our prepared donuts in the dark and we were in the suburbs of Santiago soon. At some time we saw the cathedral for the first time and we went into a cafe. Then the last few hundred meters and we were at the place before the cathedral – we made it! Then we went to the pilgrims mass and got the compostela afterwards. We ate in a restaurant and checked in at seminario menor – single rooms this time. After a power nap where Johanna forgot her alarm and several other guests reacted to our tries to wake her up through the locked door before Johanna… She finally woke up and we will meet with other pilgrims and eat something.

Today we walked about 13 kilometers so it was a reallly relaxed day. On the way we met Petra, Andrea and Daniel, pilgrims we know since the albergue in Briallos. We had our breakfast near a small river and before we had met the cutest dog of whole Spain! Johanna also met the little version of her backpack. We got a beautiful stamp in a church and afterwards we rested in a bar with Petra and Andrea and ate Smarti Ice Cream. Later we fed the cutest black cat of whole spain with chicken from yesterday dinner. Now we are relaxing in the garden of our hostel and later we will prepare everything for tomorrow: the big day! 🙂

Today we walked about 21 kilometers from Briallos to Pontecesures. We started in the dark and had a nice sunrise. In Caldas de Reis we bought very good pastry and baguette for the breakfast. We saw many goats, dogs and cats. It rained for the first time and so we could test successfully our rain gear. Afterwards we want to eat with the pilgrims we met yesterday.

Today we walked almost 20 kilometers from Pontevedra to Briallos in the south of Caldas de Reis. Today Matthias had dinner early… So we started dinner early with Matthias before the blog… And then Daniel had his 49th birthday… And now it is after 22:30 in the dark sleeping room… So only a short blog entry today.

Today we walked almost 20 kilometers so it was relaxed. We ate our breakfast at the albergue and started walking while the sun rised. We saw a beautiful church and Laura walked most of the time with her backpack. Because of the Galician hills we always had to walk up and down but the landscape was really beautiful 🙂 And there was beautiful music because of a bagpipe player. We also found the smaller version/the younger sister of Johannas backpack 🙂 When we went shopping in Pontevedra in the first Aldi it felt a little bit like coming home because we bought Brezn! Now we are looking forward to the dinner and meeting other pilgrims we know already.

We walked from O Porriño to Cesantes. Today we saw the first waymarker with less than 100km distance to Santiago. We saw a very lovely cat which reminded us of our cat Sisi at home.

We wanted to get more money that we have not to sleep in the woods.. But the first ATM (Geldautomat) did not give us money… But we were very lucky that the next ATM gave us cash. Johanna walked again forward to the Cesantes to get our 3 beds… All of us are looking forward to the 3-course-menu in the albergue.