Pilgrims on the Way

As we left Sarria, I snapped this photo of the Castelo de Sarria, otherwise known as Torre dos Batallóns. No one knows when it was originally built or by who, though there is evidence of some sort of fort here before the 12th century. Over the centuries it’s been knocked down and rebuilt a couple of times and has served […]

While many pilgrims begin their Camino in Sarria, it was never our intention to stop here for more than lunch. And yet, here we are, setting out from Sarria late in the morning – well, 9am is late on Camino. We are refreshed and determined, and we have dedicated ourselves to getting to Portomarín today. Date: 28 April 2013Place: Sarria […]

Our dinner in Sarria was in a semi-fancy place, and we ate with a group of Irish pilgrims we had befriended. It was a lovely meal with great company. That will end our photos for this day. Tomorrow we begin walking from Sarria on 28 April 2013 with thousands of other pilgrims. Date: 27 April 2013Place: Sarria (Province of Lugo, […]

As I mentioned yesterday, in Sarria Francine and I met up with a group of Irish pilgrims we’d walked with a while back, some of whom I’d met during the first week of my Camino. While Mia may not have been their leader in any formal sense, she was certainly the ringleader! This is how I always remember her, quick […]

We stopped for some tapas here, where we met up with a group of Irish pilgrims we’d walked with a while back – indeed, I’d met some of them the first week of my Camino. I think this was my first taste of pulpo, and probably only the second tapas place I’d been to in Spain. I’m sure I also […]

This statue of King Alfonso IX of Galicia and León (1171-1230) sits in central Sarria. This well-loved king founded the University of Salamanca and convened the Cortes of León in 1188, a parliament that had a wider representation of his people than any other European parliament at the time. He was also the last king of an independent Galicia and […]

Just one quick photo of the interior of the Iglesia Santa Mariña de Sarria. I was fascinated by the images of Santa Mariña flanked by the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. While the architecture of reredos reminded me of my then-parish church of Holy Rosary, the impact of seeing this wood stained (as opposed to being […]

Francine and I spent several hours exploring the central portions of Sarria, a district seemingly populated entirely by pilgrims and those working in pilgrim-related businesses. At the center of this area stands the Iglesia Santa Mariña de Sarria. While there has been a church here since at least the 12th century, the currently structure mostly dates to 1885. Santa Mariña […]

About three hours have elapsed between the previous photo and this one. Those hours included a shower and nap, and so Francine was up and alert and wanting to explore central Sarria. She was most keen to find some Internet access. Back in 2013 when this photo was taken, that was rarer than hens’ teeth along the Camino, especially outside […]

This is probably one of the most iconic photos I took on our first Camino. It’s about two in the afternoon. We made it to the top of the stairs in Sarria. We stopped in the little café there for a late lunch. And Francine, still suffering from fatigue and sleep deprivation thanks to Mad Mike from Manchester, just sort […]