Pilgrims on the Way

From the sublime to the silly. It seems like whenever we are in Galicia, I take way too many photos of the ubiquitous cows. I can’t help it. These are huge animals, they’re everywhere, and some of them, like this curious specimen on the left – or the famous hipster cow of San Xil – are just brimming with quirky […]

The forests of Galicia feel ancient, and humans have trod these forest paths for hundreds of thousands of years. The routes of some of the paths and roads the Camino follows are far older than the Camino itself. While pilgrims have stamped holloways on the Way, something that can be accomplished in mere centuries, sometimes you see something like this […]

According to the signs, we’re just past Renche and presumably on our way towards Real, though the signs don’t mention that particular village. It’s just as well, as “Real” might be the name on the map below, but in real life the village is called San Martiño do Real. There’s no sign for that name, either. Meanwhile, there is a […]

Apologies for the erratic posting! Yesterday I was fighting a migraine, and today a cold. Here we see some folks taking a dip in the Río Sarria, which the Camino has been following now for a bit. What is their story? Are they pilgrims? A local family? Date: 26 April 2013Place: somewhere between Triacastela and Samos (Province of Lugo, Galicia, […]

Here Francine and Eamon walk through a forested stretch of the Galician Camino. We are on our way to Samos, which is an ancient Benedictine monastery on an “alternative route” – a half-day’s detour, really. It’s very much worth the extra time. Not only is Samos itself not to be missed, but the route is a pleasant walk that can […]

The tiny hamlets continue to spread from the Camino route up the hills and into the woods and meadows on either side. I find this entire stretch of the Way almost indescribably romantic and bucolic. It’s almost Hobbity. Date: 26 April 2013Place: between Triacastela and Samos (Province of Lugo, Galicia, Spain)Today started: Fonfría (Province of Lugo, Galicia, Spain)

This tree is a reminder that not every piece of art on the Camino is man-made. The river here is the Río Sarria. This part of the Way follows along the river on and off all the way to Samos. Date: 26 April 2013Place: between Triacastela and Samos (Province of Lugo, Galicia, Spain)Today started: Fonfría (Province of Lugo, Galicia, Spain)

Between Triacastela and Samos, the Camino passes through a string of tiny hamlets that seem to be administratively organized into long, skinny villages strung out along the road. Here we see Francine and Eamon in what may or may not be part of the village of Renche. Date: 26 April 2013Place: between Triacastela and Samos (Province of Lugo, Galicia, Spain)Today […]

At some point, the Camino route leaves the highway to briefly follow… an old, abandoned highway. Well, some sort of numbered road, anyway. My guess is that they rerouted a curve at some point, leaving this old segment, like an oxbow lake, cut off from the main road. Date: 26 April 2013Place: between Triacastela and Samos (Province of Lugo, Galicia, […]