Galicia to Santiago de Compostela. "The end is nigh!"

Onward to Santiago : 160Km's

Reaching places of significance on a journey such as this generates an internal contradictory emotion of achievement coupled with a realisation of unsettled pending finality. This is more so having experienced similar emotions upon completing our previous Camino. A counter to this is knowing that sections of the remaining journey are some of the most beautiful to be encountered. 

Pilgrim monument

Sarria is very significant in that it is 110km's from Santiago and is the starting point for the majority of pilgrims walking the Camino as 100Km's is the minimum distance required to walk to be eligible for the 'Compostela' (certificate issued, if wanted, at the completion in Santiago de Compostela). This makes this leg of the Camino extremely busy and at times extremely disconcerting as the atmosphere can be more like a travelling circus with large groups of the younger generation with mobile music devices purely in holiday mode. Still, each to their own.

'Horreos' a corn and grain storage house common through Galicia and Portugal. It is raised for protection from vermin All different sizes (2018 photo)

Approaching Portomarin

Portomarin is a relocated town that made way for the damming of the Mino river in the 1960's. All the buildings of significance were dismantled and rebuilt on the site of the new town which is a short distance from the original location. When the water level of the dam is low, as in the above photos, remains of the ancient buildings can be seen.  This wasn't the case last time we passed through as the water level was very high but this year  has witnessed a bad drought.  

The rebuilt church in Portomarin 

A stand of 'gums' 

I implanted my home made staff in the ground behind the gum in 2018

It was along here I left my home made staff-no where to be found, not that I expected to find it

10 K's

Nothing to be said!

Post Script

  

From Leon to the the 4th and final Province of Galicia (Galithia)

 Leon to O'Cebreiro

The city of Leon epitomises European ancient history. The Romans established a military garrison for it's V11th Legion from which Leon's (Legion) name was inherited. It became a regional Kingdom, eventually conquered by Visigoth (the Goths), the Moors from Northern Africa and subsequently the Christians in the earliest of wars against Islam still reverberating to this day. In fact, despite the religious slant of the Camino's history, the Pilgrim path across Northern Spain was established as a trade route after the area was euphemistically 'cleared' of it's Muslim inhabitants (another story). Coming from our 'new world' experiencing places such as Leon can be historically daunting and amazingly fascinating at the same time.     

Pilgram Monument, and above 2 photos from 2018

Leon Cathedral

Early start passing the Paradore Hotel (old convent). The 2nd top photo is the same under renovation back in 2018

On reaching the outskirts of Leon there is a choice of two routes to take. One follows the busy highway for 21kms and the alt. route climbs back up to the Meseta Plateau in open country to Villar de Mazarife also 21kms. This was our chosen route as in 2018 for peace and quiet. This also turned out to be the wettest next two days of our Camino.

 The last and wet stage  of the Meseta

Villar de Mazarife

Rain

More rain, but snug!

Water tower

Still more rain

Puente de Orbigo. The bridge over the Orbigo River is one of the oldest, best preserved and longest medieval bridges in Spain built over an original Roman Bridge

Approaching Astorga

Biggest railway pedestrian crossing you'll ever see

Astorga Cathedral

Another memorial site

Cruz de ferro. It is a tradition to leave your burdens behind here. Your burden takes the form of a rock you bring from home and place here to leave behind

Highest point of the Camino Frances

It's high

Molineseca, a favourite

Busy skies

Castle at Ponferrada

The top of O'Cebreiro (Sculpture of woman pilgram resting)

Into Galicia