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