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That's an idea, take the bus to see it but not hike there. I would rather spend my time exploring ancient churches and towns. ThanksI took the bus for a day trip to Fisterra. The town was ok, but hiking around outside of town was really nice. April this year I'm adding A night in Muxia.
I start my Journey from SJPP I will have 41 days, and that must include getting to Madrid and home Mid morning on the 21st of June. I am trying to plan my journey a bit, leaving the Camino spirit to guide me a little. Is it worth the extra time to walk to the Ocean? I live in Washington state and can go anytime. Is it just a youe person party excuse? I'm thinking i would rather spend some extra rest days in the beautiful towns and villages along the way. Also, I don't want to carry poles. I have never used them, I have good knees and ankles, and it will probably drive me crazy. I like my hands free and like to swing my arms. Am I crazy?
I start my Journey from SJPP I will have 41 days, and that must include getting to Madrid and home Mid morning on the 21st of June. I am trying to plan my journey a bit, leaving the Camino spirit to guide me a little. Is it worth the extra time to walk to the Ocean? I live in Washington state and can go anytime. Is it just a youe person party excuse? I'm thinking i would rather spend some extra rest days in the beautiful towns and villages along the way. Also, I don't want to carry poles. I have never used them, I have good knees and ankles, and it will probably drive me crazy. I like my hands free and like to swing my arms. Am I crazy?
I have twice walked to Finisterre. The first time was on my first Camino and I arrived in Santiago with the need to keep walking. Those extra few days took me away from some of those I had met along the way which was a real wrench but it gave me the time to process the pilgrimage. To my immense surprise and joy, many of my Camino friends were in Santiago on my return (by bus) from Finisterre.
The second time I went to Finisterre was via Muxia - for no reason other than that I hadn't been there and, again, I hadn't finished walking. My pilgrimage may finish in Santiago but I find it difficult to then be thrust into a busy environment. I seem to need the space of those extra days for reflection and consolidation of everything I've learnt along the way.
Even though I feel that my pilgrimage finishes in Santiago, I end up in Finisterre feeling like I could keep walking forever. After all, that's why we have legs. Perhaps it's catching the bus that breaks the spell and allows me to move to a post-Camino state.
.... and would recommend stops in Lires and Muxia.
I start my Journey from SJPP I will have 41 days, and that must include getting to Madrid and home Mid morning on the 21st of June. I am trying to plan my journey a bit, leaving the Camino spirit to guide me a little. Is it worth the extra time to walk to the Ocean? I live in Washington state and can go anytime. Is it just a youe person party excuse? I'm thinking i would rather spend some extra rest days in the beautiful towns and villages along the way. Also, I don't want to carry poles. I have never used them, I have good knees and ankles, and it will probably drive me crazy. I like my hands free and like to swing my arms. Am I crazy?
I start my Journey from SJPP I will have 41 days, and that must include getting to Madrid and home Mid morning on the 21st of June. I am trying to plan my journey a bit, leaving the Camino spirit to guide me a little. Is it worth the extra time to walk to the Ocean? I live in Washington state and can go anytime. Is it just a youe person party excuse? I'm thinking i would rather spend some extra rest days in the beautiful towns and villages along the way. Also, I don't want to carry poles. I have never used them, I have good knees and ankles, and it will probably drive me crazy. I like my hands free and like to swing my arms. Am I crazy?
I've never considered walking back to Santiago from Finisterre and don't think I would like meeting other pilgrims at the end of the day knowing that we would be going in opposite directions the next morning. If I had plenty of time left and wanted to keep walking, I would be more inclined to go somewhere else e.g. the Camino Ingles.Hi Julie
Just wondering if you ever contemplated walking back to Santiago from Finisterre?
Our first Camino is coming up in 6 weeks and we were planning (time permitting) to attempt the round trip.
Keen to hear your thoughts and others re pros and/or cons.
Thank you.
Carol
. Perhaps you know about that ritual of burning something (some piece of clothing or a piece of paper having your thoughts written) at the "lands end". Give it a try too. ..
Of course you know you are preaching to the choir.I would love it if this Forum had some sort of mandatory material to read before you are allowed to read further and post. Like this "I have read, understand and agree with the above material" click. All the info I can think of at the moment has to do with respect: for the locals, the land we walk through... :
1. Don't burn items that can still be used - donate, find a non-poluting and more respectful way of symbolising the before and after Camino.
2. Don't trash the place: tp, wrappers, et al. are not ok.
3. Don't over indulge in alcohol keeping everyone up at night while you are mopping up after yourself.
4. And yes, don't trash the place leaving what you may feel is meaningful to you, like your stuffies at Cruz the Ferro, your tagging on property.
And then add all the "be the one who... " ideas to be positive as well
But I want the forum to preach to the choir's prospective members as they show interest in it. You want a tip on getting from point a to point b?, learn about Camino Forum manners first. I want these things in the credencial or the credencial application form as well. And not because I think people are bad, mean, nitwits, but because the vast majority of new Caminoers have never been long distance walkers or campers. I know I never gave these issues a thought before my first Camino, and had I been made aware I would have acted differently. Even the guide books tell you to burn things and the town on fire after all!Of course you know you are preaching to the choir.
Ohh, regarding burning things in Fisterra (and leaving things like boots in a heap or tied to poles), not only have I spoken to locals who said, "Please don't, it leaves a big mess to clean up!", it can go very wrong. Last July when I was there, a fire at the lighthouse got out of hand. The police and the fire department were called, and a helicopter flew over to drop water more than once. During my second Camino I heard that there were three rituals a pilgrim ought to do in order to fully finish their pilgrimage in Fisterra, and burning something was one of them. But I don't know of it being an "official tradition". View attachment 24382
Personally, I like Muxia better. If you don't want to walk, get together with 3 other pilgrims and hire a private taxi to take you to both for a day trip on your time schedule. Usually under €35 each for 4 to share a taxi for the day.Is it worth the extra time to walk to the Ocean?
[ thought you were there in August ( Alan from Scotland)
I never saw any behavior from folks walking like what you describe yet the tourists by bus is another storyFrom my observations there are several strongly established traditions for pilgrims who complete their journey at the Fisterra light-house. Drag a heavy bottle of wine or even a six pack of cerveza all the way to the rocks, but do not under any circumstances take the empties back to the recycling bins by the souvenir shop. Stuff your bocadillo wrap into a crevice in the rocks, this is much like leaving your teddy-bear at Cruz Ferro. Set fire to a random pair of nylon socks you found in the Albergue dump box, or better still a pair of plastic trainers. This tradition in particular adds to the atmosphere at the lighthouse. While performing these rituals remember that you have managed to have a really cheap holiday in a remarkably tolerant country and that someone will clear up after you. Then head to Madrid or Barca for some serious clubbing.
All of which is a bit of a shame because for many of us Fisterra has a significance that extends beyond Roman navigational errors (and hey, they only ever suggested it was the end of the 'known ' world). If you have walked from most of continental Europe then the moors above Cee may well provide you with your first ever sight of an ocean. The sunset, the drowning of the light, is a powerful image that for some means more: "and here we shall rest: at the end of all things", and as some will remember " I am the Alpha and the Omega" the ending and the beginning are one and the same.
For some of us the westering seas and the sunset are particular and special and arrival and a time of quietude mark a moment of significance and an opportunity for observance of the rituals of transition and rebirth. It doesn't usually take long to clean the site and it feels like small sacrifice to do so. Maybe I should be thankful for the opportunity of sacrifice.
I am thankful that no guidebook, app, blog or helpful website has yet suggested that pilgrims should burn their socks in the Praza Obradoiro.
I would love it if this Forum had some sort of mandatory material to read before you are allowed to read further and post. Like this "I have read, understand and agree with the above material" click. All the info I can think of at the moment has to do with respect: for the locals, the land we walk through... :
1. Don't burn items that can still be used - donate, find a non-poluting and more respectful way of symbolising the before and after Camino.
2. Don't trash the place: tp, wrappers, et al. are not ok.
3. Don't over indulge in alcohol keeping everyone up at night while you are mopping up after yourself.
4. And yes, don't trash the place leaving what you may feel is meaningful to you, like your stuffies at Cruz the Ferro, your tagging on property.
And then add all the "be the one who... " ideas to be positive as well, such as "Be the one who folds up her blanket in the morning", "Be the one who cleans the washing basing whem he is done with it" ...
Ohh, regarding burning things in Fisterra (and leaving things like boots in a heap or tied to poles), not only have I spoken to locals who said, "Please don't, it leaves a big mess to clean up!", it can go very wrong. Last July when I was there, a fire at the lighthouse got out of hand. The police and the fire department were called, and a helicopter flew over to drop water more than once. During my second Camino I heard that there were three rituals a pilgrim ought to do in order to fully finish their pilgrimage in Fisterra, and burning something was one of them. But I don't know of it being an "official tradition". View attachment 24382
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