LIVE from the Camino @sharonmonty on the Camino Francés

[sharonmonty]

I arrived in Santiago yesterday aiming to get the bus today from Lavacolla to Samos. Wanted to post as a live from the Camino but couldn’t work out how to do it!
I walked Valenca to SDC with 2 friends 2 years again and it’s so great to be back. Lots of memories came flooding back on my walk from the airport to Lavacolla which is an easy and mostly pretty route.
Didn’t realise my pension is actually on the Camino! Had dinner last night and breakfast this morning at a pilgrim bar which is a little odd since most people are ending not beginning.
Saw a perfect Camino story played out at breakfast. A young couple came in with a very small child perhaps 2 years old He is carrying their bag and she is carrying the child in a harness. Another woman came in with a small child and her off road type pushchair and they started comparing notes about how they were doing. Ended up agreeing to walk together today and put both children in the pushchair! So lovely!

 

[ivar]

I just added the Live from the Camino prefix to this thread... so just keep replying to this thread while you walk and we will "walk" it with you.

Buen Camino!
Ivar

 

[sharonmonty]

I just added the Live from the Camino prefix to this thread... so just keep replying to this thread while you walk and we will "walk" it with you.

Buen Camino!
Ivar

Many thanks!

 

[sharonmonty]

I got the bus from Lavacolla this morning having made sure I was on the right side of the road to get to Samos and not Santiago! At the by stop I met 3 other peregrinas one from Holland and 2 from London ( although they were in fact from Spain and Costa Rica!). A lovely way to start the day.
I’m now in Samos and it is so beautiful. I’m here thanks to recommendations from this forum and I’m glad I took them.
Going to tour the monastery at 4.30.

 

[sharonmonty]

Whilst in Samos I met a few pilgrims who had started in SJDPP who all said it had rained almost every day and they had trouble finding beds.
Yesterday morning I left about 8 to find a heavy drizzle that soon turned to rain and I needed my poncho.
I wanted to take the turn to avoid the road to Sarria which I found without too much difficulty but it’s not signposted at all. Without Wise Pilgrim map I would have missed it. A short while later I took a small left hand path that the map said was the Way. It was wet and the grass was long and I saw no one else. As I emerged I saw pilgrims walking across clearly coming from the road I had left! It was a welcome sight. After that there were plenty of arrows!
I walked through Sarria having met again one of the pilgrims from breakfast. I had a booking at Vilei at Casa Barbedelo again as recommended by this Forum. Why wouldn’t you stay there! It was lovely and the food excellent.
I left about 7.30 this morning and walked through spectacular scenery to Portomarin. Wonderful views across the bridge.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Great photos, @sharonmonty!

 

[sharonmonty]

I left Portomarin yesterday morning with vague thoughts about going to Vilar de Donas but conscious I had a long day already. This was the long walk I had worried about a bit.
I took the short detour to Castro major which was well worth it.
I left at 7 but found the early part of the walk a bit of a struggle without being sure why. It was the first properly warm day.
I stopped for a break around Ligonde and bumped into a couple I had been speaking to while walking that day. They said they were definitely going to Vilar de Domas. That inspired me as I walked in and I took the turning without hesitation even though there was no one else obviously taking it. The walk up was lovely and peaceful. I met a man walking away who said it was closed but he had been to see the outside. I met the couple and we had a look around this amazing ancient structure. Unfortunately couldn’t get in as it wasn’t open as advertised. But still worth the trip.
Made my day so many thanks to my fellow pilgrims for encouraging and inspiring me.

 

[J Willhaus]

I left Portomarin yesterday morning with vague thoughts about going to Vilar de Donas but conscious I had a long day already. This was the long walk I had worried about a bit.
I took the short detour to Castro major which was well worth it.
I left at 7 but found the early part of the walk a bit of a struggle without being sure why. It was the first properly warm day.
I stopped for a break around Ligonde and bumped into a couple I had been speaking to while walking that day. They said they were definitely going to Vilar de Domas. That inspired me as I walked in and I took the turning without hesitation even though there was no one else obviously taking it. The walk up was lovely and peaceful. I met a man walking away who said it was closed but he had been to see the outside. I met the couple and we had a look around this amazing ancient structure. Unfortunately couldn’t get in as it wasn’t open as advertised. But still worth the trip.
Made my day so many thanks to my fellow pilgrims for encouraging and inspiring me.

Good for you! Great detours in this stretch. You may want to consider a cab to Pembre Castle for tonight or tomorrow arfternoon.

 

[WalkingLester]

I just visited Vilar De Donas in early April this year. I looked at tons of websites to try and ascertain when it was open and I got numerous results. It was even more confusing than normal for Spain. In the end, I found out that the church is always closed. You have to communicate with the gentleman who has the key. He will open the church for you and show you around. His name is Don Jesus, he is about 96 years old. His phone number is +34 669 54 40 09. I believe this is the only way to see the church.
My wife and I really wanted to see the church. Due to lack of consistent information regarding the opening hours we wound up staying at Casa Rectoral de Lestedo. They can arrange a visit for you. It is a really nice casa rural, but expensive.
In retrospect we could have just called Don Jesus on our own. Note: he does not speak English.

 

[sharonmonty]

I just visited Vilar De Donas in early April this year. I looked at tons of websites to try and ascertain when it was open and I got numerous results. It was even more confusing than normal for Spain. In the end, I found out that the church is always closed. You have to communicate with the gentleman who has the key. He will open the church for you and show you around. His name is Don Jesus, he is about 96 years old. His phone number is +34 669 54 40 09. I believe this is the only way to see the church.
My wife and I really wanted to see the church. Due to lack of consistent information regarding the opening hours we wound up staying at Casa Rectoral de Lestedo. They can arrange a visit for you. It is a really nice casa rural, but expensive.
In retrospect we could have just called Don Jesus on our own. Note: he does not speak

I just visited Vilar De Donas in early April this year. I looked at tons of websites to try and ascertain when it was open and I got numerous results. It was even more confusing than normal for Spain. In the end, I found out that the church is always closed. You have to communicate with the gentleman who has the key. He will open the church for you and show you around. His name is Don Jesus, he is about 96 years old. His phone number is +34 669 54 40 09. I believe this is the only way to see the church.
My wife and I really wanted to see the church. Due to lack of consistent information regarding the opening hours we wound up staying at Casa Rectoral de Lestedo. They can arrange a visit for you. It is a really nice casa rural, but expensive.
In retrospect we could have just called Don Jesus on our own. Note: he does not speak English.

I hope you enjoyed your visit inside the church. I would have been even happier if I had seen the interior!