LIVE from the Camino Unplugging and enjoying the cruise control

[pa’delante]

What a great gift Spain gives to us!

I started the camino after a flight from Amsterdam to Oporto and bus to Valença. It was great to cross the Portugués -Spain border and see the first yellow sign at which point I knew I could unplug from my phone and enjoy the cruise control the yellow arrow gives us!

As I crossed the bridge, I could see Tui’s cathedral from afar, a small resemblance of how you can see Santiago’s cathedral from afar.

Had a nice dinner at the city center and looking forward to tomorrow.

 

[Pingram]

What a great gift Spain gives to us!

I started the camino after a flight from Amsterdam to Oporto and bus to Valença. It was great to cross the Portugués -Spain border and see the first yellow sign at which point I knew I could unplug from my phone and enjoy the cruise control the yellow arrow gives us!

As I crossed the bridge, I could see Tui’s cathedral from afar, a small resemblance of how you can see Santiago’s cathedral from afar.

Had a nice dinner at the city center and looking forward to tomorrow.

Can’t wait to hear more. We are going to start from this same point in late September and as newbies we’re interested to follow along with you first.

 

[pa’delante]

Enjoyed a nice 19 km walk from Tui to Oporino through the mountains and rivers. As I exited Tui I talked to a local lady who was eager to share her morning walk with a pilgrim.
As I stepped out of edge of town I felt like I was trading paved roads and digital maps for dirt paths and yellow arrows.
It was my sign to turn the cell phone off and follow the signs to Oporińo.

 

[david g]

If only more pilgrims followed your example! Walking the camino is one of the very best times to ditch your phone and just experience being in the moment. Enjoy every minute of it.

 

[henrythedog]

It’s actually not a bad idea to turn your phone off whilst crossing the bridge then back on again as it’ll be trying to stay connected to the Portuguese network and will not work until it realises you’re now in Spain.

 

[pa’delante]

Today I started the Camino Espiritual portion … it’s been one of the best Camino days. I realized this morning that my bed neighbor was @LuisaR author of a nice post thread I had been following in this forum.

Woke up to rain, convinced that th long track day to Combarro would be miserable… but little did I know my best camino day was yet to start.

At the split of Pontevedra I realized the gentleman sitting on a bench was Mikael. An experienced pilgrim who at 77 was going to put his walking sticks down. I was thinking of him today thinking the day would make it too dangerous for him…but he was well ahead of me. Sitting on this bench where life allowed us to say goodbye to our walks, as we had the same speed! At 47, I can hope to have his spirit and energy and gracefully do a last camino.

I crossed the hills to arrive to Camino Espiritual- which had a different feel. Less pilgrims and I narrower paths I could sense the old times! I visited the Monastery which framed the day with a pilgrim mural and pilgrim ‘commandments’.
Finally arriving to the seaside town of Combarro was a treat. Tiny stone town you could walk in 10 min but wished you had a rest day as the coast like is lined with hórreos, where witches are known for good luck, and amazing non-pretentious restaurants where the king is known to eat. A Camino Day to cherish. Buen Camino

 

[JCarpenter]

I heard the most unusual sound crossing that bridge. I would have missed it if I had headphones on. It was a mob (herd? Richness? Gang?) of what I think were minks. Very eerie and loud.
And what would you call a group of pilgrims? We must have our own group name.

 

[AllisonMarie]

I heard the most unusual sound crossing that bridge. I would have missed it if I had headphones on. It was a mob (herd? Richness? Gang?) of what I think were minks. Very eerie and loud.
And what would you call a group of pilgrims? We must have our own group name.

a pulchritude of pilgrims? A plenitude of pilgrims?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

a pulchritude of pilgrims? A plenitude of pilgrims?

How about a plethora of pilgrims?

 

[Anamya]

How about a plethora of pilgrims?

Haven't we been calling it the "Conga line" for a while?

Jokes aside, I'm loving to read Padelante's and Luisa's stories in parallel!

 

[pa’delante]

The last day of the camino started at 6:45 am boarding the Pigrim Boat at Vilanova de Arausa to Pontecesures with a growing pilgrim family. Three guys from Cadiz, a region in Spain known for their humor, brought much energy and laughter as we were trying to wake up before sunrise. We exchanged the sagas of the soggy days, broken shoes and blisters and irony that the Monasteries of Poio and Armería where 5 star hotels that did not welcome pilgrims…. We enjoyed a guided boat tour of the 12 Via Crusis and rich camino history of the arrival of Saint James’ body. Though a bit worried about the 28 km ahead, I was so full of energy and good spirits that I kept breaking my walking records. I did most of the walk with Jose, a Pilgrim from Spain discovering his new body after losing almost 140 Kilos and 2 Portuguese pilgrims who at 68 were warming up for a longer camino to celebrate their 70’s! And RE: Myself reflecting that a year ago I had arrived with heavier baggage, a sexual assault at Caldas de Reis during the camino and looking for a more fulfilling job. Today was different I was arriving to Santiago full of gratitude for the strength and new opportunities this last year brought- a slow but steady process towards a trial with hopes to remove a rotten apple from the Camino and a new very exciting job. The family fortunately has been a steady support. I did a few more stops than usual because I’ve learned I enjoy the camino itself more than arriving at Santiago! Thanks for the reset of the Camino… I start my new life chapter renewed with energy, renewed inner peace and gratitude for this and the community that we meet along. Buen Camino-

PS two Camino nuggets. This is a photo of the towers that were used to blow smoke and signal the camino was safe and free of pirates/thieves so Pilgrims could make their way. And a photo of the rock (Perron) used to Anchor the boat carrying Santiago’s body which sits at Padrón- named for this pedron.