Dave & I set a pretty aggressive itinerary for walking the Camino. We committed to 25-34 km daily, depending on elevation changes. We soon learned, in comparing notes with other pilgrims, that we had a more ambitious schedule with no “rest” days in the big cities and more kilometers/day planned. So we entered into a …
Author: Sarah Smith
Day 34: Finisterre
Yesterday, while getting dressed for the remaining 21km in to Santiago, I happily declared “This is the last time that I will put these hiking boots on for a while!” This morning, we had planned a day trip to Finisterre. It was rainy and chilly. I could not wear my flip flops as planned. …
Gambas
After we crossed the Pyrenees at the beginning of our walk, there have been cyclists on the Camino. About a week ago, the number increased…. and we found out that a cyclist must ride 200km in order to receive the Compostela (which takes about 3 days). To bike the entire French Way takes …
Livin’ On A Prayer
“The Way”— is the movie that started it all. Dave & I had heard about the Camino while living in London, but watching the movie really made an impression and we decided to add this to our list of “Things To Do”. The movie stars Martin Sheen and is directed by his son, Emilio Estevez. …
Béisbol
Yesterday, we had no wifi or cell service. When’s the last time that happened to You?? So, Dave & I began an earnest discussion of baseball. The Detroit Tigers are not starting well. NY Yankees are mediocre. Boston Red Sox seem to be on fire! I love baseball. Born and raised in Richmond, VA, the …
Questions from Family & Friends
We have received lots of questions regarding our journey. Here is an attempt to answer them… * What time do you start walking every day? Between 7:30-9am, and we are walking about 7-8hrs every day. We are learning that we prefer getting started early and arriving at the destination a bit before dinner, in order …
The Way
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is named in honor of St. James the Greater, the taller of the two apostles named James. James worked as a fisherman alongside his brother, John, before becoming Disciples of Christ. Following the death & Resurrection of Jesus, the apostles began to spread the gospel. As part of his …
“The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah
“The Nightingale” is a book about a young French lady during WWII. She became part of the Resistance and assisted downed Allied pilots to escape Nazi-occupied France across the Pyrenees’s Mountains into Spain. This historical fiction book was published in 2015 and is based on true events. There is movie set to be released in …
The Scallop Shell ( & St. Christopher)
The most iconic symbol of the Camino is the Scallop Shell. It appears along the way, to guide pilgrims to the correct path. It is painted on poles, trees, sidewalks, etc, and also attached to backpacks or worn by pilgrims as identification. In Medieval times, the scallop shell, found on the coast of Galicia, Spain, …