Lavacolla to Seattle

Departure day has arrived.  What a great trip this has been.  With all it's frustrations, accomplishments, dry days, wet days, aching feet, and symphonic snoring nights, it has been great.

Paulette is a trooper, a motivator, and easy to travel with. 

I'm glad I came.  I'm glad we walked.  I'm glad I pushed myself beyond the pain and frustration.  It could have turned out so different, but it turned out just like it was supposed to.

This trip has really been so much like my life.  In looking back over the last 54 years, I've been through a lot in my life,  and I'm glad I pushed through to see really how incredible life can be.

Thanks for following along.  It's been a great journey.

When I get home, I will start adding photos to go along with each stage.  The blog app didn't work well for adding photos via phone.

Santiago de Compostela to Lavacolla

Today we leave for Lavacolla, city next to airport.  We decided that we'd rather be closer in the morning to airport since our flight leaves at 925am.  We need to be at airport by 725am, so that cuts about an hour off our morning.  Bus ride from here to airport is 5 minutes and we catch it at 7,  instead of 6, if we left from Santiago de Compostela.

Today, our last full day in Spain and we woke to wind and rain.  Obviously, Spain is giving us a sign that she is ready for us to go home.  I'm ready too.

We headed down for breakfast, paid our hotel bill, and, due to my foot and the rain, got a taxi to bus station.  Within 15 minutes we were on bus east to airport.  Once we arrive at airport, we get taxi to our hotel, most expensive 5 minute taxi ride ever, 10€.  Good grief!

Arrived at hotel at 1115.  Check in at Noon.  We sat around waiting, got checked into room. 

This hotel has cafe/restaurant,  so we don't even have to leave building.  About 2pm, I went down to eat.  Seafood was their specialty,  I don't eat seafood.  Salad was my option with bread and a Spanish drink; beer with lemonade.   Good enough, til dessert, ice cream cake. 

As I finished my lunch, a family came in to eat.  Grandparents, parents, and one adorable little boy.  Blonde with brown eyes and so cute.  Reminded me of Cory, who is 29 years old this month, I miss that little boy.  Also reminded me of the cutest grandson on the planet, mine, Jackson.  He will be 17 months old tomorrow, time is flying by so fast.

Family here is more extended and relied upon.  Many, many grandparents here are the care takers of their grandchildren.  The extended family that we, in the US, used to rely on, but don't much anymore. 

Fortunately for my son, Travis,  his mother in law is Jackson's care taker.   Very lucky for them they have such an incredible support sysyem.  They are blessed, as am I.

Another day done!

Santiago de Compostela - Day 3a

Well, I'm learning my way around. Sign that I've been here too long.  It is really easy to get lost here.  All the streets look the same, old town is on a hill so getting your directional bearings is a little difficult. 

I wanted to hit up a few places today that I'd found yesterday.  So to do that, meant going down same streets and remembering where you went.  I did remember and found those stores and more. I'm not a shopper just to shop, I usually only shop when I am looking for something specific. I save lots of money that way.

Cooler today than it's been this whole trip.  Jacket required and even mine wasn't quite enough.

It seems every trek through town, I find cool stuff to photograph. My "cloud" account is full and can't back up anymore stuff.   I'll have to download all my photos when I get home.

It's lunch time here and I need to eat something, but I'm tired of the food here.  We have noticed that every restaurant serves the same food, looks same, tastes the same. So when we've found a restaurant that isn't playing that game, we've really enjoyed the change.

This hotel has agreement with restaurant that will deliver and their food is good and not the usual. Therefore that's what we've had for dinner last few nights and I will have for lunch today.

Went back to old town after 2 hour break.   I noticed something the other day, this city and most others in Spain reuse and remodel. They do not tear down and build new.  Partly I'm sure because the cost,  but I also wonder if it's a mind set or culture.   The history here is thick and rich, tearing that down could be painful.

Been a good relaxing day.

Packing tonight for our departure tomorrow, saying goodbye to Santiago de Compostela.

Another day done!

Santiago de Compostela - Day 2a

Bed here is more comfortable, definitely slept better.

Walked too much yesterday and my foot and shin feeling it today.  Paulette left pretty early to find a museum. Too much walking for me.  I stayed in, took shower, and then left about 1130.

Went to a few places today that I didn't the day before.  Found a great art galllery, a few things that I would buy, but didn't.

Back at cathedral where peregrinos arrive every day, amazing how many do the Camino. Met a couple from Lynnwood, Seahawks caps tipped me off.  Somewhere in that crowd are a few people I met on our Camino.

While wondering around, met a couple from Bend, Oregon. They'd attempted Camino 2 years ago, but she fell and broke several things in the fall.  They weren't able to finish. So 2 years later, they came back and finished.

John and I discussed doing Camino together in a few years, I want to finish. It's amazing how 'incomplete', which isn't really the right word, I feel about this trip. I need to get to point I feel ok about how it went, just not there now.

Spent last part of my evening sipping down a Mojito. First experience with Mojito was in Aruba about 10 or so years ago.  Boy, got me hooked and few bars make them right.   Thus bar/cafe had it right, really good.  It was good way to end evening by cathedral.

Walked back to room, spent the next few hours doing nothing.  I tried watching TV, but it's over dubbed in Spanish and English subtitles aren't available here.

After Paulette returned we ordered pizza and salad.  Much better than going out to find food.

Another day in Santiago de Compostela done!

Finisterre to Santiago de Compostela

Today we checked out of our apartment in Finisterre to catch an 1145 bus to Santiago de Compostela.  Double decker bus and we got top front seats.  Long ride, 3.25 hours.  Lots of stops in small towns, but great scenery and quiet ride.

Our hotel is 5 min walk from bus station and about 10 min from old town.  Great location.  We are here for 3 nights, then we head out to Lavacolla for 1 night.  Lavacolla is a few minutes from airport as opposed to 30 from Santiago de Compostela.

We checked in, I decided to head out, feeling claustrophobic.  Got great directions to old town.  I wanted to pick up few things for people at home.  The souvenir shops are plenty, they all sell about same stuff, with a few exceptions.

Walked around for hours, bought some stuff and then went to find food.   The cafe, bar, restaurant thing is still confusing to me of who serves what and when.  Nothing I found looked good, walked back to room.

Paulette was still hanging out in room, found out I could order food delivered.  She had ordered hamburger, so I did same.

I called John via whatsapp and we talked short time til my food arrived.  I could only eat about half the burger, a few fries, and a few bites of dessert.  Definitely a waste of food and money.

Seemed like a long day.

Another day done.

Finisterre -Day 3

Sleeping better, fewer issues with pain at night.

Spent morning relaxing at table drinking coffee.  Had fruit for breakfast. Decided to wash a few things, so I stayed behind as Paulette headed into town to get her Internet fix. Took shower and then ate just before we headed out.

Today we went to the lighthouse. This is the starting point from Finisterre to Santiago de Compostela for peregrinos coming from coast.   It is also the "end of the world" and ending point for many peregrinos coming through Santiago de Compostela. 

It's about 3km from town up a gentle road, which has a pathway for peregrinos.  It was a pretty walk, with a church  and lots of water views.

About a third of the way there Paulette spotted something in water, dolphins. This area is known for the dolphin pods.  We watched them for 15 min or so.  They were slowly and gracefully swimming the coastline. We were up on the road, too far away for a photo.  We saw them again on our way home.

Then we went back to apartment, ate, and rested. Then I headed for beach and Paulette to town (Internet).  I sat at the beach watching 4 young girls dive into the surf and climb out again, over and over.  They were having such fun, each was probably about 10 or 11.  Very confident and comfortable in the water and crashing surf.

Met up with Paulette and wondered around town.  Decided to get drink and snack.  Paulette got cognac and pink scallops. I got their version of Mojito, which was simply Mojito rum, then Santiago cake with vanilla ice cream.   Everything substantial on the menu was fish or extremely expensive. Number 1, I don't eat fish, Number 2, I don't spend 38€ on rice with veggies.

It was sufficient. We headed back and went to bed. 

Tomorrowland we head back to Santiago de Compostela for 3 nights.

Another day done.

Finisterre -Day 2

Our pre-arrival planning paid off well.  Our apartment is central to town and the owner also owns the grocery store around the corner.  At 30€ a night, it's a bargain. 

Paulette washed her clothes and hung them out. I went for walk to parts of town we hadn't seen, got some mediocre breakfast and then checked emails.

The one thing missing from our apartment is WiFi.  Most of the places we've stayed had it, this one doesn't, at least not officially.  We've been picking up a signal from someone's router, but it's pretty weak and inconsistent.

Headed north of town to see what I could find.  Passed a few peregrinos coming into town as I was walking their route into Finisterre.  Found the 'edge' of town, the location of the cross peregrinos lay their worries and prayers. Very beautiful location above a beach.

Headed back to town to apartment. With only one key, I had to leave it with Paulette   so she could lock up if she left.  I'd been gone about 2 hours, I hoped she'd still be there.  Got her attention by whistling from the street. I went to buy coffee, since we have our own coffee maker.

Paulette decided to do some cooking, save us money and have stuff we like.  She made lentils with bacon, veggies, etc.  I'm glad she can cook. We also had spaghetti and salad.

Went back to town later just to get out.  I still don't do much walking.  My right shin is more painful now than my left heel.  Good Grief!

Another day gone.