I've walked my camino for the second time, the first on the road and the second on the web. My regular post will end here. From time to time I might add a few camino related articles. Until my next journey, Buen Camino!
Below is a tabblo that I've created from some of the leftover pictures that I have taken. Enjoy.
After Muxia, it's a quick stop at Padrón. Padrón is a day's walk from Santiago.
And Padrón's religious importance? This was where the body of St. James after his martyr was suppose to have been disembarked after being brought back to Spain from Jerusalem.
View of Padrón
A closer view with church of Santa Maria de Iria on top.
My next stop after Fisterra is Muxia. According to legend, the Virgin Mary put into port her stone boat in Galicia to encourage St. James in his preaching in Spain. The spot is now the sanctuary of Nosa Señora da Barca.
The lighthouse at the edge of Muxia.
The sanctuary of Nosa Señora da Barca.
Another view.
Beautiful Galician coastline, taken from the sanctuary.
Fisterra (or Finisterre) is the end of the world during the medieval times prior to Columbus's discovery of the New world. Many pilgrims in the past continued their journey to Fisterra (another 3 days). There they will pick up dead clam shells along the coast to prove that they had been to the ocean.
I had plan a 5 days buffer for my journey and had actually arrived in Santiago 1 day earlier. Unfortunately I couldn't walk to Fisterra because to my ankle.
Instead, I'd managed to rent a car in Santiago to be returned to Madrid 6 days later (my flight departing Spain), giving me more than ample time to explore Galicia.
My first stop. Fisterra.
Finally, after 2 days of pain I've arrived at Santiago de Compostela.
In a way I felt an emptiness as I did not want it to end. That's when I realized that the camino is the journey, not the destination.
Melide is the last place that I took pictures other than Monte do Gozo. It is two days away from Santiago and my ankles was killing me (later discovered to be Tendonitis). Limping into town, many pilgrims told me to stop walking as they can see I was in pain with every step I took. I asked them what they would in my shoes so close to Santiago? Immediately there was an understanding. Nothing will stop me from completing my pilgrimage, which I did 2 days later.
Bridge outside Melide.
Pilgrims taking a rest in the middle of this small city.
What's a Spanish town without churches and cathedrals?
A cat send off for the pilgrims the next morning.
The walk in the morning to Portomarin was dreamy, especially in the fog. Later, I heard that the old Portomarin was flooded after a dam was built nearby and this is the new Portomarin. Some pilgrims claimed that they can still see the old houses underwater. Too bad I did get to see it.
It's not the clouds below but a fog blanket.
Fog and rainbow, like a fairy tale.
The bridge crossing to Portomarin.
The Gate of Portomarin after the bridge.
Iglesia de Portomarin. With a pilgrim statue and a life pilgrim posing.
The narrow bridge crossing out of Portomarin.
A Pilgrim crossing the bridge.
Shot taken from the middle of the bridge. It will be almost noon before the flog dissipated.
From Sarria, it is less than 120 km to Santiago. This is the last major city/town for pilgrim to start walking to Santiago in order to get their compostela (minimum 100 km on foot, 200 km on a bicycle). The city knows it, and that is why there are so many shops catering to walking/hiking gears.
The city from the top of the hill.
Church of San Salvador. With well drawn pilgrim murals.
The last building on the way out of Sarria. The Convent of La Magdalena.
The wet climate of Galicia made it appears almost magical.
Granite church before Samos.
Even the roof tiles here are granite due to the ample rainfall in this region. 
Tiny shelter, probably in reverence to a local Saint.
Archway after Sarria.
A Brazilian pilgrim told me in O Cebreiro that if I could, I should stay in Samos next. The albergue is on the monastery and it would be a good experience to stay there.
When I found Triacastela to be too commercial with many private albergues, I decided to push another 6 km to Samos.
Beautiful rainbow on the way down O Cebreiro.
Outside Samos. A nice view of the monastery.
The oldest monastery in Spain. Founded in the 6th century by St Martin of Braga.
A tour inside the monastery.
Unfortunately the tour did not include the library. During the medieval time, only the clergy had access to learning and books.
It was a very tough climb up the mountain to O Cebreiro for me. This was compounded by the heavy rain that day. Although the rain did stopped around mid afternoon, it was still cold up there even with the sun shining.
Up the steep gradient slope in the rain.
Enjoying the scenery on the way up O Cebreiro. Beginning to see ferns growing alongside the path, signs that says this is a wet region.
O Cebreiro. Gift shop. There are just as many tourist here as pilgrims.
Church of Santa Maria la Real in O Cebreiro. A miracle (transubstantiation) supposely occured here in the past.
The tavern. Excellent ambience and food. Finally in Galicia, I can taste food like pulpos (boiled octopus) and other delicacies from this region.
Old historical mountain hut with straw thatched roof (pallozas).
View from the albergue. What goes up must come down, something I don't have to worry about until the following day.
