Meiga Backpackers Santiago de Compostela

... have been gathering for centuries to visit the tomb of St James. The Cathedral itself was magnificent, and the surrounding buildings where also very impressive. Shopping in the narrow flag stoned streets was a delight. We stayed at were given refreshments in a former hospital dating from around 1513 which is a listed building and is now a first class hotel. It was all very grand.

... blast beautiful chords on occasion. We kept reminding ourselves that we were walking on top of a
building that has no beams or steal for support……and built sometime in the
middle ages. Yikes. I’m attaching some photos, but don’t
want to miss getting a lay of the land here in Barcelona. Should have some photos of great
architecture while here.

Hasta…..

We travelled through thick fog over and through the mountains on typically heroic Spanish roads. They cut through mountains and build viaducts over the valleys. We drove through and around weary looking Pilgrims to our campsite which was on the Camino de Santiago. It was closed. After some interesting encounters with some locals, one old man practically ran away when asked for directions, we found this camp site.

The centre ...

... Doglas chain-smokes and drinks several Red Bull and whiskey's, clearly looking peeved about the situation. About an hour later, he tries to bring us to nightclub, also in his mafia circle, but we decline. He leaves, we spend about 10 minutes more at our VIP place, and then decide to start looking for somewhere else.

It is about 3am at this time, aka right when clubs should start to open, and it is a Saturday night. However, the streets are COMPLETELY ...

We left the Casa Rural in the morning right after breakfast, headed for the city of Santiago de Compostela, about an hour and a half inland. Santiago is the third most important Catholic pilgrimage site, after Rome and Jerusalem, because it is supposed to house the remains of Santiago (St. James the Apostle). Santiago was the only city in Galicia I had ever heard of before our trip, and I has heard it was a pretty cool place, so I was quite excited. We were a little behind ...

... Vigo when we landed in Spain so we were suppose to meet her in the evening. In the meantime she was so nice that she arranged us other ppl - her erasmus friends - to show us around. This day we went to the park and walked through ale the old centre to visit the Cathedral. That was my second time in Santiago and it was really curious to come back here after 4 years. Last time I came here was during m Camino the Santiago wich I was doing with Olga. I remember ...

... here, it is a return visit and people's Spanish is at a variety of levels. So, it has been important to figure out who is in the know and stick close to them. A couple of students got ripped off at a restaurant the first day we were here (they were charged almost $700 for a lunch of seafood that was charged by the kilo) so were are all sticking close and being cautious. Gary and Denise, the administrators from Sacramento, remind me so much of Uncle ...

... gave me chance to talk to Ant, Lenny and Andrea briefly, me and Ant congratulating each other on an amazing feat, finally achieved. Just 20 meters from the Square, I lost Ant, turns out he was chatting to a girl!...but i waited under the arch to the square with just one corner left to turn. We waked in, side by side and looked up to our left and saw the twin spires of the magnificent ...

... any sign of current industry, but photo an exceedingly rudimentary 3 wheel mowing machine, and see big-wheeled, powerful farm tractors of both known and mystery makes. We hit the main road across the lake from Portomarin, and cross the river on a modern bridge (the original stone Roman one has gone, but the stone arch has been moved to higher ground when the river was dammed to complete the Belesar reservoir in 1962 ). Jerry has been making good time for ...

... here is the bagpipe, if you can believe that! Madrid has been fun, we´ve met up with some great people there. My friend Angie´s friend Elia will be taking us out for a traditional night of Spanish revelry for my birthday next weekend, so we are excited. Before that, I´ll send word from Portugal, as we head to Porto bright and early tomorrow.