Eucalyptus et al.
Trip Start
May 31, 2009
1
42
54
Trip End
Jul 30, 2009
Arzúa,
Galicia,
Spain
Saturday, July 11, 2009
We continue to see streams of people - many of whom joined us in Sarria - walking along the trail but after a few days of walking everyone is starting to look a little ragged. More than a few people limping along or wearing new braces. It is easy to walk 20 kilometers for one day the hard part is doing it day after day. Groups are also more spread out so we can walk in relative peace for much of the time.
Yesterday in Melide after eating too much pulpo we went to a Museum of Galician history. That history extends from well before the Romans until now of course. And while it was a small museum it was a very good one with Roman, Celtic and Christian ¨relics¨ from pottery to tools to music instruments to religious articles to musical instruments.
The Celtic influence in Galicia has strong pagan roots. One of those influences is seen in witch (brujas) that are found everywhere including beside (interestingly) televisions in bars. We started to see these images from O´Cebreiro onwards. One of the most common witch images is that of the Bruja de Suerte (or witch of luck).
There are also intricate Celtic ¨knots¨ portrayed in jewelry and on pottery.
This region grows a lot of corn. And every yard you can see a small narrow long building - 6 - 8 feet in length and a couple of feet wide - with narrow slats. They are used to dry corn. Generally they are decorative but today we saw a couple that were being used. Inside are piles of cobs of corn that are drying.
Comments
Wishing you Well - Yvonne, Glen, Christine, Howard
Congratulations on the Camino completion!!! We are in awe!
Here we are celebrating the Winnipeg Folk Festival vibes and thinking of you and your wonderful accomplishment.
We have enjoyed Elvis Costello, Serena Ryder, Oumou Sangre (with a grav accent over the e), Bellowhead (11 piece band from England but very, very funky!) and many others!
Gian Giomeshi (spelling?) taught us to say 'LOVE!' each time he said 'Peace!' and he was really smooth and a wonderful host. Yvonne said she is more in love with Gian than ever but I still miss the wry humour and complete entertainment value that was provided by Peter Paul Van Camp!!
We had rain on Thursday night but it has cleared up and sunnier each day but very cool- only 20 degrees C today. Tomorrow will be +23.
TRue sadness is that Glen and Christine have to be in Saskatoon for Monday appointment so this is our last night of 'togetherness'.
But we have had a great time and wish you both were here.
2010 will be a great Folk Festival when all 6 of us will be here.
All our best and lots of love from us as you finish your great adventure!!! (It is our third consecutive night of 'after 3:00 a.m. interesting conversations' and reading your blogs!)