With record numbers this year on the Camino, pilgrims are seeking alternatives to the Camino Frances. Be aware the headcount rises dramatically upon reaching Sarria. The good news is there are plenty of alternatives. In fact, 8 other Caminos with each offering a great Camino experience. Starting your Camino from Sarria can still be a …
8 Alternatives to Walking The Camino de Santiago From Sarria: Read More »
The Camino de Faros is a 200 kilometer Way along Galicia’s Costa de Morte (Coast of Death), named after the 8 shipwrecks with 245 lost lives in the late 19th Century and early part of the 20th. After walking most of the Caminos, this one has to rival any for beauty especially if one likes …
How The Camino de Faros Is Different From The Camino de Santiago: Read More »
Wow. What a spectacular and yet easier walk of 24K with a fair amount being flatter than usual. A gorgeous sunset starting out of Arou and then some beautiful deserted beaches and rocky mountains. This being The Coast of Death, I came across The English Cemetery, burial grounds for the victims of the Shipwreck of …
Camino de Faros (Lighthouses) Day 5 Arou to Camariñas: Read More »
Day 4 Laxe to Arou. A relatively easier day today with the shortest stage of this Camino at 18K. Though still challenging with lots of ups and downs. A beautiful quiet day seeing not a soul until Camelle just a couple K before Arou. Just birds, a few snakes, the wind and the frequent roar …
Camino de Faros (Lighthouses) Day 4 Laxe to Arou: Read More »
Walking out of Ponteceso early just after 7 it was a quiet and flat walk along the waterfront before eventually for the first and only part of this Camino leaving the sea to walk inland. The path veered inland through pine and eucalyptus forest following a gently flowing creek. After the 2 previous days of …
Camino de Faros (Lighthouses) Day 3 Ponteceso to Laxe: Read More »
Started out with a 6:45 taxi back to the Playa (beach) de Niños. As difficult as the first day was this one was moreso. Constant ups and downs with some scrambling and stinging nettles. I didn’t bring long pants but that would be wise on this rugged trail. Even on a cloudy day the views …
Camino de Faros (Lighthouses) Day 2; Playa de Niños to Ponteceso: Read More »
This Camino continues to dazzle with its spectacular scenery. And is proving to be a excellent Camino to undertake as part or after one’s Camino de Santiago. Most of this Camino spanning 200 kilometers is along the northwest coast of Galicia, Spain on the Costa de Muerte (Coast of Death) so named for the many …
To clarify, The Camino de Faros between Finisterre and Muxia is an alternative route to the Camino de Santiago between the two towns. While The Camino de Santiago is a relatively easy 27K jaunt, the Camino de Faros is 52K of more challenging rugged coastal walking with some narrow, rocky paths and significant elevation changes. …
Camino dos Faros (The Lighthouse Way). Day 7 Muxia To Lires: Read More »
After 3 weeks of settling in at Global Pilgrim House in Muxia, feeling a bit antsy, I will start The Lighthouse Way, a 200 kilometer walk linking Finisterre and Muxia, with Malpica along the Galician Costa de Morte (Coast of Death). It is called the Coast of Death because of the many shipwrecks along its …
Albergueria to Xunqueira de Ambia to Ourense: We departed Albergueria with still cloudy skies. In fact, I dragged my fingertip on an outdoor table to find it coated with red sand from the Sahara. Before leaving I found my shell from 5 years earlier on the wall across from my dorm bed. The walk early …
Camino Levante/Sanabria Day 36-37 Albergueria to Ourense: Read More »
Kind Carmen from Hostel Carlos V gave us lift to train and walked us in to the big new station of the Express Train. Though it seems to be overkill as there are just a few people. We arrived in A Gudina a short half hour later and got off at another huge new station, …
Camino Levante/Sanabres Days 34-35 Puebla de Sanabria to Albergueria Read More »
Probably the coldest day today. The first part, 10K to Mombuey was on the high plains with little sun. A cold wind blowing into our faces sapped my energy. Took a tea break at Bar la Ruta one of the better bars. We decided to taxi to Asturianos and then walk the final 16K to …
Camino Levante/Sanabres Day 33. Rionegro to Puebla de Sanabria Read More »
On a cold day on the 31st day of the Camino Levante we arrived in Rionegro del Puente and made a beeline for Teo’s restaurant, Me Gusta Comer (I like to eat). Teo suggested we take a seat by the roaring stove fire and relax. Why not. Following his direction, after a 5 hour long …
Perhaps the Finest Meñu Del Dia on Camino Sanabres Or Any Camino: Read More »
Bussed on rainy day ahead from Zamora to Santa Marta de Tera to catch up with Camino buddy Mariska. Surprisingly we passed my Dutch friend a few hundred meters before we were left in the small plaza adjacent to Church of Santiago. Mariska and I had connected on FB yesterday, realizing we were close to …
Camino Levante Days 31-32. Camarzana de Tera to Rionegro del Puente: Read More »
One of the most special moments on The Camino is an unexpected, unplanned encounter with an old friends or Camino buddie. Having walked many Caminos it has happened repeatedly to me, so it doesn’t surprise me anymore when it happens. However, my latest Camino which I am walking now is Camino Levante, sometimes called “The …
Such a beautiful old town. Decided to take a rest day and come back and explore some more. Especially do a tour of the Cathedral. And then celebrate our completion of 800 kilometer Camino Levante with great local wine and Foie Gras. Though it is still 450 to Santiago via Camino Via de la Plata …
Reached Zamora which is the end of the Camino Levante. We connect here with the Camino Via de la Plata (VDLP) which starts 565 kilometers to the south in Seville. The Camino of “Solitude” proved to be an appropriate alias for Camino Levante as we completed its 850 Kilometers without seeing a single fellow pilgrim. …
Wow. This is a new experience. Saharan Sand Greying up the skies. As we walked on Tuesday of this week the forecast said sunny but disappointingly the sun never broke through. How surprising to learn it was the red sand of the Saharan blocking the warmth and light of the sun. Yesterday, March 17, I …
More high plains and the beautiful town of Toro. Walked around Toro taking sunrise photos. Toro is the center of the excellent Toro wine region. Tempranillo grapes. Unfortunately here on a Sunday when all the Bordegas are closed. Another good town to come back to for a few days as a tourist. Walking around the …
Hard to leave the cozy Convent accommodation but we are pilgrims so we trudge on as I hope my hamstring tightness eases up which may be wishful thinking as we walk on in the cold. At edge of town we came to a fork indicating Camino Sureste continued north and then northwest to Benavente on …
Camino Levante. Day 27 Medina del Campo to Nava del Rey Read More »