More walking...
...in the positively un-editable Galicia.
Galicia is Spain’s northwestern region, and WOW is it pretty. It’s almost oppressively green. I took an absurd amount of pictures. This entry really needs to be edited down to a few great shots. Someone help me!!!!!!
Interspersed throughout the pictures, I will include text about the region from my Lonely Planet guidebook:
”In Galicia everything changes: it’s permanently green and hilly, there are countless villages and hamlets, the grand monuments disappear and are replaced by small country churches, the houses are all stone, the roofs are slate, and the rural people speak the local language, called Galego.” Thus, despite my newly acquired Spanish, I had a very difficult time communicating with the locals in Galicia. Like, for instance, the gentleman pictured at right. He was sitting on a stone wall, singing aloud as his sheep grazed in the pasture behind him. (I'm not kidding. It was like out of a movie.) I stopped to chat with him for a bit, but could only make out about a third of what he was saying. Friendly old guy. Probably plopped himself down there along the camino hoping to make some new international friends that morning.
"The scenery is spectacular, with wildflowers everywhere and “old-growth oak and chestnut stands lining the way. Peeking in barn doors you’ll see cobwebbed remnants of the area’s strong ties to the land and late move towards mechanization, such as wooden ploughs and carts. Don’t be surprised to see wizened old men and women (the latter dressed n black) carrying huge scythes to the field or trundling high wheelbarrow loads of hay, greens or potatoes.”
RIGHT: In regular intervals along the camino route there are small shrines for pilgrims to stop and worship. Many are no larger than a one-car garage, and quite simple in adornment. I thought they were sweet: evidence of faith and dedication by people who have very of material wealth to offer.
Many pilgrims carry the Pilgrim’s Credential, a small booklet that they get stamped daily at the various churches and refuges along the way. Then, upon reaching Santiago’s cathedral, the pilgrims receive a ‘Compostella’—a Certificate of Completion. (Pilgrims must have hiked the last 100km or biked the last 200km, and must claim a religious or spiritual motive for their journey.) I didn’t bother with the credential since I was only hiking a small percentage of the trail, but others on the trip did get the stamps, and I was surprised to see how neat and varied they all were (right).
It rained A LOT while we were in Galicia. Apparently it rains 70% of the time here, so rain was to be expected. I didn’t bring a poncho because I didn’t want to carry it on the entire trip, so my pants were quite often soaked. However, I am very happy report that my spiffy new rain jacket is fantastic---breathable but truly waterproof!
One the last stretch of a particularly wet hiking day, we got Shanghaied into a small chapel by the local priest who pointed out various parts of his little chapel, led the group in a few hymns, did whatever he could to keep us there. Truthfully, we were soaked and just wanted to get to the hotel and get changed, but he was not to be dissuaded.
Eventually we broke free, but only after he managed to charm us all with his intensity and friendliness.
Galicia is Spain’s northwestern region, and WOW is it pretty. It’s almost oppressively green. I took an absurd amount of pictures. This entry really needs to be edited down to a few great shots. Someone help me!!!!!!
Interspersed throughout the pictures, I will include text about the region from my Lonely Planet guidebook:”In Galicia everything changes: it’s permanently green and hilly, there are countless villages and hamlets, the grand monuments disappear and are replaced by small country churches, the houses are all stone, the roofs are slate, and the rural people speak the local language, called Galego.” Thus, despite my newly acquired Spanish, I had a very difficult time communicating with the locals in Galicia. Like, for instance, the gentleman pictured at right. He was sitting on a stone wall, singing aloud as his sheep grazed in the pasture behind him. (I'm not kidding. It was like out of a movie.) I stopped to chat with him for a bit, but could only make out about a third of what he was saying. Friendly old guy. Probably plopped himself down there along the camino hoping to make some new international friends that morning.
Oops, I got off topic. Galego, the language of Galicia, is actually quite distinct from Spanish. The photo at left is of a sign 
written in Galego. Can you see the similarities with Portuguese? This region lies on the border between Portugal and Spain, and as such, the language is a bit of a melding of the two: Galego words are very similar to Portuguese words, but the Spanish influence is evident in the pronunciation.
written in Galego. Can you see the similarities with Portuguese? This region lies on the border between Portugal and Spain, and as such, the language is a bit of a melding of the two: Galego words are very similar to Portuguese words, but the Spanish influence is evident in the pronunciation.
"The scenery is spectacular, with wildflowers everywhere and “old-growth oak and chestnut stands lining the way. Peeking in barn doors you’ll see cobwebbed remnants of the area’s strong ties to the land and late move towards mechanization, such as wooden ploughs and carts. Don’t be surprised to see wizened old men and women (the latter dressed n black) carrying huge scythes to the field or trundling high wheelbarrow loads of hay, greens or potatoes.” RIGHT: In regular intervals along the camino route there are small shrines for pilgrims to stop and worship. Many are no larger than a one-car garage, and quite simple in adornment. I thought they were sweet: evidence of faith and dedication by people who have very of material wealth to offer.
Many pilgrims carry the Pilgrim’s Credential, a small booklet that they get stamped daily at the various churches and refuges along the way. Then, upon reaching Santiago’s cathedral, the pilgrims receive a ‘Compostella’—a Certificate of Completion. (Pilgrims must have hiked the last 100km or biked the last 200km, and must claim a religious or spiritual motive for their journey.) I didn’t bother with the credential since I was only hiking a small percentage of the trail, but others on the trip did get the stamps, and I was surprised to see how neat and varied they all were (right). 
It rained A LOT while we were in Galicia. Apparently it rains 70% of the time here, so rain was to be expected. I didn’t bring a poncho because I didn’t want to carry it on the entire trip, so my pants were quite often soaked. However, I am very happy report that my spiffy new rain jacket is fantastic---breathable but truly waterproof!
One the last stretch of a particularly wet hiking day, we got Shanghaied into a small chapel by the local priest who pointed out various parts of his little chapel, led the group in a few hymns, did whatever he could to keep us there. Truthfully, we were soaked and just wanted to get to the hotel and get changed, but he was not to be dissuaded.
Eventually we broke free, but only after he managed to charm us all with his intensity and friendliness.