Author: carryoncouple.com
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I left my shoes in Santiago
I left my well-worn hiking shoes in Santiago. In medieval times, Camino de Santiago pilgrims burned their clothing at a cross outside the cathedral. They bought new clothes at the nearby marketplace, signaling a new beginning. I dumped my Merrells in a trash bin. There was part of me that wanted to keep them, but…
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Startling Rooftop Surprise: Camino de Santiago
We returned to the cathedral at 6pm for the final rooftop segment of our cathedral tour. After climbing 105 steps, we expected to be led out onto a courtyard type area atop the cathedral; a place where we could safely take in the view of the various towers and the surrounding Santiago cityscape. The views…
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Sweet Distraction: Camino de Santiago
What could be better than chocolate to soothe the leftover aches and pains of the Camino? Prior to leaving, my friend Annie recommended we try the hot chocolate while in Spain. ” It's like drinking a melted Hershey bar,” she wrote. When a light rain began to fall this morning, we ducked inside a…
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A moving Pilgrim Mass: Camino de Santiago
We joined about 1,000 at the traditional Pilgrim Mass at the Santiago Cathedral Tuesday. It was a moving ceremony, highlighted by the swinging of the giant incense burner (Botafumeiro) by six robed attendants. They pulled on ropes strung over a pulley high above the altar. We sat close to the altar, under the path…
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How to Say Goodbye? Camino de Santiago
This morning was different. As we tied our shoes and struggled into our backpacks, we knew this would be our last day of walking. Reaching Santiago was always the goal…until we started the Camino. I think we realized, after our first night in the Albergue outside of Pamplona, that this journey would be about so…
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Churches, Bell Towers and Steeples: Camino de Santiago
They've served as our guideposts for the past four weeks. Most often perched upon a hill, signaling yet another climb up to a new village. Mostly we've simply admired them in passing, sometimes peeking inside when the opportunity allowed. Often they have marked our destination for the evening. The churches of the Camino are as…
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Carryon couple plows toward Camino finish
On Monday, we will have spent 33 days and walked more than 400 miles on the Camino de Santiago. As we hang up (throw away?) our hiking shoes, some notes from the trek: Ways of Spain: The Spanish people take time for each other, especially family. The pace of life is slow in villages along…
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We Have a Winner!
Congratulations to Jamey who guessed drying shed! These “unofficial symbols” of the Galicia region of Spain are known as horreos. We were told they were used to dry corn and sure enough, when we peeked inside we saw corn. Traditionally, farmers stored and dried grain within the horreos. Sadly, they no longer offer…
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What Are These? Camino de Santiago
It's been several days since we noticed these strange little buildings begin to dot the landscape. Some were quite old and rundown, while others appeared to be a newly remodeled backyard feature. Having way too much morbid imagination, I thought perhaps they were some sort of family crypt. A little research taught me just how…
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