At long last, the completion of a virtual pilgrimage!
Episode 39 – The Camino Francés, Part 5: Let’s re-walk the Camino Francés together! Whereas many of the pilgrim interviews on the podcast take a thematic approach, focusing on a few big picture issues, this series of episodes will dig more into the specifics of walking. At long last, we reach Santiago de Compostela in this episode, after navigating the six final stages of the Francés. Sherry Kirkham of Ontario, Canada joins me for the first half, walking from O Cebreiro to Portomarín, and we talk about everything from squash soup to siesta failures to giant student groups. She’s followed by Graham English of Alberta, Canada, for the home stretch, and Graham helps me to get in a suitably nostalgic frame of mind. An arrival three years in the making and the completion of this five-part series!
Check out the additional links below for more information on this episode:
- Some highlights from Part 1, O Cebreiro to Portomarín:
- The bar that we discuss in Alto do Poio also offers accommodation as well. It’s called Hostal Santa María do Poio and you can find it here
- Sadly, the bar in the palloza in Fonfria that Dave recalled is no longer in operation
- Shelly got the squash soup that she enjoyed at the bar in Albergue Fillobal
- Complexo Xacobeo is where Shelly stayed in Triacastela and enjoyed a warm fire
- The Samos Monastery is a gem–but make sure you keep track of time!
- You can read about old and new Portomarín here
- Finally, be sure to read Shelly’s blog to learn more about her caminos!
- And, some highlights from Part 2, Portomarín to Santiago:
- Read about the Castromaior fort here, and get some practical advice on visiting it here
- The classic work of Galician literature, Los Pazos de Ulloa by Emilia Pardo Bazán, is available here in translation; the house is just a km off-route, near Casanova
- The famous place for octopus in Melide is Pulpería Ezequiel
- Dave loves the Xunta-run albergue in Ribadiso do Baixo; Graham wishes he could
- Enjoy the final approach into the Praza do Obradoiro, complete with bagpipes!
