We made it! Santiago!

When we were in Portomarin, we went to Mario's place to experience quemada.

Bailey did a great job with the translation.

The Countdown Has Begun

After completing our longest day of hiking on the trip (30km!!) we are now only two days from arriving in Santiago. We are all very excited that we are almost there but sad to be soon leaving the gorgeous Spanish countryside. Here is some of what we saw on the previous two days of hiking:

"Buen Camino" is a common greeting heard on the Camino. It signifies wishing a good journey upon the other pilgrim.

Yellow arrows and/or shells guide us on the Camino 

This week on the Camino...

This past week in Spain has been full of touring cathedrals, exploring historic cities, and lots of good food. Sometimes, though, you can't beat the adventures that happen right on the trail...

First, Jackie became a famous musician and had a rap album cover photo shoot, Camino style

Abby, Libby, and Jackie took a quick siesta on the trail during the long walk into Sahagun

Libby decided that Henry's backpack wasn't pretty enough, and added some much-needed flower decorations
 
Much better!!!

SO MANY EXCITING REALLY REALLY REALLY OLD THINGS

Along our way to Samtiago we've had the chance to stop at some of Spain's historical sights (as a history major I frequently freak out at all the old stuff we see). Yesterday we stopped at an old Templar's castle that was from the 15th century. The Templar Knights used to protect pilgrims on the Camino many, many centuries ago. We all became our inner five year old prince and princesses at the sight of a castle. 

Not only was the castle gorgeous but we got to climb up to the top and see that amazing view of the city (Ponferrada).

The inside of the castle has been turned into a museum displaying old Templar artifacts such as clothing, letters, and paintings. There was also lots of old maps (some didn't even have North America and Australia on them because they were older than New World exploration) and had a Picasso rough draft of Guernica (Anne would like a special shoutout for helping to spell Guernica so gracias Anne). We all LOVED the castle! 

Live from the Camino

Hello to all of our fabulous readers! I promised my mom about a week ago that I would post on the blog (hi mom!) and then I promised Nanette that I would post two days ago, so I thought it was about time I actually did something about those promises. Life on the Camino is amazing. We wake up every morning and walk downstairs to a fully made breakfast, and then we just walk. It's very freeing to know that your only goal for the day is to walk from one city to another, and it's going to be a huge adjustment going back to the real world after this. It's hard to believe we'll all be walking into Santiago in just five short days, and then flying back to Minneapolis two days after that. This whole trip has just been a blur of laughter, sleepovers, food, and many many miles of Spanish countryside.

Yesterday we made the trek to the Cruz de Ferro and then up to O'Cebreiro, the highest point on the Camino. Oh, and we visited the coolest castle of all time, which belonged to the Knight's Templar. Cruz de Ferro was the spot where we finally got to leave the rocks that we all have been carrying with us. Each person's rock is supposed to represent a burden that is to be left behind on the Camino. It was such a cool experience to walk up a hill that was made of all these rocks from all around the world, with each rock representing a story from the person who left it there. I truly felt connected to every other person who has walked the Camino. After lunch was the moment we'd all been waiting for, the trek up to O'Cebreiro. This was the steepest/longest climb of the entire trip. Eight kilometers of pure torture (just kidding, but seriously, it was pretty steep). The good part was that I was mentally prepared for a tough hike, so it really wasn't all that bad in the end. The views as we were walking didn't hurt either. It was absolutely breathtaking by the time we got to the top. Unfortunately, I'm not able to post pictures from my iPad, so you guys will just need to close your eyes and imagine what the views from the top of a mountain in Spain are like, and then wait to see pictures when we all get home! I can't wait to see what the next week has in store for all of us, every step and every day brings us closer to Santiago.

A 30 minute walk???

So I could have sworn someone told me that the hike up to O Cebreiro was a half hour hike. And Nanette telling us that we wouldn't have to bring much up the mountain only reassured me that this would be a short walk. I did know that we would be walking up and up... But as we began the walk I noticed that everyone else in the group had been carrying their backpacks with them. Silly me I only brought a rain coat that was tied around my waist and in the raincoat was my phone and 40 euros. As we began our incline up the mountain someone asked me where my backpack was and I told them something like... Well, this is only a half hour walk and Nanette said not to bring much. I think it was Abby who then in disbelief said something like this hike is actually supposed to be 3 hours! It's 8 kilometers! And there I was, hiking up a mountain, our toughest hike yet. No water, no food, no backpack. It was tiring but the upside is I got to drink from two fountains and didn't have any weight to carry, it was great!

An Ode to Chocolate Cookies

Príncipe, my love Chocolate is imperative For the walk's success

Los animales along The Way

During our hikes the past couple of days I have loved all of the different animales that we walk with along the Camino. Today was especially fun because we passed by some adorable black and white spotted cows and their calves. Of course we had to stop and take pictures while Henry scurred along without batting an eye.

Further on in our walk, we stopped for a quick snack at a beautiful cross monument overlooking Astorga and three camino dogs came along. Two were cute and small, and the other one stole my heart. It was a huge, fluffy, furry gentle giant dog that came right up to us with his tongue hanging out of his mouth in the heat of the day just to see what we were snacking on and to get some good pets. We obliged on the later, but sadly we had finished our fruit and all we had left were apple cores and nectarine pits. Nothing fit for an awesome beast such as this one in front of us. I'm not kidding, I think his paws are as big as my hands!

Abby tells us all about the architect Gaudi while we sit in front of a building he designed in Astorga.

Ready for today's hike!

Wolf Pack

Over the past two weeks the group has grown closer and closer. We have created our own little family, which we like to refer to as "Wolf Pack."

I'm really bad at selfies and missed our lovely Abby in the photo, sooo here is a picture of Abby enjoying siesta in our glam spa hotel. Also, my apologies to Henry, who has long legs that carry him faster than my greatest dreams. 

The Camino has not only served as the path towards Santiago, but as a path for our friendships. This experience has been challenging physically and mentally, but I have learned and grown so much just by walking with this group every day. It is exciting and comforting to travel amongst individuals so different than I. Over the long days walking, feasting, exploring, and our super fun slumber parties we have found great ways to connect with each other despite our various backgrounds and passions. It is so incredible how this journey brings people together. Even apart from our own group the Camino has lead us to make friends with people from all over the world. We are having an international experience that crosses many borders and encompasses various cultures. I am amazed that I am learning so much about myself by learning so much about others. I am humbled to travel with people who emanate so much warmth and grateful for the opportunity to experience it with this more than fabulous group.

Ooooooohhhhhhh Cebreiro Here We Come!!!!

We are in Astorga!! After a lovely rest day yesterday in Leon, we were bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, ready for another hike!! Since tomorrow is a long day, Nanette decided to take it easy on us for walking today. We bused away from Leon, and walked about 11 km into Astorga. After arriving in Astorga, I gave an excellent presentation on Gaudi outside of the Episcopal Palace in the center of the city. This lovely to building was built for Bishop Grau between 1889 and 1913. Here we observed some of Gaudi's early work and discussed his use of light and geometric shape in both the Palace and his other works.

Now it is around 3:30 and we are all enjoying a siesta. While siestas are slightly inconvenient when you want to go out and explore, they are excellent for napping and snacking!! So when the stores close, we turn in and munch on bocadillos de jamón y queso and candy. After our siesta today we will go explore the inside of the Episcopal Palace and possibly visit the Cathedral as well. Later this evening, Jacky will give another presentation on the Knights Templar afree which I am sure we will all turn in early.

Tomorrow we climb to O Cabreiro, where we will leave our stones that we have carried with us from  the US. With leaving our stones, we leave behind whatever we have personally been holding onto during the Camino. We will take an hour of silence as we make the climb up the mountain, to reflect on our thoughts.

With that, it is time for helado and los cellos! Tomorrow, we walk.

Some photos from the last few days on the trail. We will be in Santiago in 7 days!