Camino de Santiago – Week 4
León to Samos
Many of you are probably beginning to think “Will this Camino never end?”. We’re having that feeling too, but the end is in sight. We only have about 130 kms to go.
This week we finally left the Meseta behind. After a boring trek through the industrial suburbs of León, and a too-short visit to the beautiful town of Astorga, we climbed up and across the mountain ranges separating the regions of Castilla y León and Galicia.
It took a day to hike up and another full day to hike down the Montes de León range. Then it was promptly onto the next range separating us from Galicia.
We are only two days into Galicia but so far it has been the most scenic region. We have hiked along forest trails beside small rivers, passing through quaint, abandoned (or nearly abandoned) villages.
We ended the week in the small village of Samos. It is dominated by the massive Mosteiro de San Xulián de Samos, a Benedictine monastery founded in the 6th century. The monastery covers tens of thousands of square feet, and has the largest cloister in Spain. Yet there are now only eight monks and one novice living in the monastery.
Sunday’s Adventure
Our experience this Sunday was in stark contrast to the uplifting experiences of the past two weeks. Sunday took us up and over the Montes de León, passing by the “Cruz de Ferro”. Pilgrims traditionally carry small stones from home. The stones represent the burdens or problems the pilgrim suffers. The stones are left at the Cruz de Ferro, symbolically leaving the burdens behind. Unfortunately for us, just before the summit a tour bus dropped off a large group of Spanish “pilgrims”. They speed-walked to the Cruz de Ferro and had a boisterous celebration before hiking down the hill a few kilometres where their bus waited. What is meant to be one the most spiritual moments of the Camino was anything but!
The Dream Continues!
For more photos of the past week check out our photo gallery.
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George, Maria.
Buena’s Diaz’s ( Van Time).
Wow, you two it seems are never coming back home … it is ok for that road never to end, keep on walking, cause the way you guys are expressing your walk, I feel I am walking with you two.
The Saint’s are happy to be with you, you look very happy and I noticed that Maria you have found yourself another Buddy besides George I presume ! is the Fido walking with you !! All the way ?
Thx for the blog, very much enjoying it.
Great pics.
Hi Ash,
How was your holiday are you ready for another one?
Lots of great dogs here, most are Spanish Mastiffs. The males are around 100kg. Lovely animals with a good temperament.
We just have 101k to go, should be finished Tuesday. Yeah!!
Konnichiwa…..is the word. Indonesia 🇮🇩 was terrific …All booked, in planning, here we come Nippon. Looking forward to it October.
AP.
Thank you very much for all the sights and adventures you have had to date, thoroughly enjoyable read. Now when I think about doing the Camino I will definitely start at Week 3. Enjoy the last of your Camino pilgrim and what a terrific start to retirement.
Really enjoying your photos and reporting, one would feel they are doing it also, tough going at times, at least the weather has improved. Ye are flying through it!!!
I am concerned for you both. Haven’t noticed a single sentence or shot related to pedis manis or colour touch ups. Have you turned savage?
I’m with Beverley: going to start this at week 3, and also get the tour bus schedule. Nice update, G&M, and happy walking!
Nah. You’d want to do every step on your own.
Following you in so may ways. This is my first reading of this week four post. How sad to read about the bus load of “pilgrims” at the cross. Anne and started at Ponferra and so we did walk past the cross and thus felt we missed something. Reading you version we didn’t miss anything.
The books all talk of this concept of dropping your stone, even the movie the Way made a big thing of it.
In the Camino 101 they tell us each person has their own Camino! I hope that you two had a moment or two where the crow was gone and the Angels you walk with give you that sense of peace that you get when the path and earth seem to be still. The first picture above seems to be a potential moment. Like Marathon moments a Pilgrim need to cherish those nice moments forever. I seemed to lock them in a place that I can find later when I need them. It is so good to hear all you comments. Some of us don’t think is was long… we are busy in our own lives and those seem never changing by comparison to your trip of always changing. Buen Camino
sorry for the mistakes. That is Anne and I DIDN’T walk by the Cross