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Links: to Spain, by way of Windsor: 02 Rally Finish Onto Spain: 05 onto Leon 06 Astorga 08 to El Acebo 12 O'Cebreiro
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Samos, Galicia, 24 May, Saturday 16
km Samos is the actual and symbolic end of this part of our walk on the Camino. This is the small town where we started our Camino de Santiago last year, with Liz and Dave H, and we have returned to where we started. This Monastery is remarkable for a couple of reasons - built in the 6th century, it survived the onslaught of the Moors, came under Royal protection in the 8th century, was abandoned a couple of times, and at others suffered devastating fires. It now belongs to the Benedictine order, and is the School of Theology and Philosophy. Our first view of the monastery came at the end of our walk from Biduedo, via Triacostela...Mostly downhill, with some treacherous difficult patches which I struggled to negotiate safely. The monastery appeared suddenly below us, an impressive sight given its size. Before Mass this evening, we joined a tour of the complex. It was well worth the look, but I had made the basic, and presumptuous, mistake of assuming the tour would be in English So, I didn't understand a word the guide said!. Same for the Mass, said in Spanish but at least then, I understood and could follow the ritual and appreciate the beautiful music. Tomorrow, a sleep in, and then the next part of our holiday starts... being tourists in northern Spain, with a very undemanding but uncertain, agenda. Next; the Roman-walled town of Lugo
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Now,
however, we have a greater appreciation of the Camino (which
means the Way), and the thousands of people who walk all or part
of the pilgrimage each year. Last year, we marked our
'achievement' with the Pilgrims' Mass at Santiago Cathedral.
Tonight, a much more modest Vespers and Mass at the Benedictine
Monastery here in Samos.