CAMINO DE LA PLATA III.
3rd and also last stretch.
From ZAMORA to SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA (the Camino Sanabres).
12/Apr/2016 to 30/Apr/2016.
Itinerary :
Zamora – Granja de Moreruela – Tabara – Santa Croya de Tera – Rionegro del Puente – Palacios de Sanabria – Requejo – Campobecerros – Albergueria – Xunqiera de Ambia – Ourense – Cea – Estacion de Lalin – Ponte Ulla – Santiago de Compostella – Finisterre – Muxia.
3rd and also last stretch.
From ZAMORA to SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA (the Camino Sanabres).
12/Apr/2016 to 30/Apr/2016.
Itinerary :
Zamora – Granja de Moreruela – Tabara – Santa Croya de Tera – Rionegro del Puente – Palacios de Sanabria – Requejo – Campobecerros – Albergueria – Xunqiera de Ambia – Ourense – Cea – Estacion de Lalin – Ponte Ulla – Santiago de Compostella – Finisterre – Muxia.
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| Map of the Caminos on the Iberian Peninsula. |
CLICK HERE for my 2nd stretch on the Camino (Merida to Zamora, October 2015)
CLICK HERE the 1st stretch on the Camino (Seville to Merida, November 2014)
Tuesday 12/Apr/2016.
Home to ZAMORA journey.
- 12:10 - 12:45 Shuttle bus from Aix-en-Provence to Marseille-Provence Airport
- 14:40 - 16:30 Ryanair flight FR5447 from Marseille-Provence to Madrid-Barajas,1h50, 31.61€.
Zamora (picture from my last year's Camino).
Camino Sanabres.
Behind the church of Granja de Moreruela the Camino Sanabres separates left from the Camino de la Plata, following a course through Southern Galicia and Ourense for Santiago.
Taking right, the Camino de la Plata merges later with the Camino Frances. Taking the Camino Sanabres (left), one avoids the huge pilgrim crowds.
|---| Albergue de Peregrinos, Granja de Moreruela, 5€/bed (8 beds dorm).
Thursday 14/Apr/2016.
GRANJA DE MORERUELA to TABARA hike, 26km.
7:40-13:20 incl 40 minutes stop, 5h hiking, raining and very windy.
Friday 15/Apr/2016.
Tabara to Santa Croya de Tera hike, 22.5km.
Another windy and rainy day, 10:10-15-30 (including 50 minutes lunch break), 4h20 hiking.
|---| Casa Anita, Santa Croya de Tera, 30€/room.
Saturday 16/Apr/2016.
SANTA CROYA DE TERA to RIONEGRO DEL PUENTE hike, 27.5km.
Another rainy day, especially in the morning.
|---| Albergue de Peregrinos Virgen de la Carballeda, Rionegro del Puente, 7€/dorm bed.
Sunday 17/Apr/2016.
Rionegro del Puente to Palacios de Sanabria hike, 28.6km.
|---| Casa Theresa, Palacios de Sanabria, 25€/room incl. dinner.
Monday, 18/Apr/2016.
PALACIOS DE SANABRIA to REQUEJO hike, 24.3km.
|---| Casa Cervino, Requejo, 12€/dorm bed.
Tuesday 19/Apr/2016.
GUDINA to CAMPOBECERROS hike (taxi from Requejo + <22km hike).
An extremely rainy day.
|---| Casa Nunez, Campobecerros, 18€/room.
Wednesday 20/Apr/2016.
CAMPOBECERROS to ALBERGUERIA hike, 27.5km.
|---| Rincon del Peregrino, Albergueria, donativo.
Thursday 21/Apr/ 2016.
ALBERGUERIA to XUNQUEIRA DE AMBIA hike, 20.9km.
|---| Casa de Marival, Xunqiera de Ambia, 35€/room.
Friday 22/Apr/2016.
XUNQUEIRA DE AMBIA to OURENSE hike, 22.4km.
|---| Irixo Hotel, Ourense, 30€/room.
Saturday 23/Apr/2016.
OURENSE to CEA hike 21.5km.
Here the Camino splits for one day, into the historical
|---| La Casa del Peregrino 'O Refugio', Cotelas, 8€.
Sunday 24/Apr/2016.
CEA to ESTACION DE LALIN hike, 28.6km.
|---| A Ponte, Estacion de Lalin, Galicia, 12€/room.
Monday 25/Apr/2016.
ESTACION DE LALIN to PONTE ULLA hike, 34.8km.
Tuesday 26/Apr/2016.
PONTE ULLA to SANTIAGO hike, 22.5km.
Santiago.
|---| Pension A Casa do Peregrino, Santiago de Compostella, 39€/room/night.
Wednesday 27/Apr/2016.
SANTIAGO.
Free pilgrim breakfast at the five star Parador Hotel.
|---| Pension A Casa do Peregrino, Santiago de Compostella, 35€/room/night.
Thursday 28/Apr/2016.
SANTIAGO.
|---| Pension A Casa do Peregrino, Santiago de Compostella, 45€/room/night.
Friday 29/Apr/2016.
Finisterre and Punto de la Barca tour.
Evening Pilgrim's Mass in the Cathedral.
|---| Pension A Casa do Peregrino, Santiago de Compostella, 45€/room/night.
Saturday 30/Apr/2016.
Santiago de Compostella to HOME journey.
- 10:15 - 11:10 Easyjet flight EZY8590 from Santiago de Compostella to London Gatwick North, 1h55. *
- 13:40 - 16:35 Easyjet flight EZY5325 from London Gatwick South to Marseille Provence, 1h55. * (* 124.73€ for both flights).
- Metro line 8 from Madrid-Barajas airport to Nuevos Ministerios station (15min) + Underground line 6 from Nuevos Ministerios station to Méndez Alvaro station (20min), 5€.
- Short walk from Méndez Alvaro station to Estacion Sur de Autobuses bus terminal.
- 20:00 - 23:00 Bus from Madrid Estacion Sur to Zamora, Avanzabus, 3h, 17.60€.
Managed to keep my backpack below 8kg this time !
Boarding the Marseille-Madrid flight.
Boarding the 20:00 Madrid-Zamora bus.
Arrival at Zamora, 23:00.
Zamora (picture from my last year's Camino).
|---| Albergue Campus de Zamora, Zamora, 25€/room/night.
Wednesday 13/Apr/2016.
Zamora MONTAMARTA to GRANJA DE MORERUELA hike, 24.8km, 8:30-12:30, no stops, 4h hiking.
Montamarta, Iglesia de la Virgen del Castillo.
Castillo de Castrotorafe ruins.
Fontanillas de Castro.
Fontanillas de Castro church with the here usual stork nest.
The abbey and cloister were abandoned 300 years ago,
beautiful ruins remain.
All sand stones are marked by the sign of the stone cutter.
The 'Th' mark (center) refers to Jesus, according to the guide.
Behind the church of Granja de Moreruela the Camino Sanabres separates left from the Camino de la Plata, following a course through Southern Galicia and Ourense for Santiago.
Taking right, the Camino de la Plata merges later with the Camino Frances. Taking the Camino Sanabres (left), one avoids the huge pilgrim crowds.
|---| Albergue de Peregrinos, Granja de Moreruela, 5€/bed (8 beds dorm).
Thursday 14/Apr/2016.
GRANJA DE MORERUELA to TABARA hike, 26km.
7:40-13:20 incl 40 minutes stop, 5h hiking, raining and very windy.
Underground wine cellars.
It starts raining...
For about 200m, the Camino follows the main road
(zero traffic), still raining and more and more windy.
Puente Quintos, over the river Esla.
Leaving the main road for a narrow path along the lake.
Still raining...
Still raining, and even more windy...
Still raining and windy...
Faramontanos de Tabara, first pueblo after 4h.
Fortunately they have a bar !!!
One nice beer after having taken two cups of coffee.
Difficult river crossing,
still raining and windy.
Approaching Tabara, day destination
(still raining...).
Friday 15/Apr/2016.
Tabara to Santa Croya de Tera hike, 22.5km.
Another windy and rainy day, 10:10-15-30 (including 50 minutes lunch break), 4h20 hiking.
Oops... Happy to wear Goretex boots !
Flood everywhere.
Villanueva de las Peras, another semi deserted village.
Fortunately, the bar is still alive.
Santa Croya de Tera. Discovering the name of the Albergue...
The comfortable private room for tonight.
|---| Casa Anita, Santa Croya de Tera, 30€/room.
Saturday 16/Apr/2016.
SANTA CROYA DE TERA to RIONEGRO DEL PUENTE hike, 27.5km.
Another rainy day, especially in the morning.
Villar de Farfon.
Villar de Farfon.
The Albergue in Rionegro del Puente.
Rionegro del Puente.
Excellent pilgrim's dinner.
Sunday 17/Apr/2016.
Rionegro del Puente to Palacios de Sanabria hike, 28.6km.
Menhirs.
Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion church, Mombuey.
Witch tower looking as a rocket.
Valdemerilla.
Cernadilla.
Being offered milk and coffee.
Asturianos.
It is snowing on the mountains.
Reaching Palacios de Sanabria.
|---| Casa Theresa, Palacios de Sanabria, 25€/room incl. dinner.
Monday, 18/Apr/2016.
PALACIOS DE SANABRIA to REQUEJO hike, 24.3km.
Puebla de Sanabria.
Santiago de Terroso.
Santiago de Terroso.
Terroso.
|---| Casa Cervino, Requejo, 12€/dorm bed.
Tuesday 19/Apr/2016.
GUDINA to CAMPOBECERROS hike (taxi from Requejo + <22km hike).
An extremely rainy day.
Taxi ride, because of the very bad weather.
Dropped in the middle of nowhere (on request).
Crossing other pilgrims.
Fast train infrastructure works.
Bedroom for this night.
|---| Casa Nunez, Campobecerros, 18€/room.
Wednesday 20/Apr/2016.
CAMPOBECERROS to ALBERGUERIA hike, 27.5km.
Tamicelos.
Laza.
Laza.
Laza, carnival mask.
Picnic at the bakery.
The Albergue, decorated with pilgrim shells.
Thursday 21/Apr/ 2016.
ALBERGUERIA to XUNQUEIRA DE AMBIA hike, 20.9km.
Vilar de Bario, breakfast bar.
Today's pilgrims, from left to right:
Kazakhstan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, France, France, Belgium.
The hotel for tonight.
|---| Casa de Marival, Xunqiera de Ambia, 35€/room.
Friday 22/Apr/2016.
XUNQUEIRA DE AMBIA to OURENSE hike, 22.4km.
Saint James statue in Xunqueira de Ambia.
Leaving Xunqueira de Ambia.
Spanish postman, with a well maintained 'Deux Chevaux' car.
Picnic.
Ourense, 'Praza Maior'.
Ourense, San Martino cathedral.
San Miguel, archangel Saint Michael.
Ourense, Las Burgos hot springs, 67 degrees.
Public baths in Ourense town center, free entrance.
|---| Irixo Hotel, Ourense, 30€/room.
Saturday 23/Apr/2016.
OURENSE to CEA hike 21.5km.
Crossing the roman bridge of Ourense.
Here the Camino splits for one day, into the historical
trail (left) and the politico-commercial trail (right).
Perogrinos book the long tunnel passage, just pushing the button.
Then follows a memorable 2.5km long 20% slope...
100 km from Santiago de Compostella milestone.
Still 10% of the Camino in front of us.
Welcomed by Cesar, the famous hospitaliero of the Camino Sanabres.
Cea.
Pan de Cea.
Bought a Pan de Cea for next day's picnic.
|---| La Casa del Peregrino 'O Refugio', Cotelas, 8€.
Sunday 24/Apr/2016.
CEA to ESTACION DE LALIN hike, 28.6km.
Picnic with the Pan de Cea.
From left to right: Patrick, Viviane, Claude, Michel.
Monday 25/Apr/2016.
ESTACION DE LALIN to PONTE ULLA hike, 34.8km.
Leaving the Albergue.
Still not shaved !
Picnic time.
Hostel for tonight.
Tuesday 26/Apr/2016.
PONTE ULLA to SANTIAGO hike, 22.5km.
Santiago.
Hotel room for the next four nights.
|---| Pension A Casa do Peregrino, Santiago de Compostella, 39€/room/night.
Wednesday 27/Apr/2016.
SANTIAGO.
Free pilgrim breakfast at the five star Parador Hotel.
Only ten pilgrims a day are honored with a free breakfast at the parador.
Lucky to be part of them this morning.
Saint James.
|---| Pension A Casa do Peregrino, Santiago de Compostella, 35€/room/night.
Thursday 28/Apr/2016.
SANTIAGO.
|---| Pension A Casa do Peregrino, Santiago de Compostella, 45€/room/night.
Friday 29/Apr/2016.
Finisterre and Punto de la Barca tour.
Ponte Maceira on the Rio Tambre,
17.1km along the pilgrimage route from Santiago to Finisterre.
Rio Tambre.
The Dead Coast.
The Mt Pindo, Celtic Olympus, is the mountain on the right.
The Finisterre Peninsula is at the horizon.
Rio Xallas.
Ezaro Waterfalls, 60m high, Xallas river, Mount Pindo.
Finisterre.
Kilometer ZERO, final destination of the Way of St. James.
Cabo Finisterre, Europe's continent most western point.
Happy end of the pilgrimage.
Finisterre, graffiti.
Finisterre, marina.
Finisterre, nice seafood lunch.
Muxia.
Santuario da Virxe da Barca.
Santuario da Virxe da Barca.
Monument reminding to the 2002 'Prestige' oil spill.
Evening Pilgrim's Mass in the Cathedral.
The 'Botafumeiro',
filled with 40kg of incense, sweeping almost to the ceiling of the cathedral transept.
Click here to watch my first Botafumeiro movie (28/Apr/2016)
Click here to watch my second Botafumeiro movie (29/Apr/2016)
filled with 40kg of incense, sweeping almost to the ceiling of the cathedral transept.
Click here to watch my first Botafumeiro movie (28/Apr/2016)
Click here to watch my second Botafumeiro movie (29/Apr/2016)
Saturday 30/Apr/2016.
Santiago de Compostella to HOME journey.
- 10:15 - 11:10 Easyjet flight EZY8590 from Santiago de Compostella to London Gatwick North, 1h55. *
- 13:40 - 16:35 Easyjet flight EZY5325 from London Gatwick South to Marseille Provence, 1h55. * (* 124.73€ for both flights).
