Day Six. Terrible start, Great finish

Talk about a terrible start to the day! The chocolate and Chiro breakfast place is closed on Sunday. So we made do with the normal coffee and croissants. However Santiago is beautiful in the early morning.

 Linda and Mary Ann walking in the early morning sun.

 The museum outside our apartment door.

 Top of the Museum.

 The spires of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in the early morning. Well, early to us.

 What happens when you fertilize too much.

 Nice Santiago street.

 Early morning bread.

So we drove and drove to Orviedo to the East. Not much to say about expressways in any country.

Main church in Orviedo. Just up from our hotel.

Asturian Folk Band announcing our arrival in Orviedo. So nice to be wanted.


And we had a great dinner at a fusion restaurant. The only problem was that the food was so good we didnt have time to take pictures. Also the owners would not allow us to take pictures for copyright reasons. We were able to take pictures of the frame Linda knocked down after sampling some Spanish White Lightening. Well not really.

Had we known how long Pender Schools would be out, Mya could have joined us and not missed any school. Maybe next time.

And last but not least......How About Them Buckeyes!!!!!! And Cowboys.

Day Five. Beyond Santiago de Compostela

Woke today and decided to head to the end of the world. Or at least that is what everyone thought it was till Columbus ruined everything. but before we left we had to have breakfast swe stopped for a typical Spanish breakfast. Liquid hot chocolate and Churos. Oh so good.

 However it did have great seafood. Grilled squid, but with the insides still in. Sooo Good

 
After lunch we went to the church where it all started. Mother Mary appeared to some fishermen and told them where to find St James body so they built a church and light house there. Eventually St James body came to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral where it rests today. This is the place with the swinging Incense burner from yesterday.

 Lighthouse near where St James body was found.

 Atlantic crashing on the rocks/

 Church dedicated to the fishermen who found St James body. Notice all the sailing boats.

These structures dot the countryside. They store grain up high to keep rodents out. made of stone.

When we returned, Linda and I went out for a beer or two. Below is an example of what a group does after completing the Comino in Santiago which is the ending spot for most pilgrims.

Here is pictured a marker along the way of the Caminno so pilgrims don't lose their way.

Tomorrow we head East to Oviedo. One of the main starting points for the Caminno de Santiago.

Day Four. More of Santiago de Compostela

Well another day. still woke up late but made the best of it. ate small breakfast since the shop was out of Coisants, but I managed to find a Santiago de Compostela pastry that was so good.
stood in line to go to Mass at the main church here. Yes I stood in line to go to church. Since this is the final goal for the Camino de Compastela, it is a big deal. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was packed with both tourists and pilgrims who had walked or biked the Camino. Built in the 12th centurry and opened in 1211 it is a classic Gothic Cathederal. The Mass was in Spanish but celebrated the people from aroound the world who had hiked the Camino. This Mass honored several people. Wheelchair bound, paraplegics, blind and others with disabilities. The Mass concludes with the showering of the pilgrims with incense from a large burner hung from the celling and then swung. See the video below.

After that we went in serch of Mary Ann's phone. Couldn't find it anywhere. Looked all over the apartment. Not there So we went back to last nights restaurant. Not there.  Finally I asked if I could look in her purse which she had already done. You guessed it. In her purse.  However it took us to another great restaurant for llunch. More great octopus and shrimp and of course sangria. Walked back towards our apartment and to the front of the Cathedral Santiago de Compostela.

Beer at a nice square and then home for a rest.

 Ran into a car show along the way.

So we only needed a small late dinner and went to a Tapas Bar

Pictures of everything but the Octopus. Nice walk home past lit up buildings.

 Scallops and shrimp

 Iberian Ham

 Sardines

 Octopus in the window

One of many lit buildings.

Third Day On to Santiago de Compostela

So we say good by to Madrid. Goodbye to Suckling Pig. Goodbye to the great apartment and neighborhood we had for two short days and goodnight to the ladies in the apartment across the street who would watch their TV in their Teddy Nightgowns ( sorry guys no pictures)

What can you say about a 6 hour drive across Spain. Well one thing is that we showed up at Hertz to pick up our car only to be told we had to wait till 10:30 or be charged an extra day. Just as well since we then missed Madrid morning rush hour. They rented me a red Audi A3. Nice car.

 Santiago de Compostela is the end of the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage across Spain that started in the 900's AD. Below is one of the churches there from our apartment window.

Video of the church.

 Baked goods honor those who, like our friend and traveling companion Linda, have walked the Camino.

 Linda and Mary Ann enjoying an afternoon drink after a long car ride.

 And of course we love to eat. Here is my meal tonight. Octopus. It was sooooooo good.

 Mary Ann had Risotto with truffles.

 And Linda had some delicious mussels.

 Our table where we dined alfresco.

Troubadours serenade the girls while we eat.

We will be here for two more nights with a possible side trip to the ocean. All is well.

Second and last day in Madrid

Wow can it be time to leave Madrid? Was it only yesterday morning we arrived. Guess so. Still recovering from jet lag so Mary Ann and I slept late. Went to the Theisen Museum, but I am getting ahead of myself.
Last night we went to a local restaurant about 40 yards from our apartment. What a great find. Tapas and great food and possibly some of the greatest pork I have ever eaten.

The outside of the Tapas bar/Restaurant of our first night.

The Pork was so goodI hardly had time for a picture.


Museum was so so and we were all tired from the walk there. Did see some nice streets and shops along the way.

 Typical Street Restaurant

Iberico and other cured hams. The one on the left sells for 475 Euros. The others are around $60.00 and up for a pound. But so good to eat and every restaurant offers very thin slices for sale.



After resting when we got home, we went out for suckling pig. oh so good in Spain. No words or pictures can describe the taste. You just have to come to Spain and try it.

The King of Spain's House at night.

 Tomato Appetizers

 Linda had suckling lamb.

Mary Ann and I had Suckling Pig.

 The bakery across from our Apartment.

Our Street.

So tomorrow we pick up our car and drive to Santiago de Compastello. Oh and I have also been told that we were in the Plaza Mayor yesterday.  I will leave out the story of having our Mother with us at dinner to protect the innocent.

First Day in Madrid

First days are always tough. Jet Lag, Getting from airport, find the place you rented months ago. This was no different. But we did get a nap and some Tapas, and some people watching at the Plaza Major in Madrid. Staying close to home tonight for dinner and off to a museum or two tomorrow.

 The first Tapas of this trip. They went faster than I could take a picture.

 My Girls on the walk back from Plaza Major.

 One of the hundreds of Plaza's in Madrid.

 Typical Madrid Street.

View of the street from the balconey of our 2nd floor apartment. Just down the street is a small bakery so the smell of fresh baked bread is in the air all morning.