and arrive at an enchanting mountain top village.
As we head out on foot, we quickly find a Camino marker.
The trail leads us through tiny villages,...
down country lanes, ...
and through beautiful countryside fields.
We stop for some attention to blisters, ...
and soon the locals show up.
Our friendly waiter from Santa Irene...hold the vino!
Dinners were always happy events.
Life in the albergues.
Ryan and Dom near the end of the Camino...
and finally in front of the famed and revered cathedral.
Our amigos italianos in the Compostela office didn't expect this photo!
John Mark leaves his walking stick with others after receiving his Compostela.
Chilling on the roof of the cathedral with the facade and statue of Santiago in the background.
The view of the cathedral from our hostal window in Santiago.
A sampling of comments regarding the last portion of our trip hiking along the Camino de Santiago:
Alicia - "If you've ever been through soccer pre-season, multiply that feeling by ten and that's the effect that the Camino de Santiago leaves on one. Yes, your body aches and it's not exactly 5-star living, but it's all one great experience. I will never forget the wonderful people that I met and their incredible stories. Even though we only hiked for 7 days, I am so proud of our accomplishment and I hope someday in the future to hike the entire Camino....(but maybe after I recover from this experience first!)."
Ryan - "I enjoyed proving to everyone that I could walk the Camino. I learned a lot along the way and made some great friends."
Desi - "I liked living off of limited supplies and just learning to work with what we had and absolutely needed. We were all in the same boat: aches and pains, not much to use, running out of shampoo, heavy backpacks, and in desperate need of Ibuprofen - and all of this somehow this all brought us together and we experienced a condensed version of the Camino - break in body, mind, and soul (even me, who could only come for the last 70 k). It was an amazing experience."
Brittany - "I liked how friendly the other people on the Camino were. I met people from all over the world and they were very kind."
Sarah - "The Camino was very different from anything that I have ever done. Never in my mind would I have thought that I would walk 80 k. Although I did not get to finish, it was an amazing experience. Through the Camino you learn so much more about Spain. It is not just about the cities, food, fiestas; it is about the people and the culture. Walking every day all day you learn so much about the other side of Spain. When one reaches Santiago, I can understand why people feel accomplished. The cathedral is amazing and the city is great. I had a wonderful time."
John Mark - "I liked how every member of the group became closer friends when we all complained about our aches and pains. We suffered together and had a wonderful time."
Sra Molina - "As I rode the bus to O'Cebreiro where we were starting the Camino, I was reviewing all of the events of the past week - our wonderful reception from our host families and Colegio Logos; our special bonds with our new Madrid friends; and the wonderful experiences in the school, the families, and the cities we visited. I kept thinking that we should be staying there longer. Now I realize that through the Camino we were able to explore a different side of the culture of Spain. The people that we met continued to be wonderful and kind in every way (oh yes! There was that one woman who ran one of the albergues - definitely not kind!). We were able to view life in the small towns and back roads up close and personal. Our interactions were generally with people who did not speak English well and the students really went beyond their comfort levels in approaching the restaurant workers, ordering the food, and paying. The adventure of staying in the albergues was interesting - a communal experience in lodging that was clean, well organized, and fun.
As I told the students in the airport upon our arrival in Boston, I was honored to have been with them during this incredible experience. They did our little town proud."
Dom - "I enjoyed that when we reached Santiago I felt like I was friends with all the people we had seen along the Camino."
Emma -"The Camino de Santiago reminds me of life. The mountains symbolize the ups and downs and good and bad that we face while traveling through life. At times we struggle, but as long as we keep going, one step at a time, the bad will end and life will continue."
Sr Hayford - "Magic! That one word sums up the 16 days of our two part adventure. Our home stay in Madrid was an awesome experience - great people, food and sights. Many thanks to Arturo and Anna for their wonderful hospitality. Madrid is truly a world class city! Toledo and Segovia were all well worth the time we spent there.
Part 2 on the Camino de Santiago was unforgettable in so many ways - blisters, 30 k treks, Ibuprofen, incredible scenery, more delicious food, an intro to life in the albergues, and generally terrific weather. The final destination, Santiago, is a special city. I hope someday to return.
Finally, I have a lot of admiration for our students who accounted well for themselves. And yes, they will all heal from their wounds. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to accompany them. Hasta luego."
We are anxious now for our Madrid hosts to pay us a visit in August to continue our cultural exchange.
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