From Honolulu to Santiago: Part 20

Guided by birdsong, the journey continues.

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The airport perimeter fence means we’re getting very close to Santiago.

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It’s a bit dramatic, but the juxtaposition of crosses and barbed wire is still striking.

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The trail is dusty but shady.

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Now that’s a mixed message! But it’s okay. Just stay on the trail.

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It’s still a very pretty walk.

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And the birds are still singing.

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We have an audience! The scallop shell on the right is a nice touch.

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An awful lot of feet make this journey!

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It’s a pretty unique-looking plant, but it almost looks like a hand making an obscene gesture.

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Kiwis, anyone? The barbed wire says “no.” But that’s okay. At this point a cold beer sounds much better!

From Honolulu to Santiago: Part 19

Traffic jam on the Camino!

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They gather outside the horreo, where corn is dried and stored.

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Time to trim the grass.

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Is this guy the supervisor?

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He kinda acts like it!

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The Camino follows crumbling stone walls through a forest.

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Beautiful trees!

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And ferns.

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A crumbling stone house is being swallowed by the forest.

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What would the walls say if they could talk?

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The marker shows we’re getting very close to Santiago!

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“For all pilgrims. Take it, open it, and leave it at the next kilometer point.”

From Honolulu to Santiago: Part 18

Octopus is very much on the menu in O Pedrouzo. And it ain’t cheap.

This rendering looks more like a squid.

The bells of the tiny Parroquia de Santa Eulalia de Arca welcomed us.

The scallop shell altar is one of a kind, and makes a really nice touch on this last stop before the long final haul into Santiago de Compostela.

Pears were available along the Camino for the weary and hungry peregrino.

And flowers provided some inspiration.

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As did jamon, at least for some of us.

It’s a cute little town that gets a lot of pilgrim traffic.

And there’s one last peaceful forest on the road heading out.

From Honolulu to Santiago: Part 17

A trio of blue-eyed siblings cautiously eye the peregrino parade outside Salceda . . .

. . . as the Camino winds past another modest memorial to a fallen spiritual comrade.

Each memento left along the Camino has a story behind it. There are so many to ponder.

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Meanwhile, this guy was pondering a free breakfast.

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It’s nice to sing in the morning!

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An old peregrino fountain is all but hidden below the modern highway that runs above and alongside it. How many drivers know it’s there?

And how many know about the little old stone chapel nearby?

The maiz is drying out for animal feed.

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And liquid refreshment does a weary peregrino right.

I love the simple but imaginative symbolism to be found along the Camino . . .

. . . and, of course, the natural beauty!

From Honolulu to Santiago: Part 16

Time to get a move on.

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Crossing yet another pretty old stone bridge.

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There’s always time to smell the flowers . . .

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. . . and to greet the locals.

It’s just a manhole cover, but the Camino de Santiago scallop shell is a really nice touch.

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And there’s old Santi with his scallop in the small city of Arzua.

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Beautiful stained glass windows provided just enough light during a few minutes of quiet reflection.

The fountain outside had this cute statue of children watering the family livestock.

Back on the Camino, there were more remnants of peregrinos past . . .

. . . and timeless walls that would surely have some great stories to tell.

A more festive version of Santiago is celebrated at a local pit stop.

At another spot nearby, the late breakfast plates proved quite an attraction.

What do they make of this constant parade of peregrinos?

Soon it was time for the journey’s next respite.

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The tiny hamlet of Salceda was just the ticket.

From Honolulu to Santiago: Part 15

The road keeps on going.

We certainly shared the sentiments of this person who’s fed up with litter along the Camino and made it clear in a way that everyone can understand.

Why the f*** would anyone want to carelessly and thoughtlessly toss their rubbish here, or anywhere?

But we opted to stay positive and add a little something to the nearby Door of Messages.

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A rest stop included some interesting information about flora and fauna.

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And random peregrinos added their own information to the back of the sign.

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I hope this person didn’t give up!

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Some local animales domesticos took a siesta in the sun.

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Willow trees, corn fields, and rolling hills.

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Cold beer tastes so damn good when you’ve really earned it!

From Honolulu to Santiago: Part 14

The various pedestrian tunnels we encountered weren’t too pretty, but they sure beat darting across busy highways!

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Buen Camino, the traditional peregrino greeting, was a frequent graffiti tag.

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Buen Turismo was an interesting alternative. Was this a sardonic commentary the way that the Camino has indeed become quite touristy, and less devout? Or a genuine well-wish? Lost in the translation? I suppose it’s all up to the reader.

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A nice rest stop beside a flowing stream.

The water plants were interesting, and unlike any we have in Hawaii.

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We met Little Red Riding Hood a little further up the Camino! Whimsical and charming in all her tacky splendor!