Fog City Boy on the Variante Espiritual y Ruta Maritima del Camino

San Francisco, July 8, 2018

Translatio . . .

7 May 2018: Pontevedra to Combarro

The Variante Espiritual branches off of the more traditional “official” Camino Portugues (Camino Central) about three kilometers north of Pontevedra, and reconnects about three kilometers south of Padron.

Literature encouraging pilgrims to follow the route describes it thusly:

Follow the same route as the remains of St. James on his journey to Compostela and cross a place of great natural beauty. Discover water-mills, fountains, chapels and monasteries. Walk through forests, vineyards and beaches. Travel the only maritime Via Crucis [sic] in the world, where you can admire the 17 centennial cruceiros (calvary) identifying this part of the Camino de Santiago as the “Translatio.” THE ORIGIN OF ALL ROADS. [“Translatio” means “the transfer.]

After his execution in Rome, St. James’ followers secretly transported his remains to Spain by sea. In 44 AD the ship carrying his body sailed to the Bay of Arousa where his body was brought ashore and then taken by a small boat up the river and again brought ashore, near Padron, and eventually interred at Santiago.

The description of the Variante Espiritual is accurate. It is a less traveled route which gives the peregrino a measure of solitude not generally available on the “official” routes. The number of pilgrims on The Way varies inversely with the distance to Santiago! And, there were a substantial number of pilgrims on the road early that morning.

I fell in with two young women from Germany and a woman who was my contemporary from Switzerland. We chatted in German and in English (their English better than my German). When most pilgrims continued on the traditional Way, the four of us stopped where the Variante breaks off from the traditional Way and we took each other’s pictures. (Last photo in FCB #34.) Then I learned that they also were planning to take the Variante. We walked in tandem for the rest of the day.

The Variante has a distinct waymark – a concha (scallop shell) superimposed on a red cross of St. James.

After about two hours on the Variante, we came upon frisky lambs frolicking in a pasture by which we passed.

The faith is strong in Galicia. Cruceiros are common and often hundreds of years old. This one appeared to be quite new and the detail was impressive.  It was placed in the garden of the home in the background.

The Variante passes through Poio which is home to a substantial and active Monastery of San Xoan de Poio dating from the 7th Century.

Interesting and recent inlays decorate a court yard.  The staff, the gourd, and the cross of St. James – all symbols of the Camino.

We continued on along the coast. The peregrinas continued on, but I stopped at Combarro for a nice lunch and a restful afternoon. The hotelkeeper where I stayed was quite proud of his establishment and his town. He took me up to the roof deck and exulted in the vista!

8 May 2018: Combarro to Armenteira

Combarro is built on the side of a steep coastal range. The Variante breaks away from the main thoroughfare through town and goes . . . up!

Swiftly, the peregrino finds himself in sparsely populated, then very sparsely populated country. It’s a long, steep climb, but the views are great.

The Variante turns inland but continues to climb, eventually emerging from forested trails and logging roads to reach Armenteira, a pleasant community and location of the Monasterio de Santa Maria de Armenteira. Its nuns are of the Cistercian Order.

I stayed at an Albergue in Armenteira. It is newly constructed and municipally operated.

Laundry facilities were present. That’s my laundry hanging from a line – lower left.

9 May 2018: Armenteira to Vilanova de Arousa

Only a very light breakfast was available at the Albergue, so I broke out one of my cans of sardines – my failsafe comestible for situations such as this. The Variante continues through the town and then enters the Ruta de la pedra y del agua – the route of stone and water.

(The spelling on the sign is in the Galician language. Some would argue that Galician is a dialect of Spanish. But the Galicians hold that it is their own language.)

It was a fun walk – mostly downhill – with good signage and pleasant surroundings. There were a substantial number of abandoned stone buildings, and plenty of water along the way.

After emerging from the Route of Stone and Water, the Variante continues along side the Rio Umia . . .

. . . continuing into vineyards. The supports for the vines are built to support substantial crops!

A few minutes later, public art as a tribute to common folk.

A cruceiro in a vineyard.

I arrived in Vilanova de Arousa, situated on the edge of the Bay of Arousa, visited the municipal albergue where I bought my ticket for the swift boat transit the next day, and settled into my lodging. I explored the town, had supper, and went to bed . . . anticipating the the next day’s adventure.

10 May 2018: Vilanova de Arousa via the Ruta Maritima – to Padron

I was up timely, enjoyed a decent breakfast, and headed for the boat landing. Several of us looked around for the boat that was to take us up the river, but to no avail. Over the next half hour, about two dozen peregrinos gathered there, all a bit chilly and wondering if we were in the right place. Eventually the boat and the boatman arrived.

We all boarded, along with our mochilas and walking sticks which we held between our knees. It reminded me of riding in a cattle truck during Army Basic Training with my duffle bag between my knees.  The benches were not deep, but they were adequate.

We cast off and proceeded. The sun was not high yet; the scenery was lovely.

The boat was swift and provided an exciting ride!  I had almost a front row seat.

In time, we came upon a trio of cruceiros – depicting on the mount at Calvary, Jesus in the center and the criminals lower and to his left and right.

Not long after, we arrived at our destination, Pontecesures, a short two kilometer walk to Padron. The boat and the boatman returned to Vilanova. I and the other peregrinos now were back on the Camino Portugues.

I got a Café con Leche to warm up, and then headed the short distance to Padron. checked in to the Hotel Chef Rivera – the very same lodging I had when I passed this way in 2014. (Shout out to my friends from Alberta who walked in tandem with me then, and who also stayed at the Chef Rivera.)

I revisited Padron. The bronze peregrino is still walking toward Santiago.

It was a nice day, and families were enjoying the

11 May 2018: Padron to Santiago

On the way out of Padron, I noticed a recently constructed passenger shelter. Made of granite!

The Way avoids some of the heavily traveled highway by traversing country lanes and villages.

At Faramello, The Way passes a small church and shrine, and the Cruceiro do Francos, one of the oldest wayside crosses in Galicia.

Shortly thereafter, I came upon what I will simply describe as a lazy man’s way of herding sheep.

A handsome plackard in the town of Teo.

And here, the Fog City Boy is slightly over 10 kilometers from Santiago – sitting at the same bridge where a similar photo was taken in 2014. Different boots (the other pair wore out after 1,000 miles), a different water bottle, and Tilley hat a bit floppier, but the same Fog City Boy – boots, water bottle, hat, and peregrino – none the worse for wear!

I continued on, took a break for lunch, and reached Santiago in the late afternoon.

An obliging peregrina took my picture and interviewed me about my perigrenacion.

12 May 2018: At Santiago

I was up early and arrived at the Pilgrim Welcome Office about 7 am. The line had already formed. At precisely 8 am the gate was opened and eager peregrinos filed inside. A volunteer in the office reviewed by pilgrim passport, placed a final stamp in the next open space, and prepared a Compostela bearing the date of issuance, 12 May 2018, the point at which I had begun the pilgrimage, and my name – suitably Latinized. Although I have earned three other Compostelas, each one has special meaning for me. I am pleased, and honored, to have them.

I left the Pilgrim Office to return to my hotel for a good breakfast and then explored the Convento de San Francisco which was a block away. A handsome structure, the exterior recently renovated, with extraordinary religious art within.

I then visited the Cathedral, and as always, marveled at the grandeur of the structure, and the extraordinary art in the chapels and the main altar. I lit a candle in memory of a friend who had passed away shortly before I left on my pilgrimage.

I visited other venerated buildings and enjoyed just wandering the streets of Santiago.  And from a travel agency near the Cathedral, I got a map and a new pilgrim passport for use starting tomorrow!

There is always a sense of exhuberance in Santiago because when peregrinos arrive, they know they have achieved a major accomplishment – whether religious, spiritual, or simply athletic. They, and those who have come to welcome them, are in a celebratory mood.

There was dancing in the Praza de Cervantes.

I had a good dinner, including a long-standing local favorite – pemientos padron and vino tinto de la casa.

Tomorrow would be another day, and another journey. Tomorrow I would strike out on the 90 kilometer Camino Finesterre – the journey to the lighthouse that marks the place the Romans thought of as Lands End – the end of the earth.

Buen Camino!

More to come!

 

Knute Michael

If you would like to receive email updates as entries are posted, scroll back up to the first page and click on the “Follow” button on the lower right corner.  This feature may not be available on cell phones.