Some pilgrims finish their trek at Santiago de Compostela and others continue to Finisterre or Muxia or both to ensure that they have gone to the VERY END.....
It would have been another 2-3 days walking trek for us...so we did the bus tour to see this end.
Basically we looked online and they were handing out pamphlets with tours in the historic city. Leap of faith, we booked a tour...for the first relatively 'sunny/cloudy day.'
Toxotravel.gal is the travel company that we booked our tour.
Ruben, our tour guide was fantastic. There were only 8 of us in total which was perfect....
....and off we went.
Eight five euros for both of us including a three course lunch with wine....
We loved it.
After a wee bit of a drive, Ruben took the time to pull over at this scenic view and share with us about the 'painted trees.' Apparently they are repurposed trees from a forest fire painted by a local artist. They are placed here to be seen and enjoyed by all.
The incredible thing about this area is that it is filled with granite! Everywhere you look it is rock.
A wee painted forest.
The view is spectacular of the Carnota Beach, which spans more than 7 kilometers, making it the longest beach in the region of Galicia.
Ruben shared with us that we are not in a touristy part of the coast. Even with this famous beach, no one comes to this area of Galicia.
I prefer that actually. The real Spanish life.
I've packed this tree to come home to Canada...do you think I'll be over the weight for luggage on the plane??
Gorgeous. We are so high up...but guess what...the highway down was crazy.
'S' turns all the way down, like switch backs!! I hate sitting on the window side in a bus, car or van in this case. It is always a wee bit terrifying for me.
But Ruben was a great driver and actually took his time and was careful with the precious cargo of people he was responsible for.
Thank you God.
Next stop, The Cascada de Ezaro, or The Ezaro Waterfall.
We are actually in Dumbria, in the region of La Coruna, at this point of the tour.
Beautiful villages with most buildings made of stone. The surroundings area as well.
Reminds me a great deal of the Aran Islands (Ireland).....all rock too.
A picturesque harbour welcomed us when we arrived.
The sun is spectacular today. It lightens up the rock and makes it look so majestic.
The boulders along the river are huge. Obviously some come down with the waterfalls from the mountain. Yikes!
The mountain itself is about 155 meters tall....and you can see the incredible erosion, on the rocks, as a result of the power of the water over the years.
Coming from the Jallas River, the waterfall's highest drop is 40 meters. Best viewed, at this time of year, when there is a lot of rain. Perfect timing on our part.
If you have ever seen "Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back" when Hans Solo is going to be thrown into the Great Pit of Carkoon...actually an eating monster....this waterfalls reminds me of that.
Just saying.
Next stop...
'Cabo Finisterre' or 'Cape Finisterre' taken from Latin means 'end of the earth.'
In the Roman days, when the earth was 'flat' they literally believed you would fall off here.
In actual fact it is quite high and treacherous with steep cliffs on three sides.
It is a peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain along the Atlantic Ocean.
When you arrive, there is a wee tourist/souvenir shop near the parking area.
The Cape Finisterre Lighthouse.
The Cape is about 90 kilometers from Santiago de Compostela and the final destination for pilgrims on the Camino. It recent years they have been burning their clothing as 'the thing to do' here and it has caused some problems. The least of which would be the risk of forest fires.
The sign below is a notice towards that.
A wedding party enjoying a photo shoot on the Cape.
Getting our photo taken beside 'the boot' on the peninsula.
The 'boot' marks the end of the Camino journey. Apparently there were two...but someone took one?
It is bronzed and secured to the rock. We sat beside it...but some stand on the same rock with it.
A wee bit precarious for me I have to say.
This coast is referred to as the 'Costa da Morte' or the Death Coast because of the number of ship wrecks that have occurred along these waters.
In 1870, a British ship was lost with over 500 souls on board.
It looks so vast and empty.
The weather is a little scary even for these wee birds.
Looking waaaaaaaaay down to the seagull and the churning waters.
Ruben suggested that we get our last stamp, from the Camino here. It is quite common along the route to stamp your own credentials in bars along the way.
There is another place here to do it, but they are closed.
Deb placing the last of her stones on the last marker.
One is for our dear friend Lyn R. who would have loved to do this journey with us if she could.
The other, with the Maple Leaf on it, is for Deb, which our talented friend Paulette painted for her before we left Canada.
Kilometer 0 at Finisterre with our credentials full of stamps to show our journey.
From Sarria to Santiago de Compostela....Deb worked hard for these stamps.
I am so proud of her.
Even when she was at her end, she had the courage to go ahead of me, to our next destination, speaking no Spanish and her drivers with very little or no English, on her own. Waving at me as I headed down the Camino paths. Encouraging and praising me for a job well done.
She is my 'Rock.'
Probably shouldn't pretend but I think it is always fun to get the photos of me on 'the edge.'
Truly I am humbled, complete and blessed that I was able to do this part of the Camino.
Even in the pouring rain, for two of the days of hiking, over 35 km, I still could not stop smiling.
A week before we left, after my diagnosis of a brain tumour, really, I thought my dreams of doing this would be finished.
Thank you to the one who always has my back.....Thank you God.....for this.
'Cruz dos Farrapos' or 'Rags Cross' is where some pilgrims have been burning their clothes.
I just read where a fire did get started on the Cape when two pilgrims burned their boots.
Happy face of a happy traveller.
No more can be said....my content face says it all.
Amen.
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