The two sisters became popular in the old town of Santiago de Compostela during the dark times of the Franco dictatorship. They dressed in outlandish outfits and make-up and walked every day at two o’clock – the busy lunch time and when the Zona Vella was crowded with university students. They’d flirt with the students and generally behave outrageously.
The sisters were seamstresses who lost their clientele because of family involvement with political factions opposing Franco. They brightened the days of Compostella citizens and were fondly cared for by their neighbors.
I’ve come up with another possible camino plan. With 4 travel days + multiple rest days, this would be about 60 days. Four Caminos: Camino de Madrid (12 days) 1/2 Camino Frances ( 22 days) Camino Portuguese from Porto (17 days) Camino Finisterre (6 days).
May 15 – Life is a little slow in “Blog Land” as we await permission to enter Spain. Meanwhile, you may be interested in other information I’ve been gathering:
This June when I’m in the southeast visiting family, I’ll pause in the Asheville, NC area for a day hike on the Shut-In Trail, which is part of Segment 2 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
Ireland’s Pilgrim Paths are a collection of five ancient pilgrim routes which must be completed to obtain the Teastas Oilithreachta (Pilgrim Certificate) from Ballintubber Abbey. (Summarized from the Pilgrim Paths website)
The Five Paths: (All this info is from the Pilgrim Paths website. https://www.pilgrimpath.ie/
Cnoc na dTobar Cnoc na dTobar (Knocknadobar) was a sacred pilgrim site in prehistoric and medieval times. The Pilgrim Path from the traditional start point near St Furze’s holy well is marked by 14 Stations of the Cross leading to an imposing Celtic Cross on the summit plateau that acts as the pilgrim destination.
Cosán na Naomh Ancient pilgrim route with a strong penitential tradition that finishes beneath one of Ireland’s highest and most revered mountains, Mt. Brandon in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. The attractions here are rooted within people and place and completing this path is one of the best ways to experience the elemental, skeletal topography of the west Kerry landscape.
St. Finbarr A charismatic pilgrim route offering unforgettable vistas as it leads in fine style over the Sheehy Mountains and valleys to Gougane Barra. Denoted by the brown Slí Bharra plates, the path follows the route of the Sheep’s Head Way and then Beara Breiffne Way from north of Kealkil – it requires 2 days to complete.
St. Kevin’s Way Pilgrim trail from Hollywood to Glendalough, which reputedly follows the journey of St Kevin to found a monastic settlement in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. Well-marked track rises gently to the sweeping viewpoint of the Wicklow Gap before descending easily to finish at the ancient monastic site at Glendalough, which was a renowned centre of pilgrimage and learning in the medieval period.
Tóchar Phádraig The Tóchar follows the route of the ancient royal road from Cruachán, the seat of the Kings of Connaught, to Croagh Patrick. Holding many resonances from its pagan past; it was Christianised as a penitential route by St Patrick, but remains stubbornly untamed and much as it was for medieval pilgrims.
Camino options galore! Now considering the Camino de Madrid which is a camino path from Madrid to Sahagun, where it picks up the Camino Frances which takes you to Santiago de Compostella.
Distance would be approximately: Madrid to Sahagun – 322 km / 200 miles Sahagun to Santiago de Compostella – 303 km / 188 miles Santiago to Finisterre – 84 km / 52 miles Total: 709 km / 440 miles
HOWEVER! Once at Sahagun, I could train/bus back to some favorite places and walk some stretches of the Camino Frances. Maybe Pamplona? Burgos?Estella? Some points in between those places? Could add up to another 200 km just revisiting favorite places. Then once back in Sahagun, walk to Santiago and on to Finisterre.
