Author Archives: Jaime Carrollo

Lugo has been a good place to take a break. The hostel is nice and clean and perfectly located, and Pedro at the front desk goes the extra step to help me locate the bus and train stations, as well as Alquimia, home of the best gin and tonic in town. Lugo happens to beContinue reading “Day 28. Taking it easy”

I woke just after six in the morning to the sound of rain beating against the window shutter on the bedroom window. Here is the rain that was forecast, I thought, and rolled over and tried to get some more sleep. Didn’t work. I got up and opened the shutter and watched the rain fallContinue reading “Day 27. Sun came out in Lugo”

Today was a beautiful day for hiking as the sun came up shining in a blue sky. The valleys were full of fog, but most of today was above it all. The trails were good and well indicated with a minimum of asphalt. The ascents and descents were all manageable and I took it easyContinue reading “Day 26. Up and down the Empire State Building”

Sean and Mynhardt treated us to a nourishing and filling breakfast of granola and yoghurt followed by coffee and croissants with homemade jam and marmalade. They served orange juice as well but it was not freshly squeezed as it is in many of the cafe bars along the way. The goodbyes were long and theContinue reading “Day 25. A wrench”

Alberge Miguelin is in the village of La Mesa which sits at the base of a hill atop which the giant air foils of a dozen or so wind turbines slowly rotate. I could hear the soft and distant whirrin whirrin whirrin of the blades as I fell asleep. I thought about my home inContinue reading “Day 24. San Julian, a gem of a place”

Today, I believe, was the defining stage of the Primitivo. The Camino rose from 600m to 1130m rising above the tree line to reveal some magnificent views. I took the Hospitales route which is recommended in good weather and for most of the day I had great weather. It was a magnificent day and althoughContinue reading “Day 23. The Primitivo”

I spoke of signs in a recent post. Well here is one I saw on the wall of the alberge I stayed at yesterday. Me: Hmmm! A transport service.Left foot: Yay!!!Right foot: Woo hoo!!!Me: Whoa! Doesn’t mean I’m going to use it. Left foot: Why not? We are tired of carrying your backpack.Right foot: Yeah,Continue reading “Day 22. Listen to your body”

Salas, today’s destination, is a happy little town. It was a shorter walk than average, just under 13 miles and the Alberge Valle de Nonaya where I am staying is clean and tidy. I have my own room but I share a bathroom and kitchen area with three other rooms. I was first to arriveContinue reading “Day 21. Sight for sore feet”

Are you a believer in signs? Do you think there are messages in your dreams? Do you look to the zodiac for guidance? Or is this all superstition and nonsense? Consider this: As I left my hotel in Oviedo this morning, I walked by some golden beads lying on the sidewalk. Reminded me of MardiContinue reading “Day 20. First day of the Primitivo”

Today I made it to Oviedo, or Uvieu in the Asturian language, the capital of the Principality of Asturias and the “official” starting point of the Camino Primitivo. The Umayyad invasion of the Iberian peninsula began in 711 and by the end of the decade, they controlled most of the peninsula. Pelagius (Pelayo) was aContinue reading “Day 19.”