We arrived at Santiago de Compostela today. Our long awaited trip to the Galician region in northern Spain to start our pilgrimage greeted us with a glorious 48 degrees, a welcome cool temperature from the usual balmy heat of south Florida. A rainy day could not ruin our excitement. If it rains tomorrow it will be part of the adventure during our first day on the Camino.
A car service awaited us and we were transported from the Santiago airport to Sarria, our starting point on the Camino. As the driver chatted away about politics and life in Spain versus the U.S., I took in the scenery. Beautiful countryside, rolling hills, small towns with modern buildings intertwined with ancient farmhouses. The occasional pilgrim walking the Camino in the rain added to the idelic scene. This route would be our path starting tomorrow, and it suddenly became a daunting task. An hour and a half drive to Sarria covered 73 miles. We will be walking those 73 miles within the next five days. Can we do this?
We arrived at Sarria exhausted from the long travel day, but ready to explore a little before turning in to rest for the walk ahead. Our hotel, Mar de Plata, was modern, with a spacious room and very clean. We received our Camino passports which every pilgrim carries throughout the walk. We must have two stamps from every stop along The Way, to receive the coveted Santiago de Compostela certificate at the end of the journey. We now have our first two stamps, one from the hotel, the other from a hardware store. We learned that many of the town establishments provide the stamp. Each is unique to the place and some stamps are signed, to add an official touch to the tradition.
Sarria is a small but historically rich town located in the province of Lugo, in the community of Galicia, Spain. It sits in the lush green hills of northwestern Spain and is renowned for its popular role as a starting point for the Camino de Santiago. It’s around 115 kilometers from Santiago, the minimum distance required for pilgrims to earn the Compostela certificate, making Sarria one of the most popular spots to begin the journey. The history of Sarria dates back to Roman times, and you can still see remnants of that era, including ancient bridges and roads. In medieval times, Sarria was an important town, thanks to its strategic location along the Camino. Its growth was influenced by the religious significance of the pilgrimage route.
While exploring the town I was surprised by the many shops, boutiques, large markets, restaurants, and small cafe bars where the locals meet. We stopped at a hardware store, the one where we received the second stamp on our Camino passport, when we saw in the store window the iconic seashell, the symbol of El Camino. We bought two to hang from our backpacks.
The people we’ve encountered so far are friendly and kind. Locals embrace the tourists and pilgrims who visit for a short one night or a couple of days stay passing through on the Camino. The importance of this pilgrimage is not lost on all who live along the Camino route. Pilgrims are held in great reverence for the walk that has been taking place for over 1000 years. We felt that reverence with every person who wished us a “buen camino.” This is the official greeting to all who walk the way of El Camino. We anxiously anticipate what tomorrow brings when we start our journey.
Road Drifters 