Strolling Santiago de Compostela

View from our small third floor room with 5 bunk beds for a total of 10 persons in our room. Cozy…

 

We call Roots & Boots our home for two nights. It is in the old part of town, three levels of multiple rooms down narrow hallways with as many bunk beds as they can possibly put in each room.  We had two bathrooms for our floor, so we had to be patient or find an open bathroom on another floor…maybe.

We shared a room with sheep farmer from Portugal, college students waiting for housing and a grandfather/grandson pair (Sweden? ), as well as another silent partner that did not converse with us.
Randy is wearing his strolling attire today, so let’s start exploring.
Interesting, but I don’t think I’ll put these sculptures on my deck.

Thank you, Random Strolling Ladies, for following the photography Rule of Three and Odd Numbers.

She must be my relative since Pemble women are known to wear bright red attire.

Obviously, she draws the attention of old and young alike.

Sign reads:  Painter looking for work urgently – I’m hungry. 

You’re going strolling whether you want to, or not!

Beggar outside the coffee shop.

Neighborhood near our hostel.

We crossed through Alameda Park several times as it was between our hostel and the city center. The origin of the park goes back to the donation of the grounds to the city by the Counts of Altamira around the middle of the 16th century.

Harry Potter influence here?

We see many monuments amidst the garden area of the park.  Mirador da Alameda.  Translation: Viewpoint of Alameda

We are thrilled to meet up with Al, our Spanish friend that we met at the pilgrim meal in Fonfria just past O’Cebreiro. I sincerely hope he is doing well with his new job in South America.

These Italian pilgrims are all smiles and glad to be done with their journey.  We shared the trail frequently with them the past few days. A smile is comprehended in any language.

We attend the Pilgrim Mass and they did not swing “the thing.”( Botafumeiro) We are 0 for 2 on this, so if I ever return to the Camino experience again I will not be leaving until they do swing “the thing.”

Outside the church, I notice this beggar who is prepared for rain with an umbrella tucked behind her.  I’m guessing she is a Gypsy, which is a slang term for the Romani people that frequent European countries.  More to come on this topic in future blog posts.

These gypsies appear to be quite stern.  Is this an omen?