HELLO. THIS IS OUR WAY
Camino de Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Frances -
24th May 2025
Day 26 - Portomarín to Palas de Rei
It was probably the quietest night we’ve ever had - just the faint sound of slightly heavy breathing, which is surprising considering our 130-bed dorm was almost full.
25th May 2025
Day 27 - Palas de Rey to Arzúa
After being woken at 12:30am by a drunk man trying to find his bed - he was politely evicted from the albergue - we managed to get a reasonable amount of sleep. We were first up at 5:30 and ate quietly in the kitchen, lit by the light from the vending machine.
26th May 2025
Day 28 - Arzúa to O Pedrouzo
A quiet night and a relaxed morning. We left the albergue at 6:15 after breakfast, no head torch needed this time as the sky was already lightening under clear conditions. The trail was peaceful at first, with only a few others around, but as we passed more albergues the number of pilgrims gradually increased.
27th May 2025
Day 29 - O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela
We got a good night's sleep – there seems to be a correlation between the size of the dorm and the volume of snoring: the bigger the dorm, the quieter it is. First to rise at 5:30am, we’d finished breakfast and were ready to leave by 6, with only one other person having surfaced.
28th May 2025
Day 30 - Rest day - Santiago de Compostela
Still an early morning, but with nowhere to go. Headed out at 9am to visit the tomb of the Apostle St James, located in the cathedral’s crypt beneath the main altar, then attended the pilgrims’ Mass.
29th May 2025
Day 31 - Santiago de Compostela to Piaxe
My alarm was set for 4:55am, Gaby’s for 5:55am, though we’d planned to leave before 5:30. Still in single rooms, I texted her when I woke up - no reply. Fortunately, we were in rooms next door, so I banged on the wall until I got a response.
30th May 2025
Day 32 - Piaxe to O Logoso
Second people to leave this morning, quietly closing the albergue door behind us at 6:00 am. It was misty outside but warm, with a slight breeze. Lots of road walking today - little villages, small roads, main roads, and more little villages.
31st May 2025
Day 34 - O Logoso to Finisterre (end of the world)
Both awake before my 5:30am alarm, we crept quietly from the dorm with our half-packed rucksacks and finished packing outside in the driveway under a helpful streetlamp, so not to disturb those still sleeping.
5th Jun 2025
Rest & relaxation - Spain
You’d think it would be simple - ten days to do whatever we want, go wherever a train or bus from Santiago de Compostela will take us. Just make a decision and go.
10th Jun 2025
Rest & relaxation - Portugal
The train ticket was cheap – just €8.50 for a two-hour international journey from Vigo in Spain to Porto in Portugal. The journey itself was uneventful: no announcements, no checks, just gently rolling countryside slipping past the windows as we crossed into a new country without much fanfare.