FRONTERAS WITH DAVE & MARIAN

The town of Fronteras is unlike any other - trucks packed with cows pass within inches of your face, emergency vehicles stuck in traffic jams for 20 minutes because there's no place to go, your feet getting run over by a tuk-tuk - it's just a zoo! Ah, but the markets....(note how David is so smug after making the poor boy cry trying to beat him down on the price of an avocado & Marian's satisfaction with over-paying on a cowboy belt!!)

LOCAL MAYAN CAPTURES GRINGO ON FILM!!

This local woman was caught red handed taking a picture of David (huh, Dave?? Is he that unique looking of a character??!!) She was completely embarrassed & didn't want Dave to reciprocate by taking her picture.

DAVE & MARIAN IN THE RIO ON APPLESEEDS

Good friends, Dave & Marian, joined us for their annual visit - this time to Guatemala. We started off at Tortugal Marina in the Rio Dulce, which is where we left the boat for the hurricane season.Took them down "The Gorge", which is a spectacular trip. (The Gorge is where they filmed the very first Tarzan movies!!)

GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS

Antigua has some of the best restaurants & wonderful posadas (inns) to stay in. Two of our finest meals were in Bistro Cinq  & Como Como. We stayed 2 nights at Hotel la Catedral, just off the main square in Antigua.

TOURING ANTIIGUA WITH DAVE & MARIAN

ANTIGUA'S HERMANO PEDRO

Marian got us a tour of Hermano Pedro's Hospital. (top right hand corner) The hospital was founded in 1663 by Dominican friars. Its current use is a home & care facility for over 300 patients incl. the elderly, orphaned, mentally disabled, & a large number of cerebral palsy patients. It relies heavily on volunteers - quite a number of doctors & nurses from the U.S. & Canada.

CASA SANTO DOMINGO, ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA

We were fortunate enough to stay at this incredible 5-star hotel & took full advantage of all its amenities!

We also took advantage of a tour of the museum at the hotel

MUSEUM PIECES AT SANTO DOMINGO

"EL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO DE COMPESTELA" (click on photo to enlarge)

SPAIN (Sept./Oct. 2013)

Our first day of the walk started in Sarria -  115km. from Santiago. Peter & I went with good friends, Tim & Jennifer from Vancouver & began with a 22.5 km. trek through beautiful countryside. Spirits were high,  weather was absolutely perfect & we were rarin' to go!

SARRIA - PORTOMARIN (22.5 km.)

Day 1 - September 21, 2013
Along the way, there were little refreshment areas where you could pick up a cup of coffee or maybe a local would leave an apple for you as you rested beside their home.

PORTOMARIN'S CASA RURAL

 "The Way" lead us to Portomarin at a "Casa Rural" (similar to a B&B)- our first night's accommodations on El Camino. Ours was a little cabin on the Mino river. Owner, Mario, is a larger than life character & we all soon became best amigos in our 12 hour stay there!!

PORTOMARIN - PALAS DE REI (25 km.)

Day 2
Memorials along the way, small villages, eucalyptus groves & lunches of crusty bread, Iberian ham & manchego cheese

SCENES ALONG "THE WAY"

 

PALAS DE REI - ARZUA (32 km)

Day 3
This was a long day. By the time we reached Ribadiso (26 km) our feet were aching. Jennifer & I had aquired a few "souvenirs" (read blisters) & a rest beside a cool stream was a welcome relief. We had another 6 km. to go before reaching our "albergue" which turned out to be the biggest disappointment of our entire trip.

ARZUA - SANTIAGO (42 km.)

Day 4
Wow, if we thought 32 km. was a long day, we definately weren't ready for today's 42 km!! And  our beautiful weather turned to rain. Ah, but the characters that you meet along the way. Take, for instance, Pablo..... it makes it all worthwhile! Arriving in Santiago was such a thrill.

SYMBOLS OF EL CAMINO

The clam shell; the arrow; the walking stick - all part of "The Way"

CATHEDRAL DE SANTIAGO

Arriving in Santiago de Compestela. The final destination (unless you decide to carry on to the coast finishing in Finisterre - another 90 km.) is in front of the Cathedral. With its origins beginning in 1075, it has a definite Baroque style . It is a breathtaking sight.

THE BOTAFUMEIRO AT THE PILGRIMS' MASS

 This ritual is a must see. Several monks light the botafumeiro (thurible) & then proceed to pull down on the pully mechanism to make it swing from one end of the nave to the other. It swings in a 65 meter arc & reaches heights of 21 meters. It is quite a unique performance! (so far, there have only been 4 accidents in its history & no serious injuries!!)

TAPAS, BEER & WINE....TAPAS, BEER & WINE

 

WINDOW SHOPPING!

 

SANTIAGO STREET SCENES

 

MILE O - CAPE FINISTERRE

We took a road trip to the westernmost point in Europe (disputed by the Portugese) to the actual finish of "El Camino" known as Mile 0. It's a rigorous additional 90 km. from Santiago.  Translated, Finisterre means "End of the World".

PORTO, PORTUGAL

Leaving Santiago was bittersweet, but it was time to move on.
We drove to Porto - the home of, you guessed it,.... Port.

WINDOW DISPLAYS IN SINTRA, PORTUGAL

Sintra is a beautiful tourist town just north of Lisbon.

Beautiful tiled murals as you walk along the roadsides in Sintra.

SINTRA. PORTUGAL

The whimsical & the beautiful in Sintra

PALAIS DE PENA

We hiked up the hill on a damp & foggy day to the castle which was home to many Portugese royalty.