Category Archives: Spain

Camino de Santiago, Spain

On the Camino de Sanitago

We began walking early every day at around 8 am or earlier.

Mark and Ray on the Camino de Santiago

Heading out early to beat the heat and enjoy the peaceful walk on the camino. The trails are well marked and easy to follow.

Typical marker along the camino trail.

We began our camino journey by walking along the streets of the camino leading through the town of Sarria and then along country paths.

Walking through the streets of Sarria on the Camino
Church in Sarria

We soon reached the countryside and began walking into some fields and walking upwards on some hills. The vistas were beautiful all along our way.

View of the roaming hills on the trail of the camino.
One of the many trails along the camino.

During the eight days we walked the camino, we came across some unique and interesting people and buildings. We walked through old Spanish hamlets and towns admiring some of the buildings and churches.

Old buildings along the camino de Santiago
One of the many churches along the camino

Old ruins of a building on the camino

There were religious crosses and other symbols along with some interesting animals.

One of the crosses along the camino.
Ray with a donkey along the camino

We would walk along with other pilgrims on the trail and chat with them about different aspects of the camino. Finally saying good  bye with the common phrase of “Buen Camino”.

Some of the many people we encountered on the Camino.

All along the camino we came across areas which had makeshift shrines. These shrines small stones, images of people and notes written to loved ones who had passed away.

One of the many shrines along the camino de Santiago.

We stopped to look at the shrines and read some of the notes left there by loved ones. It was a very moving experience to see so many along the camino trail.  Below are just a few of the camino memorials or shrines along the way.

One of the ad hoc shrines along the camino

One of the many signs along the camino.

We walked a total of 115 kilometres on the Camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Over that distance we saw many beautiful vistas and towns. Here are just some of the interesting things and vistas along our 8 day trek on the camino.

We arrived at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela around noon on the eight day.

Ray and Mark at the Cathedral of Santiago

It was a very rewarding and emotional adventure. The Camino de Santiago is an emotional, spiritual and physical adventure. You have to experience the camino to truly understand and appreciate the adventure.

Buen Camino!

“La vida es una aventura, vive tu aventura”

Camino de Santiago, Spain

The start of the camino de Santiago adventure

The Camino de Santiago is a religious pilgrimage which has always been of interest to me. It is known as “The Way of Saint James” an important pilgrimage that dates back to the middle ages. There are many different pilgrimage routes that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Some of the routes are considered main routes for the pilgrimage. All routes however lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great where his remains are located in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

I began my preparations for the pilgrimage nearly a year in advance. Walking and training with my camino partner Mark for the journey which would inevitably take me through steep hills, valleys and other challenges. Reading many articles and conducting research it became obvious that planning and the right equipment was key.

Packed and ready for the Camino de Santiago

The day finally arrived and we set out by train to our starting point of Sarria Spain.

Once we boarded our train, we settled in for the eight hour train ride.  We toasted to the adventure that would follow.

Ray and Mark toasting to the Camino de Santiago

We enjoyed the train ride and we met other great people heading to Sarria for the Camino adventure. We arrived tired but excited to start our camino the next morning.

At the start of the Camino de Santiago I felt that the adventure would be a challenging walk and a hiking experience. I did not realize that the camino de Santiago experience would change me forever.

“Deja que comience la aventura”

Spain

The Liverpool Band

We went to the Santa Barbara Castle for a meal and some live entertainment. We settled into our reserved table to enjoy an outdoor full course meal. The tribute band for “The Beatles” called The Liverpool Band was slated to do a concert after our meal.

The view of the stage from our reserved seats

The atmosphere was fantastic sitting in the heart of the castle which was built in the 12th century. People were gathered at the tables enjoying the meal before the start of the concert.

People enjoying the outdoor meal in the 12th century castle of Santa Barbara

It was a beautiful evening with a full moon slowly moving over the castle walls.

View of the moon perched over the castle walls

The concert setting was small and allowed for a great view of the stage. Our seats were quite close to the stage and gave us a perfect view of the concert.

Our view of the stage from our seats.

What was really interesting about the Liverpool Band was that they were formed in Alicante in 1997 and all of the band members are Spanish.  They played for over two hours non-stop focussing on some of the top Beatle songs .

Juan Antonio Juárez: Guitarra solista y voz,
Iván Martínez Ferrández: Batería y percusión.

We have put together just a small sample of some of the music they played  at the Castle.

The Band Members are:

  • Jose Manuel Lledó Adsuar: Guitarra rítmica y voz,
  • Juan Antonio Juárez: Guitarra solista y voz,
  • Jorge Aniorte: Bajo y voz,
  • Iván Martínez Ferrández: Batería y percusión.

We enjoyed the evening and had a great time at one of the many events held in Alicante and at the Castle of Santa Barbara.

“Hasta la próxima, vive el momento y disfruta del regalo de la música.”

Spain

A week of Fireworks

Each year Alicante has firework displays for 7 nights after the “Fougeres of Sant Joan.” We try to take part and watch the fireworks from different locations in the city.

The first night we watched the fireworks offshore on a sailboat.

Shelley on the sailboat waiting for the start of the fireworks

The views from the Mediterranean Sea were excellent. We had unobstructed views of the entire fireworks.

View of the fireworks from aboard the sailboat on the Mediterranean Sea

The second fireworks we watched was from our terrance which provided a good view with the Castillo de Santa Barbara as a backdrop.

View of fireworks with the Castillo of Santa Barbara in the foreground

The final time we watched the fireworks this year was from a 21 storey high rooftop terrance near the beach.  Thousands of people head to the beach area to watch the fireworks. It is truly an amazing place to see them. The lights reflect off the water and make a spectacular show.

Thousands of people along the beach waiting for the fireworks show to begin.

The fire works are launched from a small point of beach. From the terrace we could see the launch area.

View of the launch area for the fireworks on the beach.

We enjoyed watching the fireworks which last approximately 20 minutes.  The twenty-one storey high terrace provided us with a spectacular location to watch the fireworks.

The view of the fireworks from the rooftop terrance

The pictures do not convey just how spectacular the fireworks were. Some of the fireworks were very creative with designs including happy faces, peace signs and other different patterns.

One of the unique fireworks

We put a short video below of just some of the fireworks.

“Vive la vida y haz tus propios fuegos artificiales.”

Spain

Les Fogueres de Sant Joan 2019

In Alicante every year there is a major festival called “Les Fogueres de Sant Joan”. It begins on the 20th of June and ends with the “Cremá” which starts at midnight on June 24th.  The city is bustling with noise and activities during the week of the “Fogueres”.

We try to participate and enjoy as much of the activities as possible during the fiesta. One of our favorite things to do is explore the fogueres on display at most major locations.

Shelley and Ray in front of one of the fogueres

There were a total of 89 fogueres in this year’s fiesta. We put together a small gallery of some of the creative, different and beautiful fugueres we saw.

We also took part in other events during the fiesta, inluding the Mascletà, parades and the famous “crema” which roughly translates to “cremate”

We went to our friends apartment which overlooks one of the main fougeres. Their balcony provides the perfect spot to view the fiesta activities and the crema.

Shelley and Ray in front of the large fougeres which we watched being burnt at the crema.

Below is a small video of the crema activities which is one of the highlights of the fiesta.

Our friend Felipe who is involved in a lot of tourist activities assisted in a video about Alicante. It is in Spanish but shows some of the great things we see in Alicante.

We always enjoy the Hougeras of San Juan and try to participate in as much as we can. Until the next time be safe and enjoy life.

“Lo mejor de la vida es seguir adelante con todos tus planes y tus sueños, abrazar la vida y vivir todos los días con pasión.”