We walked from the town of Grado to Salas on the Camino Primitivo. The trail was more enjoyable than our first day because the rain had finally stopped. We started the day around 8am with a coffee and tea to go. It was a nice way to start the camino. Soon this section of the camino began to ascend upwards to the pass of Alto del Fresno. It was not too long of an ascend but it was fairly steep. We stopped several times along the climb to catch our breath and to enjoy some of the beautiful views.
A view part way up the ascend from Grado towards Salas.
As we reached the top, Ray took a photo with his Valerie flutter key chain, which he carries with him when he travels. This is in honour of Valerie Goneau his second cousin. (see previous post) https://wp.me/p6PTzi-1zS
Once we reached the top, it was not long before we then began walking downwards. The walk down was challenging because of the strain is was causing on our knees and feet.
Shelley walking down the incline after reaching the pass of Alto del Fresno.
The trail was not always easy going, there was a fair amount of mud because of the heavy rain the day before. There were times that the terrain was quite slippery and uneven. We were glad we had our walking sticks to help navigate through the muddy areas.
The mud and water on the trails of the camino Primitivo
We walked a total of 26 kilometers this day and the trail and views were quite enjoyable. Here is a video and a few pictures from that day.
Shelley on the Camino Primitivo
Shelley taking a well deserved rest along the Camino
Some of the Camino trail brought us close to farms and at times we walked through the cow trails between the barns.
Selfie with one of the local cowsOne of the cow trails along the Camino Primitivo
We arrived finally at our next stop in Salas. Our feet and bodies were glad that we had reached our destination for the day.
We rested and enjoyed some down time before starting our next day.
We started our camino de Santiago by taking a train from Alicante to the town of Oviedo in Asturias. We stayed the night in Oviedo before starting our camino the next morning.
The cathedral of St. Saviour in Oviedo which is the starting point of the Camino Primitivo
Oviedo is the starting point for the Camino Primitivo and was the starting point of Alfonso II the Chaste King of Asturias who took this route in the 9th century to see the recently discovered tomb of St James the Apostle.
We began the camino in the pouring rain from Oviedo. Our spirits were high with excitement and determination.
We set out at 7:30 in the morning from the Cathedral. We walked for a short while and before long we were in the countryside.
Park on the edge of OviedoAt the outskirts of Oviedo,
There was lush greenery everywhere and the camino soon began to narrow into a trail.
We walked through the rain into some steep declines and inclines along the rail. Some of the trail was very rough and required that we walk slowly and carefully to avoid slipping or falling.
Part of the trail along camino Primitivo between Oviedo and Grado.
Although it was raining the entire day, along our journey we came across some beautiful small communities, sites and views.
Our first day was a challenge, we walked the entire day in the rain.
Rain water flowing down the road like a small river.
Although it was difficult at times, our enthusiasm and spirits remained high.
Shelley and Ray on the Camino Primitivo between Oviedo and Grado
We walked around 28 kilometers and finished our day in a town called Grado. We were tired but content for completing day one of our camino.
We settled into our room and although we had ponchos and rain jackets we were partly soaked. Our waterproof hiking boots had been exposed to rain, mud and water the entire time. It turned out that the hiking boots were not quite waterproof.
Feet wrinkled by walking in wet shoes
We cleaned up, changed into dry clothes and enjoyed a well deserved refreshment.
We enjoyed a well deserved refreshment and celebrated our achievement of day one.
We are staying quiet and not travelling as we wait for our vaccine and the return to a sense of normal. Although we have been quiet we have been looking at our blog and branching out to more of a video presence.
Here is a small ¨teaser¨ as we develop and make videos for future travel blogs.
I was out exploring the city of Alicante when I came across the Municipal cemetery of Alicante. The main entrance was quite impressive for a cemetery and so I decided to take a walk through the cemetery and look around. I spent over two hours walking around exploring this historic and interesting cemetery.
Entrance to the cemetery of Alicante
Inside the main entrance was an area with washrooms and a sitting area. Beyond the entrance was the main road which had flowers, benches and monuments along the way.
One of the statues along the main road in the cemetery
Along the main road of the cemetery there was smaller side roads. that branched off. Each row contained many different grave stones, monuments and statues.
I walked each row looking at the many unique and interesting funeral plots. There were family plots that were hundreds of years old and some which contained interesting feature. Below are a few of the interesting monuments and grave stones.
One of the branches off the main road in the municipal cemetery of Alicante
Some of the grave stones were actually more of a piece of art than a grave stone.
A family grave site with ornate and beautiful statues.
Large cross and statue overlooking a family plot.
I saw some very large mausoleums that looked more like small churches than a mausoleum.
The cemetery was surrounded by a stone wall which also served as a columbarium wall.
Columbarium wall in the municipal cemetery of Alicanteotter wall of cemetery with Columbarium
The cemetery is quite large and contains tradition type grave stones as well as simple burial stones.
It was an interesting walk and makes you realize just how precious our time on earth is. We wish everyone good health and safety throughout this pandemic.
“Vive la vida al máximo y disfruta de cada momento como si fuera el último, porque un día lo será.”
2020 began like any other year, we took an amazing trip to Egypt in January exploring some of the amazing historic sites.
Ray and Shelley in Egypt
We had heard about the Coronavirus which was in China but it had not knowingly gone past its borders at this point. We arrived back home near the end of January after our trip abroad. We rested and watched the news with the rest of the world as the virus spread beyond borders. The world began to change as governments reacted to the coronavirus threat. People began to panic buy and toilet paper became the new commodity. Shelves in the grocery stores of Alicante were bare for a few days from panic buying.
Meat shelf in a grocery store in Alicante
Toilet paper isle in Alicante grocery store
Here in Europe, Italy became the epicentre of the virus and thousands of people became infected and died. On March 14th the Spanish government declared a national state of emergency and ordered a national lockdown. Everyone was ordered to stay in their homes for two weeks with limited exceptions to leave the home. The two week lockdown was extended numerous times keeping us in lockdown for an extended period of 48 days.
We watched the news in disbelief at what was quickly crossing the world and forcing countries into isolation and lockdowns. The streets of Alicante became empty and major festivals and events including the Holy week were cancelled. Our planned trips abroad were all cancelled and we stayed in lockdown. The city of Alicante changed, the streets were empty, bars and shops closed.
Main walkway along the front of Postiguet Beach. Normally packed with tourist.
One of the main streets in Alicante. Normally full of traffic.
Main tourist walkway in the core of Alicante. Normally full of tourist.
When people were able to go outside for a walk, they were mandated to wear a mask. We began by making our own mask using some directions from a Youtube video.
Shelley making our mask and getting ready for our first walk outside.
We took our first walk outside of the apartment on May 9th, nearly 2 months after the lockdown began.
Getting ready to go outside for a walk in nearly 2 months. Ray wearing a homemade mask made from one of his t-shirts.
We wore our mask and watched as people would cross the street to avoid being to close to someone. We could sense the fear and sadness of people walking the streets. It was truly a sad time but also an uplifting feeling of being outside at the same time.
The stores, bars and markets were beginning to reopen with some major restrictions. Our local market was partially opened but it felt surreal watching all the people wearing mask worried about catching the Covid19 virus.
Market partially opened in our barrio, everyone mandated wearing mask and social distancing as much as possible.
It was a strange watching the news and seeing the way the world was changing.
We were using social media to connect with the world and family as the virus spread. Images on social media of major tourist attractions and cities that were empty. Cartoons and other media was used to express the fear or frustration of the events happening with the virus.
Image from Facebook by Paco Roca Chorques a local artist in Alicante
The world environment itself was changing and beginning to heal. CO2 levels were down 17%, animals migration changed and the ozone layer was healing. The world was changing and we could see history unfolding before us.
By July the city of Alicante was somewhat back to the “New Normal” shops and restaurants were starting to open. The outdoor markets were now open but with major changes to the way business was conducted. The people were mandated to wear mask, use hand sanitizer and to social distance as much as possible. Signs, floor markings and plastic tape etc was used to ensure people followed the guidelines.
Tape on the floor in front of stores that states basically “when you value the future, buy local, wear a mask and social distance”
Police were visible ensuring people followed the new rules. It was with a sense of apprehension that we were out shopping and doing our regular activities.
At the end of August we headed back to Canada under major duress because of a death in our immediate family. The flight and travel was uniquely different with airports empty, security taking temperatures and planes half empty of passengers.
Airport nearly empty as we travelled back to Canada.
We arrived in Canada and were mandated into a two week quarantine. During the quarantine we were contacted by the Canadian government several times ensuring that we were ok and remaining in quarantine. A second family member passed away while we were in Canada. Both of these deaths were not related to the Covid19. We stayed in Canada until early November before heading back to Spain. Our flight back was surreal with a plane that was nearly empty of passengers. Arriving back home to Alicante safe and sound we are happy to be home but sad to be far away from family.
The holidays are soon upon us and the end of 2020 is almost here. Like most people we are looking forward to an end to this year with the hopes of a better year to come.
(Video from John Oliver show)
Hopefully the end of this year will bring a new beginning of a healthier, normal year. With the hope of a vaccine coming over the next 6 months or so it is our hope that travel and life will come back to a sense of normal. We wish everyone a very safe Merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year.
“Te deseamos salud, felicidad y el mejor Año Nuevo posible.”
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