My Observations
“If I only” talked about 2 great memories of the trip, I would tell about Barcelona & Santiago de Compostela. For Barcelona, we visited the work of Antoni Gaudi. Was there one special architectural work? No. Even with the special things we saw close to the hotel, Casa Mila & Casa Batillo, would say Parc Guell. Unfinished in the way planned by him and his financial backer, Eusebi Guell, yet very well worth our 7 mile walk that day from hotel and back, on our first visit. We do another visit, with our tour group, maybe a week later. Our first visit allowed time to study the details. I mentioned earlier in the journal, Carol & I added 5 days extra to both tours. Five days before starting in Barcelona. Then five days at the end of our stay in Porto.
Parc Guell had so many diverse and interesting elements to the parts that remain, even if the planned community never came to be. To walk the paths, view the features and wonder; how he not only had the ideas, but the help and ability to have completed so much.
Santiago de Compostela was “on my radar” for maybe a decade. I had read articles and saw TV specials regard the walk of the peregrinos (pilgrims). Some walking 800 kilometers over 8 weeks. Although considered a “spiritual” journey by many, it was not necessarily a religious one. A recent reading of the book titled Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho, convinced me, now or never. At least go visit the city and view the pilgrims as they come via the various directions that lead them along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Road of Saint James).
Here are internet links for highlights:
Another traveler’s journal http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog
The Pilgrimage – a book by Paulo Coelho http://www.amazon.com/Pilgrimage
Camino de Santiago de Compostela http://en.wikipedia.org/Camino_de_Santiago
Various Routes For Camino http://www.santiago-compostela.net/
The Way – a movie http://www.thewaymovie/
Santiago de Compostela cathedral pilgrim mass https://rjmeyerart.wordpress.com/
Photo 1. Our guide for the day from Grey Line Tours; Paula Marinito.
Photo 2. Eight red-robed tiraboleiros pull the ropes that moves the botafumeiro (incense burner)
Photo 3. The botafumeiro rope pivot I estimate is at a ceiling height of 75 feet. (-:
Click here for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/Day24Of275Nov14WednesdayPorto
