Monday, June 8, 2026

Additional scoop from Wikipedia regarding sites we visited yesterday.  

Our starting point, Monte Santa Thecla: “Thecla was a saint of the early Christian Church, and a reported follower of Paul, the Apostle. The earliest record of her life comes from the ancient apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla.  She was born in AD 30 and died AD 1st  Century”

Our ending point: “The Royal Monastery of Santa María de Oia is a 12th-century Cistercian monastery located on the Atlantic coast of Galicia, Spain, about a 45-minute drive north of the Portuguese border. Famous for its oceanfront defense position, it features a blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles.  It was founded in 1137 and granted “Royal” status by King Philip IV after the monks successfully defended the coast against a Turkish fleet attack in 1624.  The monastery also briefly served as a concentration camp during the Spanish Civil War.” (Wikipedia)

TODAY!!!   Vigo to Redondela.

We started walking only a ten minute drive from our hotel after an extremely generous and varied breakfast buffet.  It was GREAT to get boots on the ground before 9:00 am!!!

Vigo:  “Industry meets culture in coastal Vigo, home to a massive fishing port plus ancient Roman ruins, neoclassical churches, and an authentic Galician old town. Beyond the city’s urban beaches, the nature-rich Cíes Islands and Rías Baixas estuaries are both within easy reach” (Trip Advisor). The first two miles were up hill as we ascended out of town.  Most of our ten mile trek was under sunny skies and through dappled light in Eucalyptus forests, surrounded by ferns and with gorgeous straight on and some peek-a-boo views of Vigas’s waterways.  I walked much of the day solo and I had considerable time to reflect. There were many pilgrims about however, as it will be from now until the cathedral.  This is in large part due to the popularity of and increase in tour groups who set pilgrims up to walk the minimum required mileage to receive a certificate of completion.  One guy played a boom box while whistling loudly to it..,  Another group of about eight young ladies sang an anthem together, often linking arms.The last few descending hills were xsteep and guided us into the town of Redondela.  

We had hamburgers (!!!) and octopus at Vila Bella before learning that the battery on our bus had died, apparently to do with our usage of air conditioning… Our driver (now we are calling him Luigi!) got the dilemma handled and we were soon bound for Cambados where we will spend two nights at Casa Rosita, renowned in Galicia for their seafood!!

Our sweet accommodations were a short walk from “old town” and Plaza Mayor, including the cathedral, many alberiño vinotecas and even a tourist train! Another hundred yards brought me to the port and the tide was so low that the sea fragrance was intoxicating!

I thought we were done with cod fish, but no, we had some in our soup (!) followed by and overcooked steak and french fries. Fellowship with each other is making for later nights after dinner – our group is so kind and very fun! (12.5 miles)