Signs and symbols

Now that we've caught up with the main part of the Portuguese Way, we see the scallop a lot more than before.  The scallop is used not only as a guide for travellers or pilgrims but also by locals.  In the picture below, the home owner has created this scene on an outside wall something akin to a nativity scene.

We entered the Pontevedra Council area, as shown by two of the signs.  The other indicates we're on the Portuguese Way.

Some scallop signs look rather ancient.

A figure indicating the Camino de Santiago

Occasionally, we see rocks placed on top of Camino signs.  Jean suggests the practice may be similar to the practice of lovers attaching padlocks to European bridges.

The modern Camino shell has a blue background - blue for the European Union.

This shows the Cross of Santiago (La Cruz de Santiago), which, according to Google, may originate from the time of the crusades.

Local advertisers like to use the scallop to promote their products more effectively....

...like in this image which advertises Estrella beer.

Occasionally, you see images of witches in Galicia.  This part of Spain has Celtic connections and a tradition of sorcery.

From Redondela to Pontevedra

We walked approximately 17 km today between Redondela and Pontevedra.  The route was not terribly difficult today; we passed along fairly easy pathways through fields, short secluded areas and populated areas.  As with the last few days, we passed ubiquitous vegetable patches of varying sizes.  The soil appears extremely good in Galicia - rich-looking soil in a lush-looking landscape.  As Neil said, it's lush because it rains so much.  We were spared rain for much of today.  However, it rained for an hour or two.

We spent a long time walking up hill and the same amount of time walking down again.  Anybody with a history of knee problems, like Jean and Neil, much prefer to climb hills, but they hate walking down hills.  They'll tell you the pressure on their knees when walking down hill is a lot to bear.  They'll tell you that with each step, the weight of their whole bodies presses down on the knee, making it very uncomfortable.  Hence, they walk down hill very slowly and cautiously.  Having had a sport-free youth, my knees are just fine.  I don't like walking up hill, and I lag behind everybody else.  But when the time comes to walk down hill, I can get to the bottom in two seconds flat.    

We crossed a medieval bridge...

...and through moist, leafy areas....

...past moss-covered rocks and vine-covered walls..

...we climbed uneven, stony pathways...

...and entered mossy forests...

We stopped for lunch at a cafe which must serve a lot of Germans.  Actually, I spoke to one German lady and an Austrian couple - auf Deutsch natuerlich!  The German lady, from Munster, said she started walking on 3 May.  In the 10 days since, she has had one fine day.  All the rest have been rainy.

More grapes...

The soil appears very good in this part of Spain.

They are growing corn here.

Now that we're on the main part of the Portuguese Way, we see more and more fellow-Camino walkers.  Here, Neil is chatting to the Italian couple we met earlier in the day.

In Galicia, so many of the houses are made of granite, and nice gates mark the entrance to their properties.

We arrived in Pontevedra, our destination for today.

A church in Pontevedra.