Pilgrimages Lead to Santiago de Compostela; Not For Me

Day 99, Grand World Voyage

Wednesday, April 12, 2023; A Coruña, Spain.

I guess if I want to complete a “pilgrimage” to Santiago, Spain, I won’t be able to take a shortcut. I have several friends who have completed the legendary Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James, a pilgrimage across northern Spain that ends at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Our plan today was a private tour to the cathedral, via bus from our port call in A Coruña, Spain, on the northwest coast.

(Seriously, while the pilgrimage sounds enticing, I haven’t seriously contemplated doing it myself. Walking for days and days seems an insurmountable challenge at this point in my life.)

We had booked a private tour with Spain Day Tours to Santiago, which would provide us with a look at the countryside for the hour-long ride there. Then we would have a small-group walking tour with our guide to visit the cathedral. Fortunately, I found a friend on board to take my ticket, knowing that the bus ride and the walking tour would be beyond my capabilities with my injured knee.

They explored the ornate cathedral and the old city around it and enjoyed lunch with their guide. Elaine gets the prize for finding the best T-shirt, although only through the bus window.

I stayed on the ship in A Coruña in Galicia, an autonomous community of Spain. It is quite different than other areas, such as Andalusia (Cadiz and Málaga) and Catalonia (Barcelona).

I once again had a great view from my balcony. I think my days of sitting out there on this cruise may be over, as we keep heading north where it is cool and cloudy. Rain threatened today, and some passengers reported a few spits, but the sun broke through at times – just not enough to warm the temperatures that stayed in in the 50s.

It was nice to watch sailboats come and go from the marina by the pier. I prefer sailing in slightly warmer weather, but I suppose for people here coming out of winter, it seems more like a spring day.

I am still waiting for a suitably-sized brace for my leg, but much happier since the heavy plaster cast came off in favor of a bulky leg wrap.

We finally got an official notice that updated what we already knew – the live television feed wasn’t working when we were docked in European ports, but mysteriously came back after we sailed away each evening. We’ll need to wait a few days for an upgraded 5G filter. I guess the cellular interference wasn’t a problem in African ports, with their 3G protocol. No idea why Holland America didn’t know of this in advance. I’ve missed catching up on the news, and some HGTV makeovers, while I’m stuck on the ship in port.

Last night my sisters and I ate in the Pinnacle Grill with friends Karen and Brad. I met them in 2011 on a 45-day cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. Karen is a master at finding and organizing private shore excursions, so when she offered us spots on some tours, we jumped on the opportunity.

We enjoyed the basic Pinnacle Menu (not one of the special dinners), which was great as always. It’s a $39 upcharge, but as seasoned Holland America cruisers, we got it for $26.52 (half price, but the service fee based on the full price).

My only complaint is too much food. I love the bread, but it’s the Clothesline Candied Bacon that fills me up – even after sharing. I had trouble finishing my seared scallops, but I did still make a good dent in the key lime pie. Even better in my opinion, I haven’t needed to cook a meal in 100 days!