Camino Ingles - Exploring The City of Ferrol, Spain
- dwelton1956
- Sep 28, 2023
- 4 min read
I started my day with a quick breakfast of toast, jam, and three cups of Cafe' Americano. Then off I went to explore the city of Ferrol. Everything is downhill towards the waterfront so that is the way I went. I had a vague notion of where the pilgrim office was near the starting point of the Camino so that is the direction I headed. Along the way, I passed the entrance to the naval base with a couple of Spanish Marines standing guard in front of the gate. They were squared away and at a distance, they looked like US Marines. On closer inspection their rank looks different and of course the insignia also. Utility uniforms looked a lot like our Marines. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was one of those young guys wearing the uniform! Where did all those years go?
I made it down to the harbor and the supposed location of the pilgrim office, but I couldn't find it. That was not a problem since I knew of another place that issued the credentials I needed. I did get some good shots of the boats in the marina. I miss the ocean living in West Texas. I am probably one of the few people who have a sailboat parked at their house. My old Marine Corps friend and I have sailed in the Texas 200 twice along the Texas coast. There is a video of us on one of the trips at my YouTube channel. I did find the starting marker for the beginning of the Camino Ingles. Only 113.45 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. I actually walked the first couple of kilometers today so officially I have already begun my Camino.
I managed to get some good shots of the harbor and the interesting buildings and grounds along the way. There are a couple of warships in the harbor but all I could see were their towers. On the way back from the harbor, I passed an old church named Iglesia Del Socorro which was built in 1767. It was not open so I could not go inside. The old fortress walls are still in place along the waterfront. The deep water in the port and narrow entrance made it one of the best harbors in Europe. It was easily defended with cannons overlooking the harbor and a boom can be lowered to block the entrance if needed. I found my way to the Co-cathedral of San Julian which was said to also issue the pilgrim credentials. A mass was being held inside so I waited outside on the stone benches and enjoyed the cool morning air until it was done. The mass was finished about 15 minutes later, so I went inside and wandered around until I found a priest who led me to a woman who issued the credential to me with my first stamp and wished me Buen Camino. I got some great photos of the inside of the church. It is a beautiful place and very peaceful.
After leaving the church, I wandered along the waterfront until I came to the Museum of Naval Construction. Ferrol has been a center for shipbuilding since its beginning. The museum traces the history of naval construction from the days of the wooden sailing ships to current-day tankers and warships. I found the place fascinating and spent quite a bit of time there. Of course, being a sailing nerd and having been trained as an industrial designer had something to do with my interest in the place. For some strange reason, I was the only nerd..... uh tourist in the place. It was housed in a beautiful stone building. If you are a naval history buff, then this is a must-visit place for you.
,I received an email from Iberia Airlines, and they have managed to get my bag to Santiago and will deliver it to me tomorrow where I will be stopping for the night in a town named Neda. It will be good to have the rest of my stuff. Never again will I check a bag. This is the first and last time that I have ever checked a bag. I can't complain too much. Iberia has gone out of their way to locate my bag, fly it to Spain, and chase me down to deliver it. They also sent me emails to keep me informed of the status of my bag. As always, when you travel you have to be flexible and go with the flow. No sense in getting bent out of shape over things.
I checked out the shops tonight and grabbed a pizza for supper. A street that runs for a mile or so parallel to the waterfront is closed off to cars and is lined with cafes, bars, and shops of every kind. The locals come out each evening to socialize and do their shopping. Every so often along the way there is a plaza for sitting and enjoying the evening. My body is quickly getting into the Spanish rhythm. I think in the States, when we shifted our shopping from the local stores in the small towns we live in, to the big box retailers in the city, we lost something important along the way. The ultimate cost of having an endless variety of goods and saving a few dollars might be far greater than we realize.
Well, it is 10 pm here and I have to start walking in the morning. Hope everyone is enjoying following me on this trip. Until tomorrow, good night, and Buen Camino!
To see all of the photos that I shot today, go to my YouTube page. Here is a link to today's photos in video format:
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