The big one... The Camino, Santiago, La isla Cíes, and Portugal

Dear Family, friends, and fans of Team León 2017,

Please excuse the slight delay in getting this post up - I wanted to make sure I had collected all the resources necessary to tell a complete story, because it was a huge weekend.

We began the day on Friday at the very crack of dawn at 6:00 in our regular excursion departure site, la Plaza de Santo Domingo. Students arrived excited and dressed for a long hike, but mere minutes into the trip there were only a couple conscious bodies on the bus - including the driver.

A very sleepy Equipo León on Friday morning

After a brief stop for breakfast and coffee, we finished our bus ride and arrived at a fairly inconspicuous stop - only notable because it marks the final 20km stretch of the Camino de Santiago entering into the city of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino de Santiago ("The Way of St. James") is an historically religious pilgrimage that has gradually transformed into a cultural pilgrimage of self-discovery more broadly applicable to religious and non-religious pilgrims alike.

Upon arrival at the beginning of our 20km hike, students were divided up into groups of three and given sets of suggested conversation topics (obviously in Spanish) so that they could get to know members of the group with whom they may not have spent as much time.

Team León ready to embark on the Camino de Santiago!

Over the course of the Camino, we took frequent breaks to reunite as a big group, check in with everyone, enjoy snacks, sing songs, and take in the extraordinary scenery that we passed.

Reagan, Mikahla, Helen, and Tessa fight off the rain with umbrellas, coats, and smiles

Standing in front of what appears to be an enchanted forest

"Casi" - the Spanish word for "almost." A bit of encouragement on our path

Just follow the yellow arrows...

Stopping by a monument along the way, featuring the famous scallop shell which is the symbol of the Camino de Santiago

A strong contingent of Equipo León enjoying lunch by a stream and a weeping willow

Madison and Julia, relaxing and smiling by a creek

Ivy, Nick, Veronica in the midst of pristine nature

No question: these are cheerful pilgrims

After around 4-5 beautiful hours of hiking, conversation, and contemplation, we arrived at the Monte de Goces and climbed the hill from which point we received an excited and relieving sight: the first view of Santiago de Compostela off in the distance. From this point, we knew we had less than an hour remaining, and I think we were all filled with a renewed sense of energy despite the aching feet.

We're almost there!!!!

Finally, after nearly 6 solid hours of hiking, we arrived exhausted and thrilled in gorgeous and historic Santiago de Compostela, our pilgrimage ending in the symbolic site of the front of the cathedral in the Praza do Obradoiro (Gallego for "Laborer's Plaza"). Most students - religious or not - decided to take the opportunity to attend the mass for pilgrims in the cathedral, intended as a blessing and a welcome for those who have completed their pilgrimage.

Equipo León in the Praza do Obradoiro - WE MADE IT!!!

At this point, the group was pretty tired, and so we had a quick dinner, got checked into our hostel, and called it a night. The following day brought most of the group to an island off the coast of Vigo called la Isla Cíes - a pristine and relatively undiscovered natural paradise. Students did some hiking, visited a beautiful beach, and generally enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by one of Spain's most beloved national parks.

On the boat, enjoying the ocean breeze, on the way to la Isla Cíes

Arrival at the island - it's so beautiful!

View of the ocean from rocky hills

The group looking pretty thrilled to be on a Galician island

Very pleased about a day well spent on the island

Crystal clear skies and oceans. What more could one ask for?

Exhausted and exhilarated, the group arrived at the hostel ready for dinner, everyone anticipating the adventure that would come the following day. Sunday, of course, brought us to Tui, the final Spanish city in Galicia before crossing the border into Portugal. The bus left us in Tui from where we walked (it didn't take very long) toward the fateful bridge from which we would - on foot - cross a national border.

Lauren, Nick, Veronica, Nicole, Nate, and Jasper crossing the bridge from Spain into PORTUGAL

Taking our first steps off the bridge into Portuguese territory was nothing short of inspirational. It is hard to put into words the feeling of walking into a country that you have never visited before, and Team León was overwhelmed with a feeling of significance. Of course, there was an obligatory photo taken in front of the giant welcome sign in Portugal - the announcement of our arrival in a brand new country.

We. Just. Walked. On. Foot. Into. PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jade, Katey, and Chyan in front of the official EU welcome to Portugal

As soon as we crossed the bridge, we arrived in Valença do Minho - the first Portuguese city on the border with Spain. The entire city exists within an ancient fortress on the banks of the river that divides Spain from Portugal. From the highest points of the fortress, there are beautiful views across the river toward mountains and villages in Spain.

Invasion! The fortress has been breached!! 

Nick, Maya, Helen, Isaac, Leah, and Mikhail just casually relaxing on a centuries-old Portuguese fortress wall with Spain in the background

Chyan, Davaid, Augie, and Nate contemplating the symbolic power of having just crossed a national border on foot

Upon arrival in Valença, students had some free time to explore this new Portuguese city - they wandered the streets, purchased some souvenirs, and some even practiced a bit of Portuguese with shop employees. We had the opportunity to enjoy a typical Portuguese lunch as well, which was delicious and unlike any preparation of food we'd had before.

Exploring the picturesque, winding streets of Valença do Minho

Having an outdoor lunch in Portugal!!

After Valença, we brought the group about 20 minutes west along the river bank to a beach at which the river begins to feed into the Atlantic Ocean. Many photos were taken of Spanish hills on the other side of the river, and quite a few students decided to go for a swim as well.

Team León on a Portuguese beach with Spain in the background

If you look closely, you can observe the grinning head of an otherwise buried Nate surrounded by adoring friends

All in all, it was a weekend densely packed with truly new and exciting experiences. We arrived Sunday evening back in home-sweet-home-away-from-home (León) to the hugs and kisses of host families who had missed their American kids desperately during the long weekend excursion. Upon beginning the week, we are struck by the fact that in less than two weeks, we'll be arriving back in the United States, which came as a bit of a shock to the group of 30 students who abruptly realized they had come to feel at home in a foreign city.

In the days to come, we will be making the most of our remaining time here in our beloved host city - upcoming visits include a system of caves, a day in the coastal Asturian city of Gijón, an excursion in the Peaks of Europe, a visit to León's municipal Education Councilor, and preparation for our farewell.

Until the next update, I thank you for continuing to follow our adventures here!
~Mark (and Sarah T, Isra, and Sarah G)