Martin M. Miles' photos

Three very skinny carnivores (lions? dogs?) on the small rim. They act like acrobats, walking the wire around a pillar at the left aisle of the romanesque "Cathedral de Santa Maria" in Tui.

The south side of the cathedral in Braga does have a romanesque portal. Here the the romanesque architecture of a "basilica", with its tall central nave and the lower aisles, is in evidence

Braga is the center of one of the oldest dioceses of the iberian peninsula, dating to the back to the Migration Period, when Martin of Dumio was able to christianize the invading Suebi tribes, who founded a kingdom here, after the roman power crumbled. The cathedral originally dates back to the 12th century, but it got greatly modified, resulting in a mix of romanesque, gothic baroquche parts. This is the main portal (western façade). The gallery was built in gothic style between 1486 and 1501, the middle arch seems older, the upper part and the towers were "modernised" during the 19th century.

Azulejos, glazed tiles, that are very typical for Portugal, give the gothic cloister at the Cathedral "Sé do Porto" a very specific look.

It´s raining cats and dogs, while (since about 700 years) a very flexible acrobat under the roof of the "Convento de Santa Clara" shows his - backside.

A ram dominated by a cross on the roof of "Santa María das Areas" in Fisterra, on the way to "Cabo Fisterra", the (medieval) end of the world. In northern Europe such rams are often connected to the pagan god "Thor". I am not sure about this in a celtic area during the 11th/ 12th century.

This monkey under the roof of the 14th century "Convento de Santa Clara" in Pontevedra did not like the weather. No wonder!

The peninsula was a celtic sacred spot. The whole area was resistant to conversion to Christianity and was only converted in the 1100s, when christian pilgrims from all over Europe headed to nearby Santiago already. The legend connected to this church "Nosa Senora da Barca" - and the area "Santuario da Virxe da Barca", may be connected to this late conversion. It tells, that St. James tried hard, to christianize the pagans here, but failed - and so was very disappointed. Virgin Mary (Virxe = Virgin) came to St. James on a boat from stone, to comfort him. The stones near the church are now said to be remains of that stone boat. When this legend got popular lots of pilgrims continued from Santiago via Fisterra to Muxia.

The Atlantic to the right - the harbour to the left, Muxia is lying on a peninsula on the "Costa de Morte" (= Coast of Death). The coast was given this name due to the many shipwrecks along the coast through the centuries. The worst one hit Muxia in November 2002, when the tanker ship "Prestige" broke open and sank, causing an enourmous oil spill, that polluted about 3000kms of coastline. In the center of this desaster was Muxia, where the black oilsludge came right into town. The massive cleanup of the oilspill, involving thousands of volunteers, was sucessful. Here are more details about the oilspill: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestige_oil_spill fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestige_(p%c3%a9trolier)

Anybody having walked from Fisterra to Muxia will remember this spot in Lires. The trail crosses the "Rio de Castro" - by a couple of stepping stones. It looks romantic, it looks easy - it is difficult and very slippery. Especially with a backpack - and a camera! The space between the stones is upto a meter. Most people waded through the river, next to the stones: The water is nearly hip-deep and the current is pretty strong.

"Santa María das Areas" built on the way to the "Cabo Fisterra", today just outside the village Fisterra. The structure of the romanesque church is still visible, though over the centuries it got many "addons". Fisterra has had a "hopital" for the pilgrims in medieval times, and this may have been here, next to to church.

The lighthouse of "Finis terrae", = land´s end. Actually geographically this is not westernmost point of the iberan Penisnula, not even Spain, not even on the "Costa da Morte", but this cape has the long tradition, that -may be even be pre-christian. Today it marks the "End of the Camino", and there are people, who burn socks and boots here. Actually there is no real end. As the life goes on, the camino goes on. I continued to Muxia from here..

The very last kilometer to Cabo Fisterra. The lighhouse is already in sight. This cape (about 90kms west of Santiago de Compostella) was "the end of the world" for many medieval pilgrims. The white, concrete structures to the right belong to the probably most western graveyard of Spain.

The capital of one of the pillars next to the "Puerta Santa", the center of the ambulatory, shows a row of mermaids and angels. A very prominent place for mermaids.

"Puerta de las Platerías" - A detail from the right side of th portal is this mermaid. Hit through the chest by an arrow. A second arrow missed her head and tail. I´m pretty sure, that the arrow comes from the centaur on the left side of the Puerta, seen on this photo: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4666362092/in/photos...

A large chair stands behind the altar of the Igreja de Santo Estevão. I was told, that this is the chair of a bishop, who never came. In Tui (Spain), just 4kms away on the other side of the Minho, resides the bishop. The Portuguese would have liked to have him here - and even gave him a chair, but he never moved over.

Sunshine in the gothic cloister of the Cathedral de Santa Maria in Tui. Sarcophags line up on the left.

One of the popular dishes in Galicia is named "Pimentos de Padrón" and most of the pimentos (peppers) come from the village Herbon, next to Padron. In August there is even a "Festa do Pemento de Padrón" - in this monastery. Herbon not has only many Pimentos, but as well a high density of small but aggressive dogs.