Sarria - Portomarin (pop 2000) 22.4 km October 26

Last evening on our walk about of the town we met some of our caminio friends who were not so lucky with their shoes drying out after the previous days rain.  Jude shows us how she has kept her feet dry

A grocery bag inside her shoe, she said her feet were warm and dry all day!

We had supper at our albergue , a most delicious meal.  We both have mixed salad, Sid had meatballs and fries and I had stuffed red peppers  and we both have an exquisite custard covered with applesauce and chocolate , of course including from the homemade cask

Sadly , Sid and I were the only ones having dinner there that evening.  It looked like many pilgrims were buying groceries.

In the morning we leave while it is still darkish.  We can see stars so that is a great sign!  The day turns out sunny and clear with a warm breeze just enough to keep the pesky black flies away

The path today is in great condition and we enjoy the sun rise

We don't know what this plant is but we often hear it before we see is as it is always full of bees

We are in dairy country and pass by many small dairy farms which have prolly been around for hundreds of years, all of the buildings are made of stone, as are some of the fences!

We happen upon this fellow from Hungary who was delighted to have just bought himself this donkey

I didn't quite get his story....and around the next corner 

Was this big girl

Today's path

And another cemetery with an attached church.

The first siting of our destination

And why wouldn't you have a whole hedge of hydrangea ?

We cross the Mino river, we use the new bridge built over the medieval one.  We enter the town climbing the steep staircase and through the gate

And wander past the church of San Nicolas

We check into the albergue Ultreia

We have a private room (30 Euro) and a shared bathroom.  And the best part is a kitchen that we can use....I just about run to the mercado and buy pasta....and onions and red peppers and mushrooms and cheese and red wine.  It is so clean here , which is repetitive, the stairs are granite, the floors and bathrooms are all ceramic , so tidy and efficient .

The one thing the camino is not is commercialized ( so far). Some things could certainly be better but for the most part the experience is amazing!