Day 10: Liquid Sunshine

31.5k👣 78Z🧡
15.4km / 9.6mi

Not long kilometerage as Camino days go, but I really slowed down the last 3 km. Rain? Sore feet? Sore hip? Still, my heart is full. Meeting wonderful folks, walking scenic paths along forest dirt roads or small village cobbled streets. Even the rain is mostly a light mist, and the terrain is flat to gently rolling. More Camino signage, more pilgrims on The Way today.

Breakfast in the dining room: coffee, bread, and cheese.
Tears from Angie as she headed out
Bom Caminho & blessings from Sr. & Sra. Mattos as we headed out at 9am
Rates is halfway between Fatima and Santiago; blue arrows pointing one way for Fatima, yellow for Santiago
Passed a park dedicated to pilgrims
More cornfields and vineyards

Water pouring from downspouts and roofs
Collard greens (perhaps?)
The Camino often paralleled commonly used roads, joining with them at times
The cars and trucks were FAST! We were glad when the route took us through less-traveled roads 😵‍💫
Roadside shrines

30 min lunch break just before noon !!! Had a bean potage soup 🍲 and a slice of pound cake. So good!! Felt great to sit down.
Met other pilgrims from Canada, New England, Netherlands, and Denmark.

The small café had a big Elvis poster, along with memorabilia left by prior pilgrims, so I tucked a trading card with a painting of the view of the Sound from a Seattle-Bainbridge ferry

Saw a passionfruit plant growing outside someone's home !!!
Walked the end with an Irish pilgrim (who lives in Spain now). Her feet & legs were really done in by the cobblestones, too

Crossed a medieval bridge into Barcelos
Home of the black rooster that is a symbol of Portugal, much like the chickens in Santo Domingo on the Camino Frances route

Staying in a fancy 3-star hotel, Hotel Bagoeria near the town square
Shower felt TERRIFIC
Church bells ringing every hour
Reluctant to get dressed for dinner; it feels so good to rest!Read more