Day 19: One More Hill, Streaming

23k👣 37Z🧡
11.5 km & taxi

Headed out after yogurt & banana back along the Camino to see a BEAUTIFUL chapel Igrexa da Virxe Peregrina (Chapel of the Virgin Pilgrim). Lots of scallop shell and staff & gourd motifs as well as a wonderfully peaceful presence
Dulce de leche croissant at Bēkari 😋
Left town across a wide bridge, from which we could see an archeological dig of the 12th century and 16th century bridge foundations
Galicia continued to deliver with its sandy footpaths through eucalyptus forests, uphill and down
In the middle of nowhere, we could hear Joan Baez music. Came around the bend to see a fellow playing electric bass to her music !!! When I left a few coins, he put his hand on his heart ❤️
Had to take a seat to rest. Met Victoria, a Russian woman currently living in "NY/NJ" and traveling with Brussels, her half-blind, 14 yo white mini poodle. She's traveled all over and had a lot to say. Joe ended up walking the last 3 miles or so into town later in the day
At this point, Joe moved ahead while I moved at my own pace
The rains from the hurricane had swollen the streams and were running across the path in many places
Every now and then, feet got wet

Just as I crested the hill and was thinking about passing up a VERY popular watering hole, I met Abby coming out of the restroom. Turns out Joe & Eric were in the back patio, so I ended up going in after all
After a short break, we continued on, this time down the hill
I'd just gotten down when I felt something like a paper cut tear on my left foot
They say the Camino provides, and just as I started looking for a good place to take off my sock & shoe to assess, I spied a bus stop with a lovely little bench
Yes, another blister, this one leaking from UNDER the Compeed bandage
Doctored it up. I was surprised to see there were still pilgrims coming along the road. It had felt like I was the last one!
One stopped, and froze mid stride to shout out, "Need plasters?" only to resume walking once I assured her I had some bandages.

Tried twice to get a good solution, but decided to throw in the towel at the O Camiño da Eira cafe at 2pm
First things first: a bathroom break! (First one of the day!) And then a café com leche. (Also first of the day.) And then a sketch of this large olive tree on the patio. And finally, over an hour later, I asked the café owner for help calling a taxi 🚕
When I asked the driver, "¿Hablas inglés?" his reply made me laugh: "No."
So I got to stumble along with my Spanish, praising the beauty of Galicia.
15 min later, we were in Caldas de Reís, and as I was walking to our pension, I spied A, E, and J at a café so I joined them there. Spanish tortilla with a plate of nachos with pico do gallo & guacamole went nicely with the sangria I ordered, which had been predicted by the rest of the gang 😊
Made a quick trip to the Frioz supermercado down the street for some breakfast food
Surprise! We met Victoria again.
Collapsed as soon as we entered our pension room (God is good: it's on the first floor, so only 1 flight up)
Will have to work up the energy to shower... and then zzzzz 😴😴😴

Remember how we started out at Caldas da Rainha in Portugal? That was the hot baths of the Queen. Tonight, we're in Caldas de Reis, hot baths of the Kings (in Spain, obviously).Baca lagi