Day 21: Sangria in Santiago

16.5k👣 + bus ride Padrón to Santiago

Up early at 6:15am, as we feared the crush of humanity pouring into Santiago today. But it was POURING rain (again). It also took me a while to prep my blisters, but with the rain, Abby was saying she felt less pressed. By the time we headed to the café, though, the rain had almost stopped

A light breakfast of a toasted roll with olive oil and tomato puree - so fresh and delish! - with a cafe con leche, of course. A, E & J headed out on the Camino; I headed back to our apartment to settle day out

Walked to the bus station to find it closed and empty. It IS a national holiday (Día de la Hispanidade - Christopher Columbus Day). But I WAS 1.5 hrs early for the bus to Santiago. So I used my minimal Spanish to check with the young lovers on a bench and confirmed that I was in the right place and that the bus to Santiago was due at about 10:40.

With so much time, of course, I started sketching the bus station. Before long, Delas joined me, commenting on the sketch, and we ended up chatting all the way to Santiago. We split at the plaza at the Cathedral, and I set up my studio in the shade.

And then one of the best things of this trip happened: Laura and little bro Lorenzo from Portugal joined me in painting. And of course their parents and their Brasileiro uncle joined me. Quite fun conversation!! We exchanged contact info, so I hope we'll keep in touch. Shortly after, another mom & daughter joined me too, this time just to chat.

Started to get hungry, so I wandered over to where the Portuguese Camino route enters the Old Town . . . And who should I meet but Alexandra from Casa Fernanda. Joe had sat next to her at dinner ther, and later walked together a bit, I think, so I had heard a lot about this Romanian woman living in Italy. We had a bite (me, an empanada galego... tuna and olives... delish) and some sangria. (It was after 2pm!)

When they got up to go, we hugged goodbye with hopes of meeting again in her hometown of Turin. And when I turned back to my table, my still half-filled sangria was gone! Two older English ladies a couple tables over told me that a scruffy man had swiped it, putting the WHOLE GLASS under his jacket!!! It just made me laugh.

So I joined Carol and Jackie at their table to chat a bit. They had walked the Frances route 5 years ago and wanted to visit the area again. I started getting messages from the fam about checking on our luggage, so I left in search of that pick-up address.

It was a little confusing, and by that time, the fam were in town, so I retraced my steps to the Cathedral where we all met up, and then went to get our Compostelas.

The system has been highly automated - with 2000 folks arriving each day, that's a good thing! There was one woman helping - she must have said the same thing 500 times already today, but she had such a light and joy about her that I had to take our pic together. She gave me the longest, warmest hug and wished me a Buen Camino. 🧡🧡🧡

Classic Americanism Eric overheard when getting our Compostelas.
American: Uh, uh oh. Typo here. There's no "h" in my name!
Clerk: Uh... that's Latin.
🤣🤣🤣

Up hill & down to find our apartment, get our keys, have a sip of sangria we'd bought at the grocery, then off to locate our luggage. I had only been off by a few doors, it turns out. We lugged our bags back, grateful we hadn't had to carry them the whole way.

After a brief rest, we connected with Toby from Bavaria and had dinner at 16 (Dezaseis). FANTASTIC FOOD and, of course, comradery. We traded stories and worries over the state of the world, and fought for the bill 😅. He spoke from the heart, saying that we had made his Camino. He missed so much walking due to shin splits, and has resolved to walk the Portuguese again during Holy Week next year. What a champ.

Joe and Abby were EXHAUSTED, and with Joe's runny nose, Abby offered a COVID test. It hadn't occurred to us, but it was a good idea. And . . . POSITIVE! Good thing tomorrow is a rest day. We'll have to figure out where we go from here tomorrow.Baca lagi