Caldes de Reis

Slept until 730... what a luxury! 😉
Easy 13.5 mile walk into cute town by the river , known for its thermal baths. We had a wonderful late lunch by the river with Radler (on tap!), ensalade completa (a huge delicious salad Nicois) and some of the best grilled Padrón peppers. (Other places have been saying they are still out of season). The salad included these dark skinned tomatoes that looked more like a plum but tasted fresh tomato! We are enjoying some siesta time now and will go out for dinner (perhaps gelato instead?) and thermal foot bath! Almost everything is closed either 3-5 or 4-6. Cafes will serve drinks at 6, but hard to find food until 8 (which is really close to pilgrims bedtime😆).

We continue to see and meet people and find them again. Lots of familiar faces. Most everyone is hoping to get to Santiago on Saturday or Easter Sunday. People last night had trouble finding an alburgue - much busier since it is Spanish holiday week. They said even the municipal turned them away. Two bunk mates in Albergue this evening are trying to leave at 630 am tomorrow in hopes of getting to municipal alburgue early (they don't have any reservations and municipals are on first come basis). We do have reservation for tomorrow and Saturday nights.

So much more after I wrote this-
Maudy Thursday is a big deal is Spain- after Mass there was a big parade around town with statues being held by pall bearers and marching band. It was very somber- especially compared to the lively marching band that played at 11 pm through town in Pontevedra (actually sounded like they were marching through our room!) Our Albergue mates thought the parade was quaint compared to what they are used to in Southern Spain. They showed us pics and videos that were closer to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Lots of discussions about participants in pointy hats (faces covered or not... points up or not).

Plus foot bath last night in thermal springs and cocktails with couple from Belfast.Read more