Portugal Camino

Unfortunately I didn't sleep well and woke up tired but the throbbing in my feet had subsided. Mary and I set off at 8:00 to a nearby cafe for fuel to make our way to Pontevedra. Leaving Arcade, we crossed Pontesampaio, a historic stone bridge (a significant location during the War of Independence). We enjoyed a lovely morning walk through some forest and along an ancient stone path. My feet were not happy when we arrived in Pontevedra, so I decided to take a bus with Lorelee for the final 10 km to our destination in Combarro. A short 15 minute bus ride should have us in Cambarro by 2:00 pm. With some help from Google maps we made our way to the bus station, thankfully it was shaded. We sat there for a while watching busses come and but it seemed none were heading to Combarro. With the assistance of some locals we realized we were at the incorrect bus station. So in the intense heat we embarked on a search for the correct bus station. We spotted the bus and in our poorly pronounced Spanish asked the driver for Combarro, we heard his reply, " Si, Combarro". We settled into our comfortable seats in the air conditioned comfort of the luxury coach. It was a lovely drive along the coast, and it seemed to be a long way. An hour later, we arrived in the gorgeous seaside town of Combardos. When a Spanish person pronounces, "Combarro and Combardos" they sound the same but are two very different locations. A return trip back on the bus and the helpful bus driver stopped the bus at the side of the road and pointed us in the direction of the bus stop for Combarro. An hour long wait in the blistering heat had us ever so thankful when the bus arrived. We jumped on with Google maps as our companion feeling confident we would be at our albergue within a half hour. However, that was not to be, we missed Combarro and eventually arrived at a bus station hopeful that the bus would be doing the return trip back and we could try once again to get off at Combarro. The bus driver was quick to tell us that he wasn't going back that way and that we should wait for another bus. An hour later, after other busses came and left that were not going to Combarro, the original bus came back. The driver was shocked to see us still there and told us to sit right behind him so he could make sure we got off at Combarro. What should have been a 15 minute trip turned into a 7 hour adventure with us both convinced we shouldn't attempt Amazing Race. Our dear friend, Mary, had a delicious dinner waiting for us when we arrived.Leer más