Day 37 - Barbadelo to Portomarin

We departed while the crowds were still eating breakfast so things were not too crowded on the trail, but we can tell there are a lot more people on this part of the Camino. There are especially a lot more younger people, often teenagers with a chaperone or two.

Today was pretty easy and quick. We only went 19 km and there were no real points of interest along the way where we lingered. We did stop for photos as we reached the official markers for 100 km to Santiago.

We beat the crowds to the albergue so had first crack at the washer and dryer before relaxing for the afternoon. We then went to mass and had some good Italian food for dinner based on a friend's recommendation.

Portomarin is a cute city with an interesting story. "In the 1950s and 1960s, Franco backed the building of the Belesar reservoir to bring water-powered electricity to the area, and water from the dam submerged the medieval-to-mid-20th-century town in a matter of years. Before all was lost, the town people carefully disassembled and reassembled their two Romanesque churches—the whole of San Nicolás, and the western façade of San Pedro—and transported them, along with a few historic mansions, higher up the slope. In doing so, they managed to preserve the churches, the two icons that preserve the town’s medieval character."

Despite the relative newness of the town it feels older and genuine. The feat of moving San Nicolás was impressive , but the rebuilt church is a bit disconcerting; the fact it was rebuilt is obvious in the imperfect seams between the bricks and the large crack in one side as the ground has settled.

AllTrails

French Way: Sarria - Portomarín
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/aft…

Buen Camino!Read more