Day 25- Baiona to Vigo

Distance on the Camino today: 19 miles.
Total distance walked today: 21.5 miles

Today we started very early, before the sun was even up, setting out around 6:00 a.m. so we could get ahead of the heat for what we knew would be a very long walking day. We began in the cool darkness of the morning, following the Camino along the coastline and around the bay as the sky slowly brightened. The route took us past the Bay of America and so many beautiful beaches, with calm water, overcast skies, and just enough cloud cover to make for comfortable walking conditions.

After about two hours on the trail, we finally found a small café open and stopped for a much-needed cup of coffee. We enjoyed cappuccinos and café con leche along with the breakfast our hotel had packed for us to take on the road. Very little was open that early, so the stop felt especially welcome. Along the way we passed lovely beach neighborhoods and charming plazas filled with trees and benches where people could relax and watch the waves rolling onto the shore.

As we continued through the area near Nigrán, the Camino briefly turned inland to cut across the base of a point before returning once again to the beaches. The walking was mostly easy, though there were a few steep climbs coming up from the shoreline back to the roads above. Around midmorning we stopped again in Cabo Estay for a short break and a refreshing limonada. By then we still had about 12 kilometers left to go, and many other peregrinos were beginning to catch up and pass us along the route.

One of the beaches we walked through was Playa de Samil, where preparations were underway for a special Armed Forces weekend celebration. There were signs of upcoming parades and activities all along the beach area, along with a very large military presence. We even stopped to talk with a group of soldiers who were setting up for demonstrations for the next day’s festivities. One of them joked that they were simply getting ready to “play in the sand.”

As we approached Vigo, the scenery gradually shifted from beaches to the massive harbor area along the Ría de Vigo. We passed enormous ships in dry dock, towering cranes, and every kind of nautical industry imaginable. Later, we walked through a beautiful park area full of life — people walking dogs, riding bikes, and children playing. It seemed like many school groups were out enjoying field trips and the warm weather before summer break.

By the time we finally reached our hotel, we were exhausted. Bob’s phone had died from using Google Maps all day, so we relied on my phone for directions, which may or may not have added a few extra kilometers to our journey! Still, we eventually made it to our simple but comfortable hotel, conveniently located across from an El Corte Inglés department store.

After resting our feet and taking showers, we headed back out for the evening to explore the city and enjoy the Armed Forces festivities taking place in Vigo. The city was buzzing with excitement because the King, Queen, and Princesses of Spain were expected to attend the celebrations the following day. Military bands representing all branches of the Spanish armed forces performed in the plaza before huge crowds, creating such a festive atmosphere.

Dinner ended up being an improvised tapas meal of roasted peppers, chicken fingers, caprese salad, and of course some Spanish beer. It was the perfect ending to another long but memorable day on the Camino — filled with beautiful coastal views, lively parks, military celebrations, and so many wonderful moments along the way.

Buen Camino!Read more