Porto de Oia

“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride”—-1670’s English proverb

My first day walking in Spain from Tui to O Porriño For the most part, it was a pleasant walk on cobblestones paths and bridges presumably built by the Romans. As the hours progressed into the afternoon it became hot and humid. With the sweat dripping down my back and seeing remnants of the horses who are taking pilgrims by horseback, I thought of this old English proverb above. Because at that moment, I felt like a beggar throwing wishes out into the universe for a horse!

Walking out of Tui the path winded up and down cobblestone streets in the historic area. I stopped at the Santa Iglesia Cathedral and picked up a second credential, since my first one is now full. Funny how this worked out, I now have one for all the places in Portugal and this one will have stamps from the places I stop in Spain.

On my walk today I ran into a fellow pilgrim that I had first met in Alvaiázere Portugal on April 12th, Yves from France who carries a backpack and pulls a trolly with more supplies! It’s always nice running into pilgrims you have previously met.

At lunch I saw one of the German girls from 2 nights ago when I stayed on a farm. She said her traveling companions were racing through the Camino, sometimes going over 20 miles a day. And it hit her that she was missing all the beauty, so she bid them farewell and is walking alone at a much slower pace.

During a beautiful spot where several pilgrims were taking a break, I snapped a photo of a young male pilgrim napping under a tree. Later when I saw him again. I showed it to him and he laughed. I have something to show you, when I was having lunch, he had done a sketch of me unbeknownst to me. He said it’s a hobby. I’ve attached a pic of it.

The auberge I’m staying at has built in bunk beds with little curtains for privacy. Several women I met today happen to be staying here. But most importantly they have laundry facilities. It’s the simple things!Read more