Bandeira

A relatively quiet and easy Camino day. The first 4 or 5 km were uphill, and as usual, some parts quite a steep climb which regrettably means that the remaining downhill into Sarria of about 13 or 14 km was also very steep in sections.

Getting into Sarria today was relatively uneventful until I entered the maze of streets of Sarria. Because I ran out of data on my phone, I was unable to use maps, and so despite the fact, that getting more data etc on my phone is a priority as soon as the shop opens again at 4:30, that did not help me find my hotel.

So I had to use the old fashioned method. Stop at the Tourist Information. Get a paper map, and those of you who have ever seen me read a map...well...it was interesting. A helpful man at a gas station noticed my distress and in Spanish directed me. I thanked him and carried on in the direction he pointed, and I am now showered, repacked and ready for tomorrow.

As I mentioned yesterday, Sarria is an important junction because it is also the beginning for those only completing the last 115 km. I couldn't tell when coming into the city if there are more or less people because Sarria is a city. Albergues everywhere on the main Camino, hotels...very unlikely, I will bump into anyone I know today given how spread out the city is.

There does seem to be a busier section that I passed through looking for my hotel so after I sort out my phone problem, I will head in that direction for food. It is amazing to me how even after hiking 20 km today, I don't hesitate to head out and walk a bit. In the early days, you couldn't have paid me to walk an extra step!

I have attached a few photos because today was mainly about the views. The Camino climbed for a bit, and so there are views from there, but largely today was passing through hamlet after hamlet all the way to Sarria. In most hamlets, not much for services nor food, but at the one stop there was, I did stop for scrambled eggs where many pilgrims were also stopped, and socialized for a bit before heading on my way.

The highlight of my day was in the first 3 km. As I continued toward a village, I assumed it was a church and pilgrims were going in and out. As it turned out, it was a gallery. The painter is English, but lives in Spain in this lovely cottage where his gallery is on the top and he lives in the lower level. Because England is not part of the EU, he spends 90 days in England, and 90 days in Spain and so on and so forth, so I feel lucky to have passed by his shop.

I bought a small water colour that I hope I can get safely home in its tube, but more importantly, instead of just giving out a stamp, he painted his stamp on my credential. Diana and Theresa both have very pretty stamps, and I was feeling a bit left out of the pretty stamp club.. now I have one!Read more