We've also seen some people who we felt very sorry for last night as they were limping so badly they could hardly walk. Considering Palas de Rei to here is an 18 mile stage, they've either made a good recovery, which we very much hope is the case, or they must have had some 4 wheeled assistance!
Talking of 4 wheeled assistance, the mild mannered Gio nearly turned graffiti artist today. He got very upset by all the adverts for taxis that kept cropping up along the way and wanted to scribble out the numbers, so that pilgrims wouldn't be led astray and be tempted to cheat. We reminded him that true pilgrims wouldn't cheat in the critical last 100 km., but he was worried about the p.p.s, the plastic pilgrims.
On the subject of plastic pilgrims, we were quite amused by the behaviour we noticed while having breakfast at a private albergue this morning. The albergue was located about 3.5 km after Palas de Rei. We were the only customers, yet streams of 'new' pilgrims were going past and collecting a stamp (sellos) for their pilgrim passports, as the stamp was outside.
Now we know that the rules say that pilgrims doing only the final 100 km get an overnight stamp, and at least one from along the way, but they really want church stamps. To be madly collecting a stamp from a bar that they haven't even had a drink in, seems to us to be a complete waste of time. Needless to say we didn't get a stamp from our breakfast bar, even though we had been customers, but got 3 church stamps instead.
The walk today was quite like that of recent days, but our guide said we crossed 6 river valleys, and it certainly felt like it, as there were a lot of ups an downs.
As a yellow arrow is the Spanish camino waymark, we really liked this yellow arrow made of scallop shells, the Camino's emblem ...
We got a room at the first pension, attached to an albergue, that we tried, so we are safely accommodated this evening. Santiago is now just 26 miles away, an English marathon, not that we will get there tomorrow. There is no hurry now and it's far too hot to hurry, but we can enjoy the anticipation.
Lots of love, the Camino bears xxxx
2 comments:
Just picked up last 2 days blogs. Loved Gio's photo. Did 10 miles today in temp up to 29 deg.(iPods fig. notOurs) Now enjoying a Rioja frm the Co-op opposite hotel! Gosh! The end is in sight, how exciting for U. W I'll U try to get to CF or is it too far? Swimming is superb & even maleminder can't. Resist going downstairs & on to our terrace, pushing the Germans out of the way & down a few more steps & into a very warm sea, close to a very smart schooner at anchor. Love from Midland Branch minders
Gosh - that seems to have gone very quick to we Suffolk Branch arm chair pilgrims - but perhaps not for you! Don't let the plastic pilgrims spoil the experience for you Gio! They'll get their come uppance at the Pearly Gates.
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