June 21st
Today we left later than any other day during our trip on the entire Camino. We walked out the door of the cafeteria at 7:45am. Dave lent me his phone to call my dad to wish him a happy father’s day, even though it was 10:30 at night on Sunday in California.
We trekked through the same green rolling hills and groves of Eucalyptus trees. It isn’t boring, it’s just not as interesting as seeing the landscape change each day. The up side is that about 75% of the time we are on shady, tree-lined lanes, or walking between ancient rock walls. It is pleasant and relaxing, in a way that the beginning of our journey wasn’t. Although we still have to watch where we step, the path is more regular and less rutted.
There are fewer official signs to mark the Camino and more yellow arrow spray-painted on walls, buildings, roads and cement road markers. We find ourselves looking for the “km” signs, which are cement markers about 2 and a half feet tall and a foot wide. On the front of the sign the number of kilometers in distance from Santiago are “engraved” and underneath, the name of the province.
Well, we were very surprised to stumble upon our hotel at noon! We thought we were close to the village of O’Pino or O’Pedrouso, but when I noticed the sign saying it was 150 meters from the path, I was shocked! We tried to have our credenciales stamped, but there was a sign at the local office saying there was no stamp today. What?! Who knows?
We went to the hotel, had cold drinks and enjoyed an excellent lunch. The grilled sepias were perfect and the service was even better. The menu was quite large and the wine list good. We ordered a local white wine from the region and enjoyed the light refreshing taste. I spent the afternoon on the bed, working on the computer and staring out the open window at the blue skies and green trees waving in the breeze.
The hotel had a lovely garden in the back with grass, shady trees and tables and chairs. When I looked out the window around 5pm, the garden was full of people relaxing with cold drinks, reading books, etc.
Tony and Dave watched the Mundial game downstairs in the evening while I relaxed some more. I think my body really needed a “down” day. It was difficult to imagine that the “highway” or busy road was just in front of the hotel. Unfortunately, Dave’s room was on the other side of the hotel, near the busy road.
Alvaro called today to wish Tony a belated Father’s day. Turns out he had the cell number wrong and he and Diana left a voice mail the day before on someone else’s phone. I’d love to hear what the other person said as they listened to it!
It’s so warm today that I’m sure the clothing that Tony washed – and he washed a LOT, will dry. Well, early to bed, early to rise.
