Doug and Dave walk the Camino de Santiago
Day 11, Sunday, April 22, 2007
Portomarín -to- Palas de Rei
Distance travelled today: 26.1 km, 16.2 mi 
Total distance walked: 201.8 km, 125.4 mi Distance to Santiago: 69.2 km, 43.0 mi
As we started off for Palas de Rei this morning, Doug had the good idea of taking
a set of photos of other pilgrims. As we got closer to Santiago, more pilgrims
were joining the Camino. In the top left photo are two pilgrims we would get to
know well as the days went by; Willy (from Dublin, Ireland) and Katharina Saenger
(Germany) in front of him. We never got to meet those in the other photos.
and more pilgrims...
The cafe is in the hamlet of Gonzar, about 1/3 of the way to Palas de Rei.
and even more pilgrims...
The Camino is getting crowded! Notice the pilgrim cyclists, as well, on the right.
Very nice flowering shrubs along the Camino as it follows the road.
That's Dave up ahead.
After crossing over the 720 meter (2400 ft) hills of Sierra Ligonde, we came to
the "Cross of Lameiros" and took a long break under a sweet chestnut tree with a
stone bench around it. A cool, shady spot after crossing over the 720 meter
hills of Sierra Ligonde! The path was lined with painted stones.
On one side, the Cross has an image of the Virgin Mary holding the
infant Jesus. On the other side, the Crucifixion of Jesus. This stone Cross
dates back to 1670 and has been a regular pilgrim stop.
We met a group of Swedish students who also stopped for a rest by the Cross and
later in this photo. They were doing a non-credit trip on the Camino as part of
a comparative religions course. The man is Jonah; there were four women, Marion,
Melin, Clara and Katrina. Jonah was a real trooper, helping the gals by carrying
some of their items that got too heavy for them. He even made a 12 km trip back
to the last albergue to pick up a sleeping bag that one of the gals forgot!
We passed this farmer and his dog. Doug wanted his job watching
the cows, sitting in the shade, but at $45/hour!
We passed by nice farmland, hearing another cuckoo in the trees at a distance,
and came to a nice place in Mamuria where we had a cold drink and ice cream.
We arrived in Palas de Rei and found room in the Xunta albergue across from the
Town Hall in the Praza Concello. Doug took these photos of the bathroom
facilities to show that they are generally clean and acceptable.
Here are the bunk beds in the Palas de Rei albergue.
We went down the road about 50 yards from the albergue and had some beer and
eats with our friend Rolf. Next to us was a table of French pilgrims who were
socking down the local apple cider, feeling no pain. A good time was had by all!
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