Being a morning person, I was up and out the door at 6:00 a.m. Thankfully, after dinner last night the lovely hostess at Casa Garcia made a call and booked my next albergue (hostel) for this night after I asked if she had any recommendations. Once again, I would be walking past the “hub” city, this time Palas de Rei, and I would be staying near San Xulian at Casa Domingo.
About an hour into my walk, I found coffee and a banana for breakfast at a cute little cafe on the trail.
When walking the Camino, there are several opportunities to stamp your credenciales (pilgrim passport). In order to receive your certificate of completion (called a Compostela) in Santiago, a pilgrim has to get two stamps a day (stamp stations are seen at churches, cafes, and hostels). Sarria to Santiago is the minimal required distance along the Camino Frances that one must walk in order to qualify for a Compostela. I got my blank pilgrim’s passport in the Spring from an online store that provided it free upon the purchase of a Camino book that I had wanted anyway. Bonus!
My 16 mile walk today was full of beauty. It started with a fog hovering over the earth and turned into a splendidly sunny May day with temperatures reaching about 70 degrees. Farms, gardens, flowers, villages, churches, an ancient pilgrim hospital built in the early 1500’s. So much to see and appreciate and experience. My senses were keenly alive all day.
I found an amazing lunch spot in Masón Brea and sat down with Mary, a new friend from New York. We enjoyed our time together, along with the most delicious pizza ever.
Casa Domingo was absolutely delightful. First order of business: a shower and handwashing my clothes to put on the clothesline (yes, I packed clothespins….a friend of mine who had walked the Camino suggested this, and I used them at every single stop for the night.) I then joined a group of pilgrims who were playing card games and enjoying conversation and beverages on the patio. After a few hours of making fast friends, we entered the dining room for a pilgrims’ meal together. Germany, Iceland, Canada, Austria, South Korea, California, New York, Iowa all represented around the table. What a grand evening of good people, good food, wine, stories, laughter, and encouragement.
Some people asked how much money I spent on a given day. Today: 38 euros, or about 42 dollars. The bunk at Casa Domingo was 10 euros, the pilgrims’ meal another 10. The rest was spent on Aquarius (Gatorade’s equivalent), coffee, banana, pizza, and snacks.
An outstanding 2nd day on the Camino!
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