Galicia

We climbed our 3rd and final mountain of the Camino de Santiago. This time we did it without our bags and it was AMAZING. The best four euros I’ve ever spent! After sleeping in a cozy little attic of an albergue, we woke to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof. The uncomfortable feeling of being wet settled in instantly, but then I remembered we decided to get our bags shipped up the mountain… and I felt like a million bucks. I’m sure I could have run the whole way up the mountain and down again without lugging around my big pack. (But I didn’t of course, because I am not crazy.)

We left the province of Leon and entered Galicia. It is STUNNING. You climb to the peak and it feels like you’ve just hopped into a postcard from Scotland. Rolling hills as far as the eyes can see… and green, everywhere! I had to stop frequently just to take it all in. I think that this is perhaps the most beautiful scenery I have ever set my eyes upon. The towns turn from being very Spanish, to almost Celtic. Still, everything is old and almost in ruins. I love it though. The towns have such character, as they should, considering they have been there for hundreds of years. We had a great meal, celebrating our large glorious climb (sans packs), and headed to our lastest Albergue. I think my least favourite so far – such a shame in a cool town. But it was all very institutional, like we were actually just sleeping in a hospital.

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we are now in a town called “Tricastela.” I left about half an hour before Nick this morning and took on the Camino solo. We thought we’d like to see what it was like to pilgrimage on our own. Time went by fast and I enjoyed sitting with my thoughts. It’s amazing being out in the open air on top of a huge mountain with lush hills surrounding you on all sides. I feel so free out here. I also stopped to have coffee with a wee old Spanish man, which was comical considering we couldn’t communicate. The coffee was fantastic though, which made up for the silence. Nick & I reunited this afternoon and are now relaxing in our OWN ROOM in tonight’s version of home. This may seem like not such a big thing, but on the Camino, staying at Albergues there is absolutely NO privacy. And there is a BATHTUB in this Albergue! Truly, a dream come true.