It really was a culture shock today after spending weeks seeing so few people and little places to stop. The way being full of peregrinos and cafes almost every 2km, feels like a different world.
Another very late start. We were the last out the albergue and we headed straight to a cafe for breakfast. 9 o’clock had been and gone before we set off.
Samual joined us for a short while, he is spending a rest day in Arzúa so friends of his will join him in the evening.
It was another cold start and no real hill to warm me up properly. But the sun was out and it slowly warmed up to be a glorious day – it felt like I’m on holiday.
After a couple of kilometres Samual said his farewells and the four of us continued on. We took it easy, walking as a group, stopping at a few cafes for empanadas and cold drinks – once midday arrived we were on the beers.
The way is so busy, many people walking and a fair share of tourigrinos. Large groups clogged the paths. It’s probably no more than previous years, but having spent the last 35 days in the solitude of the Norte, it really felt crowded.
I now walked familiar paths, enjoying the warm sunshine and the easy pace. Before we knew it we arrived into O Pedrouzo. Feeling in a party mood we went for beers and had food at the Mexican restaurant that gave out wax stamps!
We made some new friends, Gavin from Dublin and Bestin from Australia. I also met Andy and Michelle again – great to see familiar faces among the scores of new pilgrims.
Tomorrow is Santiago. The last day on the Camino. The end of the adventure is upon me.
Stu's Camino 