Day Six - Portomarin - Palas De Rei

Today's challenge!

Thank goodness!  We both slept well!  Hurrah!!  When we awoke it was still dark, so plenty of time for a shower and squeezing our stuff into our case!  Yes you did read right! we are sharing a case!! Even though we haven't bought anything extra, each day it seems more difficult to pack our things in and we have to strain the zip to make the case close!!  So much for travelling light!   

Breakfasted, we got our Peregrino passport stamped and we were ready to start our day!  Outside the mists and fog had covered the water, but the air was crisp and held the promise of a lovely day!  Once again the first part of our walk was a long slow ascent!  It wasn't long before we were shedding our fleeces, and soon the sun was shining!  We were all surprised at how good we felt, afterall, this was day two and another long walk lay ahead of us!   Today we have had another beautiful walk through woods, and countryside very akin to our own countryside and woods at home!  We have met and talked to other pilgrims on the way, from all over the world.  The cameraderie on this route is genuine, and yes, everyone does seem to greet fellow walkers with 'buen camino'!   

Our lunchtime was spent beneath shady trees outside one of the pilgrim rest places.  We all ordered a mixed salad which was piled high with fresh and delicious ingredients, and all for about 6 euros!   On the  way again and we came upon a rest place that was being run by a group of young Brazilian volunteers who had come over to Spain especially to provide a place of rest and refreshment for Camino walkers! They were lovely!

And so our day wore on and we became accustomed to the sound of the crunch on the path and our shadows before us!!  The miles slipped by, and then we had to make a decision, should we include a detour of about four kilometres to visit an ancient church once the seat of the Knights of Santiago.  The church is built upon Roman foundations and the more modern part dates back to the tenth century!  We decided we couldn't let the opportunity of this gem to slip by!  Another ascent!!!  Was this a good idea?  It was!!   We were greeted by the enthusiastic old gentleman who looks after the church, his name Jesu!  We couldn't understand a word he said, but somehow he managed to convey much of the symbolism in this wonderful church!  There were effigies of the knights and unique and beautiful frescoes dating from the 14th century.   There was also a heavy influence of Gallic symbols, reflecting the links between the cultures of Galicia and the Northern Gallic countries.  we were all so glad we had bothered to make this detour.  

We had almost arrived at our stop for the night when David realised he wasn't carrying his camera case which had his small binoculars attached!!!  He retraced his steps in his mind and decided there were two possible places where he could have left them.  We decided not to worry too much about it, but talk to reception when we'd checked in!  All's well!!!!  The reception rang the two places, and the missng camera bag and binoculars had been discovered and have now been returned by taxi!  Amazing care!  A reflection of the Camino Spiriit!

So we arrived at our destination, Palas de Rei, having walked about 20 miles today, and found our lodgings, log cabins with all mod cons at La Cabana.

Tomorrow we have our longest walk!  But with our added miles today, we think that tomorrow will be similar!  However, the weather today has been idyllic for walking!  Tomorrow the forecast is for 24 degrees, which is much hotter!  Another challenge in store!

  Tarte Santiago !!  :). Enjoyed this today!  It's gorgeous!  :)