LP and VQT

 Posted by VQT Pilgrim statue  Wild daisies.  Giant scallop shell.  No advertising is allowed on the Camino so establishments go BIG to entice people.   Today (Saturday) and tomorrow we have short days - very thankful for that.  Monday we arrive in Santiago de Compostela  14km to Arzua.  We pass through a village called Boente.  In Boente there is a fountain known as Fonte da Saleta which is said to have curative powers - wonder if those powers work on tired feet?  Arzua is known for its delicious creamy cheese. 

Posted by LP - we have covered a lot of miles in the past two days, happily there were people and things to entertain and interest us (although our tired feet still felt every step!) Whimsical creatures made from wood outside a house in the small village we stayed last night LP and VQT at the 78.1 kilometers marker this morning (Friday) LP and a giant metal ant (at a cafe) LP and D from Switzerland - it was very misty this morning when the photo was taken (Friday) LP and VQT at the 100 kilometers to Santiago marker yesterday (Thursday) A and C from Germany with LP at our lunch stop cafe today (Friday) J and S from Canada who are undertaking El Camino with baby E and young A - they have been traveling for 2 months  VQT and a giant metal ant 

 Posted by VQT Eucalyptus trees.  Eerie looking in the morning fog.   People take great pride in their gardens.   This is an older wheat storage building.  Many are very elaborate.  All are elevated.   Hard to see in this photo but there’s a skull & crossbones on base of this cross.   Farm dog leading us down the road.  

 Posted by VQT  LP walking down path.   Inside of small church.  Altar area.  VQT at Sarria sign.   Passed this small church.   This church had the altar area shrine that’s pictured above.  Portomarin - this city was destroyed by a flood in 1956.  It was rebuilt on higher ground and doesn’t have the charm of most cities we walked through.  Inside small chapel.   LP at another large tree outside Sarria.   LP with S from Germany.  We’ve met him several times and finally took a photo.   Thursday and Friday were long days.  21 miles each day. Way more than we want to walk.  But booking accommodations forced us to walk these long miles.   We’ve heard that so many people are arriving in St Jean Pied de Port (the city we started at) that there’s no capacity to house them.  That one day 1,000 people arrived which is double the capacity of the accommodations and people had to be bused to other places. ...

 Posted by VQT  Scallop shell made with bottle caps.   Yesterday was a long day.   Walked 21 miles.   Stayed last night in another small village - just a little bigger than the one horse town without a horse we stayed in weeks ago.  Then just as we were going to post for the day the power went out in our accommodations which took out the WiFi.  We’ll try to catch up on posts today. But, today is another long day.   After today we have 2 shorter mileage days and then final 20km day into Santiago.    Todays walk is described as rolling hills on dirt tracks and quiet country lanes.   Approximately 50 miles+/- to Santiago.  

 Posted by VQT 5 more days till Santiago de Compostela! 30kms today.  Headed to Castromaior.   Guidebook rates as an easy day.  The Way passes almost constantly through small nearly-abandoned villages.  Might mean sharing the path with more cows and sheep - if so, we’ll take photos.    Weather sunny.   Hard to see but there’s a large flying bird in photo.  It’s a wood pigeon.  They are the size of chickens.   Two wood pigeons.  

Posted by LP - today was a lovely day……much better weather than yesterday (started chilly, became sunny), healthy food (vegetarian restaurant in Sarria) and entertainment along the route: Donkeys by the side of the trail - we also saw cows, sheep, goats, chickens, dogs and cats  This charming building was converted from a tumble down barn into a home and art gallery about 15 years ago LP with the artist Arther Manton Lowe, an Englishman who converted the building in the previous photo and who lives and paints on El Camino for 1/2 of each year LP’s meal today = “Istanbowl” (couscous, hummus, veggies and salad) One of a series of murals entitled, “The Stars of El Camino” A tabby cat who visited us while we took a rest  A table of fruit and vegetables available to hikers/pilgrims for a donation, we ate bananas