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Published: April 14th 2009
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P1030591 - Leaving Caldas del Reis
Glorious early morning clear skies. Santiago de Compostela (Day 8) Camino Portugues from Caldas de Rey to Padron (20km)
Caldas de Rey - Padron (20km)
Woke at 4am but had the best sleep so far in the trip. Then rested until 6am and headed off be 6.30am while still dark. We left out backpacks outside the cafe to let others know where we were. We had toast and coffee. Photo with 'Franco' at doorway as well as many along the way with lovely tranquil scenery of the countryside. Lovely trees, ferns, moss, small amount of flowers and many areas of rural lands with corn and vines along gentle undulating slopes. Only walked along small amount of asphalt areas and managed to take several photos of locals at work and in the streets. A very old lady sitting on a low stool by her doorway requested not to have her photo taken because she was too old and ugly. I respected her wishes.
Reached Padron by 1145 and got a bed by the window (N0.29). This albergue had 50 bunk beds and some floor spaces.
Ta looked very fresh and planned to walk the next day. Au developed a tear or strain in plantar tendon of
her left foot, possibly from wearing her sandals as her boots hurt her achillis tendons. She had her foot all strapped up and coul no longer walk.
I stayed back a bit today, with rear group and chatted, by the end of the walk my plantar foot area, especially Rt foot hurt very much and had a pulling sensation.
After a good rest we went for a walk around the town but Au had some difficulty and so I went with Am, Ma, J-Jo and Franco. We walked to the next town, which was not far. we saw the resting place of Noble Price winner author Iria Flavia. There was also an old church being restored with some roman stone tomb sarcophagus on the outside. We had some drinks and got a stamp at the Guardia Civil.
I gave myself an oil massage on my legs with some effect.
After talking with Nua, I found out she works at an old furniture shop and lives in Barcelona. Yolanda and Juan Antonio live near Parke Sur in Madrid which is near my cousin Ci. They are from Galicia - Gallega).
This night had a cool breeze and I
P1030592 - breakfast - coffee time
Breakfast time, we let our friends know where we are by leaving our packacks outdoors. You get to know each backpack very quickly. slept for a while with ear plugs, then some people started to get up and go by 0300 and I noticed I began to cough and wheeze again with asthma. I looked around and saw that most of the windows in the pavilion had been shut and the hot and humid air was not helping with well over 50 bodies in one big room. When I looked at the floor, I noticed that every available space was taken up by a sleeping roll. I asked a man on the floor who was packing to open the window nearest to my bed (was difficult to reach and had to get down from top bunk waking the others). Soon after another closed it again and I explained my situation so he opened it up 1". When he left I got down from my bed and reopened the window to breathe a lovely cool breeze even though there was not much air movement through the interior.
By 0400 J- Jo got up and he decided to pack up and wait downstairs for the others. I did the same as I kept coughing and could not sleep, but after breathing some outside fresh air
P1030598 - Directions while you do your laundry!!
Local directions & laundry time. Can you see how some people dry their clothes????? I recuperated quickly.
A local Galician couple apparently made some traditional alcoholic drink last night (Photo) it involved some cooking and had coffee beans, the remnants of which were left in the kitchen table. It certainly tasted very sweet and potent, I recon if I had left my finger in it it would have stripped the flesh off!!!!!
I sampled the Galician plonk drink that was left in the kitchen. It was called 'Caimada' a typical Galician drink with citrus rinds, sugar, coffee beans (orujo) - boiled/steamed to remove some alcohol. It tasted very sweet.
By 0500 we decided to start rounding everyone up and by 0550 we headed off. Au decided to get the bus as her feet were in no shape to do any further walking, they were all strapped up and we had a 20km trek to walk.
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