May 22 Arzua

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We're in Arzua tonight. David and Rick did about 60 kms today. Only 40 kms to Santiago tomorrow. The terrain is getting flatter which makes for easier riding, but the traffic is increasing so it's a little more dangerous on the road. We looking for an alternate route but Santiago is the big local city, so traffic is bound to get worse no matter what road they ride. In general the car drivers have been very considerate and accommodating to bikers.

Nothing much to say about our destination tonight. It's a small, working city. Today was market day in Arzua. The entire downtown square and several side streets were occupied by the market when I arrived at noon. But, true to Spanish custom, the entire thing was packed up and everyone had cleared the streets by 2:00 pm. Between 2 and 5 about the only things you can buy in Spain are beer, coffee and gasoline.

We've gotten used to seeing tractors driving on the streets in Spain, but today we saw the ultimate. Some farmer drove his combine to town!

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Photos

Trees in the plaza
The branches on these trees are grafted onto the branches of neighbouring trees. So, each tree is connected to 3 or 4 others and a solid canopy of leaves would be up formed in the summer. I didn't even know this was possible.