Camino de Santiago

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Hi everyone,

Computer access again today so that is good.

Last night we stayed at an amazing albergue at Ligonde. Ligonde is a little hamlet and where we stayed was a converted cowshed and run by a Christian group. The lovely young women who cooked dinner for us were volunteers and there for two weeks. They went to uni. in the States. There were two men who were in charge. They were lovely and very kind. Downstairs was the dining, kitchen and lovely bathroom with showers and toilets all nicely tiled. Upstairs was very cosy!!!! 10 beds very close together but I was fine - Marian on one side of me and a Japanese lady on the othe side. The men were on the other side of the wall. Janet, I was wondering which bed you slept in????

As we arrived in Ligonde early after a shorter walk we were able to sit out in the field while our washing dried. After dinner we had time to mix and mingle with the local farmers!!! There was this very cute little Spanish lady whom we had seen go out earlier in the day all dressed up in her Sunday best - black and white. She then returned and reappeared dressed in skirt, scarf on her hed and gumboots! Off she went to milk the two cows while a male - I presume he was a husband - just wandered arround!!! The women appear to work very hard on their little farms and they work until after 10pm as it is still light then.

We have noticed that there are lots of dogs around. Many are in pens and there are also lots of Alsatian dogs just lying in the sun. The man at the albergue told us that up until recently they had had trouble with foxes so I guess they are there to scare them away.

Mum - the last few days there have been lots of beautiful foxgloves in bloom all along the way and the roses are truly amazing.

S, J and R I forget to mention to you that I met a priest at a Mass I went to (and did a reading as they wanted someone who spoke English) and he blessed the lovely gift I wear around my neck. I went to the Mass with the couple from Akaroa. I think that was back in Triacastela. Amongst the congregation there were 7 languages spoken.

Dad, your old sickle would come in use here!! I have seen many older men out in the fields working with them. They really quite backward here in lot of respects.

I also forgot to mention to you that the night we were in Portomarin at the hospital like albergue we had dinner at the place next door and I managed to see the final few games of the French Open when Nadal bet Federer. They were all very noisy and it was very exciting.

The weather has been so kind to us. It has not been so hot but the last two days we have walked under clear blue skies with jet steams high above. I guess they are the plans from Madrid.

The cattle now seem to have their own homes and are no longer housed under the owners´homes. Imagine that!!

In fact the past few days the walking has been very enjoyable - mainly through lovely lanes with lots of trees.

The bad news is that I now have 3 new blisters on my left foot!!!!! The right foot is fine. Today I have popped a couple and I am sure they will be great tomorrow. It is not really too bad walking as the boots are so great. It´s just when I sit down it takes me a while to get started.

Sorry, I can´t accept your comments as I should. J, I can´t see where but you can teach me for next time I travel!!!! However, hope I have replied to you all via the gmail.

Lots of love to you all. We plan to be in Santiago on Friday so not long now.......
CA

P.S. Richard please forward this to Clarkes as Ross said to use their home email - tks.
CA

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Comments

[Mary Durrington]

Dogs of the Camino
Did you read "Pilgrimage" or some title like that by Paul Coelho. While walking the Camino, he was accosted by the devil in the guise of a black dog, which he had to fight off. A little bit of that stuff goes a long way with me. I hope you had no similar encounters. Love, Mary