We have had a series of difficult days. Thursday we walked 27 km from Lorenza to Abadin. A never ending climb to 550m with intermittent showers. The best part of the day was Albergue Xabarin. It is now my new favourite albergue. What did I like about it. Well, a fully equipped modern kitchen and super bathrooms. I have noticed that the albergues have improved since we have arrived in Galicia to the extent that I have stoppped pinning for a hotel every other night.
Other things I’ve noticed about Galicia is that the bread is better. There are also very frequent waymarkers. Another innovation is that every waymarker has the distance from Santiago written on it. So, we knew when we were exactly 100 kms from our destination earlier this afternoon.
In my opinion, there is no need for a GPS phone app or even a guide book here. I challenge anyone to get lost on the Camino in Galicia. That certainly was not the case in the other regions.
Yesterday, the walk from Abadin to Villalba, while just 21 kms, seemed hard to me. I put it down to the culmination of a series of hard days. My new shoes are hurting my feet and have given me blisters. That hasn’t helped. Having said that, I’m much fitter and can’t wait to weigh myself when I get to Santiago.
Today, we doubled up two stages and walked 33 kms to Miraz. Finn flies in to Santiago to visit us on Wednesday 12th June and we are being forced to get a wiggle on to get there to greet him.
We are staying at the CSJ Albergue San Martin in Miraz tonight. It is operated by the Confraternity of Saint James based in the UK.
Some albergues are staffed by volunteers. That is one of the ways they keep the costs to the pilgrims down. Normally, you volunteer for a set period of two weeks. No more or less. I think it would be an interesting thing to do. You would meet lots of pilgrims from all corners of the world. It would also, be a way to give something back. They normally, only accept volunteers who have actually completed the camino. It is something I would like to do and if I do, it will probably be in this albergue in Miraz because of its UK links.
Wandering Boomers 