Day 29: Portomarin to Palas de Rei

The morning started off foggy and cool as I departed Portomarin. The trail was to be up and down today, with Galicia living up to its wet and hilly terrain. I’ve enjoyed my time on the Camino. But the count down has begun and my time here is winding down. The last 4-5 days of the Camino with all the new faces is really the start of the reintegration process back to real life.

As much as I have enjoyed my time here, I can now see the end is near. Memories will be all I have and a few photos. It’s okay, this has been a grind but a wonderful experience. Today’s walk is through forest and many hamlets again with dairy arms. But before the day is over, I encounter a group of students from Oklahoma State University belonging to a local Catholic Church whose priest organizes an annual pilgrimage. This year was Spain’s Camino de Santiago. I introduce myself and learn they had started 4 days ago in the town of O’Cebreiro. They were the same group I had encountered 4 days earlier when I passed through the same town in the early morning. They are full of energy and laughter and it motivates me to keep moving on. Later the same day, I run into the same group with the parish priest at the church in Palas de Rei. He’s young and engaging with the young students. It’s what is needed in the church today, progress.

I stop for a rest down the trail and hear languages I’ve not heard before. I ask two women what language they’re speaking and they respond, “Ukrainian”. They live in Genoa Italy, and also speak fluent Italian. It’s a

Mother and daughter walking the Camino to enjoy some Peace and quiet. It’s sobering to hear their story. I’m sorry, is all I can muster for them, knowing it helps little.

The stories one hears from people you barely know are incredible. I do believe this experience is for all who are able. The world opens up. There is no experience like it. I enter Palas de Rei, and locate my Albergue for the night. I passed it up walking into town and had to back track at least a mile, only to have to walk it again to eat dinner as there is no restaurant at my Albergue. I also shop for supplies for the morning. Tomorrows journey to a town called Arzua is 31 KMs of up and down hills. It’s a long day ahead but the weather is supposed to be sunny in the 70’s. I plan an early departure. Please enjoy the pictures of the day:

Packed up and ready to go

Leaving the city

A message while I complain to myself being tired

A foggy start to the day

Trails of fog

An old style home grain storage canopy. I’m told they used these to store grain outside of the house to keep the mice out of the houses.

A lazy inhabitant

A close up of the cows in the barn

In Palas de Rei, church courtyard statue

A sheep in the field after the day turned sunny