This morning we were treated to the best albergue breakfast of the Camino. A friendly motherly woman greeted me in the morning with one long question about what I wanted for breakfast. She spoke only Spanish and assumed we understood everything she had to say. I agreed to everything. Mark and Shelagh saw what I got and happily agreed to everything as well. Breakfast consisted of coffee or tea, a healthy slice of tortilla, a large piece of toast with tomato and oil, and a generous slice of lemon cake. Awesome!
We left Ribadeo in a light rain and climbed for most of the day. Eucalyptus forests and misty farm fields covered the hills. The sun did eventually break through and a small cafe in Villa Martin Grande served as a well needed shady spot and chance to visit with fellow pilgrims.
Kathinka and Elena are friends from different parts of Germany who have come together to walk the Camino. They originally met while hiking in Spain, and prior to starting in Gijon, they hadn’t seen each other in two years.
Ainhoa is from Villa Martin Grande, Spain. She has been operating a cafe here for three years, providing a needed food and beverage break far from other options. Next year she would like to open an albergue.
Insu is from Korea. He walked the Camino Portuguese last year, the same time I walked it. He walked Camino Frances in 2019.
Jacqueline is from Germany. She thruhiked the Pacific Crest Trail in USA in 2017 and lost 28 kilos. She is thinking about thruhiking the Continental Divide Trail in USA next.
We ended the day in Lourenza at Albergue Saviour, sharing a room for three on the top floor in an effort to evade a fellow pilgrim dubbed the ‘Snorasaurus’. He ended up in the single room next to us, but it was better than sharing an open bunk room with him. Albergue Saviour was another recently updated accommodation with a lovely kitchen and dining area. We found a local restaurant with a ‘Menu of the Day” and filled up.