Shells, Arrows, and Pilgrims : Saxamonde to Pontevedra
Shells, Arrows, and Pilgrims Camino Portuguese Pilgrimage The window of our room was directly above the Camino, and we awoke around 4 AM to the sounds of hiking poles clicking past outside, accompanied by excited voices. Within a few minutes, the other pilgrims in the dorm began packing their belongings and heading out, but we chose to remain in our warm, dry bunks a little longer, avoiding the rain outside. We headed downstairs to the bar around 6:30 AM to find the owner just opening the establishment, still dressed in her night clothes. She looked exhausted, but very kindly served us coffee and warm croissants with a tired smile while serving her family breakfast in the kitchen. It was a humbling reminder of just how hard albergue owners work, especially when they also act as local barkeeps. We headed out down a very steep asphalt road that took us between lush green fields set amid rolling, mist-shrouded, forested hills. The peaceful landscape, ...