Camino Santiago Portuguese, 5: Pontevedra To Caldas De Reis

The next day's stage was Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis, a shorter stage for us, hoping to break the final long days into more manageable bits. We had tried this earlier but missed the hotel and ended up with the longer day. Not all the auberges, pensiones, hosterias, hostels, hotels, etc., are right on the Camino. Sometimes you have to side-track to find something. Nonetheless, we got to Caldas de Reis in good order, found the desired pensione, and took the afternoon off.

Stream-side moment

So I think my photos are giving a very false impression of the Camino as we
experienced it; about 60% of it is on pavement...concrete, asphalt, stone, tarmac,
whatever...who wants a picture of that? But that's what it was, despite the pix...

Northern Spain is covered in mostly wild eucalyptus--not a native--and ever more
is being planted

The day's excitement

Lunch: sausage, ham, cheese bocadillo

At a nice place on the trail

So the hot spot has gone to being a full-fledged blister; but
who's complaining?

Rec area in someone's backyard; aargh!

I think we may have seen this ride in Seville

What you're not seeing here is the Train of Modest Velocity whooshing by overhead

Sometimes, fellow pilgrims will leave notes on the signposts, profound thoughts,
uplifting quotes, etc.

For example...Winston Churchill?!

Ever onward

Warmer temps, more water

Approaching Caldas, one is confronted with a variety of peregrino
bill-boards

Another political message

Color-coded Temptation

Color-coded florals

A kind of bill-board, don't you think?

Beautiful granite house

Vineyards everywhere

And more billboards

We opted finally for this one

Great scenery here and there

Potato sandwich the owner of La Moderna
gave us

So our pensione was on the other side of the church; on this
side, much Sunday afternoon music and dancing was going
on

Never did figure out what it was all about, but it stopped abruptly about 5PM

And everything returned to weekend quiet

Camino Santiago Portuguese, 4: Redondela To Pontevedra

Another 10-12 mile hike, from Redondela to the university town of Pontevedra, quite a bit larger than the towns we had previously reached.

Looking back to Redondela from the cafe where we (finally) had breakfast

Wilderness on the Camino

Not sure what this was...

What are these things? you ask

Goateed cat

Approaching the Medieval bridge at Sampaio/Arcade

Just wide enough for a small car and a pilgrim

Site of a major 1809 battle between the locals and the invading French; the
guidebook says locals still name their dogs after the French generals

Interesting neo-classical architecture in Sampaio/Arcade

Rustic architecture; but it works

Now a longer stretch of Via Romana XIX

Chariot ruts right and left

It's the weekend, and the day-hikers are out in force; we look upon them with
disdain, as they pass us

Also the bicyclistes; the greatest danger on the Camino is that of being run down
by asshole cyclists, who, if you're lucky, will give you .0005 nano-seconds to move
off the path

Another chapel

At a pulpo-fest

Not in La Technique

Hotel Avenida, where we stayed in Pontevedra; not pictured:
Pizza Hut, across the street, where we dined

Next morning, a very early morning departure and walk
through town

Very famous Church of the Virgen Peregrina

Inside; you can't tell from this,but the floor plan is in the shape
of a scallop shell

Better to light one candle...despite the damned darkness

Another view, later, after we had visited the nearby cathedral

Interesting Pontevedra architecture

Early morning Pontevedra street scene

O Burgo bridge, crossing the river Lerez

Patron saint of accordionists...wait...no... that's local boy Cesar
Diosino,  who wrote "Golodrinas de Capistrano"; also "Deje mi
corazon en San Francisco"; if memory serves