Camino francés - Page 14

Gonzar - Melide (ca. 33 km)

From early on without food, coffee and cigarettes, we started in the dark already in a foul mood. To top it off, it rained continuously. Only the most necessary was spoken, in such situations it decides even more whether you harmonize with each other. After 5 long kilometers there was an open bar, it was freezing cold inside, but at least there was a coffee and something for the stomach. Several rainy kilometers further on Jana and I wanted to run until we got cigarettes, Klaus wanted to drink a beer in the first bar and rest. So we separated in a bad mood at the place. Jana and I always got along well, no matter how hard it came, and so we marched two also good-humored in the rain to Palas de Rey.

There we made breakfast extensively, bought our longed for smokes and kept an eye out for Klaus, if he might come after us. But he didn't come and so we walked the last 15 km to Melide. There arrived, we had to look for the replacement hostel, the Alberque municipal was renovated. In a giant sports hall stood a few containers, that was the temporary hostel. It was warm and clean, but very crowded. The dormitories were equipped with a loud air conditioner and strong fan, at night I got a proper cold. In general, after Sarria on the way we met more and more pilgrims. That had the obvious reason that one received the Compostella in Santiago only if one had put back the last 100 km by foot or 200 km by bike. So then this hostel was also full of Spaniards and Mexicans. Melide itself was famous for the octopus served here. We then also searched in the evening for an appropriate restaurant, but then got stuck in an Internet cafe and a pizzeria. Back at the hostel, Klaus just checked in, completely drunk.

Melide - Arca do Pino (ca. 34 km)

The expectation of our imminent arrival improved our mood and so, in good time, after a good breakfast in the bar, we went the 33 km to Arco do Pino (Galician: Pedrouzo). At the beginning only cloudy, it rained the last part again violently. It went up and down, as mechanically we reeled the kilometers to Arzua down. Here we had a warm-up coffee and continued through the rain. 8 km before Pedrouzo we had hunger and moved into a bar. The young woman had just opened her establishment for the season and while she prepared our pilgrim menu, she put in a homemade Camino DVD for us. It was beautifully produced and reinforced our longing to arrive in Santiago soon. We stayed quite a long time with the friendly lady, she painted the stamps in the Credencial and gave us small farewell gifts.

The last kilometers the sky gave again all the water. However, a large warm hostel awaited us, provided with all the necessities. Many pilgrims were already here, including the Mexican couple that I met for the first time in Los Arcos. They had traveled most of the way by bus, they explained to my surprised look. After my obligatory walk to the Internet cafe, we went to a cozy evening in the bar. In the night I moved with my mattress into the kitchen, the snoring and the air in the dormitory were once again unbearable.