5/18 Climbing into Galicia

I am loving how the stages of our walks have lent themselves to some amazing early morning beauty.  Today was no exception.  We left a little later...about 6:30...but the temps were hovering in the mid 30s.  We still had some climbing to do to get to O' Cebreiro, but neither Polly nor I found it too hard.  I am feeling strong...the knees and ankles feel good and the blisters...well, the blisters get to be my thing.  Everybody gets to have a "thing"...an overpacked backpack, poor sense of direction, a sensitive stomach, an aversion to snoring...mine just happens to be blisters and really, it's all good.

At O' Cebreiro we stopped for coffee and a croissant (I am going to hate saying goodbye to the chocolate croissants when I get home) and were surprised and oh so happy to see Metta.  She is from Denmark and I haven't seen her since Hontanas.

From O' Cebreiro I climbed to Alto de San Roque and there were pilgrims lined up to have their picture taken, celebrating the moment.  I didn't need me in the picture, but I love the joy radiating from the picture I took.

I stopped for a second cup of coffee (great coffee, very bueno, very caliente) and then did some more climbing, a very steep section that ended at a bar.  People were having breakfast and were cheering and clapping as pilgrims came to the summit.  It seemed like a good time for a fist pump.

We are staying at Albergue Municipal peregrinos de Tricastela and though Polly was about 8 people ahead of me in line, the person who was registering pilgrims could not be bothered with making special accommodations foe people.  Haha...I am in a 2 bunkbed room with 3 men...Tony from Japan, Jack from Italy and an older man who was the first one to hear my " Eres muy amable."  It happened like this:  I was in line waiting for the Albergue to open.  Ahead of me was a 20-something Italian girl...very cute.  Her friend was sitting in the grass, in pain from multiple blisters on her feet.  An older man got in line behind me and had a Pike's Place Market patch on his jacket.  We talked about Seattle and I learned he had kids and grandkids in Port Angeles.  He showed me pictures...adorable...dear to his heart.  He handed the Italian girl ahead of me a bottle and said something in Spanish.  She gave the bottle to her friend and offered some instructions in Italian.  The girl sprayed her feet and seemed to get relief almost immediately.  They thanked the man, and I turned to him, put my hand on his arm, and said, "Eres muy amable."  He smiled...and then I smiled.