A Day Of Surprises

I just wrote this whole blog and accidentally closed it without saving it. I should cut off my thumb! Well, maybe the second one will have some surprises. 

I walked today from Tui to Porriño, a trek of about 18 km/11 mi, when you add diversions and walking around town it was 25 km/15.5 mi. My feet are tired. I'm waiting for the time when my body gets in shape from the walking and it becomes easier. Of course it is extra hot. I heard today that there is some extraordinary heat wave in Spain.who knew?  I knew it was hot, but it is summer. I also haven't had a full might's sleep in a week. I may have to spend a night in a private room. Half the Pilgrim's don't quiet down and go to sleep until after midnight and the others get up at 4 to beat the heat. Oh well, they told me once, nobody ever died from lack of sleep. 

The walk today was on a new route that went through a lot of farmlands and public open space, and along a lot of rivers and streams. It was quiet and beautiful. I was worried there the may not be cafes, since we weren't going through towns. About 7 km out I came to a building with the outline of a cafe cup with steam. I thought Thea's a little weird, but maybe there is a cafe in the area. The trail went along side the building  and there I found a lovely garden cafe, complete with chickens and sheep. The had sandwiches, drinks, fruit, pastries and all kinds of treat. It was quite obviously a family enterprise with grandma cooking, daughter serving and translating about six or seven languages, and the grandchildren acting as bus boys and girl, sous chefs, and general gofers. It was just one of those little Csmino surprises. Here are pictures:

There were several cafes, but none as special as this one. 

Another one of those little moments happened when I stopped to watch a sheppardess and her sheep. I love watching sheep. As I started to walk away she waved and said Buen Camino. 

I lost my hat. It had belong to my husband and then I started wearing it about 5 years ago. It was wearing out and the top was all ripped up because the fabric had been worn thin. I loved that hat. 

Well, after a day of glaring sunlight that made it hard to see, I decided in the next big town I needed to find a store to buy a hat. Just after I had this thought I walked by an accessory store, you know the kind, that sells scarves, jewelry, and yes hats. So I found one that I think will work.

 

I went to a cafe and had a Tortilla Francesa, which is basically a cheese omelet, French fries, a salas and a soda for 5€. As I was eating, a bag pipe procession went by in the plaza. 

They are having a fiesta in this town all week all week end with music, dancing, entertainment; and if it's like other fiestas I experienced on the Camino, a lot of drunken teenage gets wandering the streets in the morning. One year a group of drunk boys thought it would be fun to grab Mr Burple out of my pack. As one kid was pulling on him I turned like a mother lion, walking sticks poised to strike and shouted ¡Basta! Basically that means enough or cut it out. It was a traumatic experience and left emotional scars. ;) Maybe Mr Burple will ride inside the pack tomorrow morning. 

Well, it's 11:30 and things hace quieted down. Time to sleep.