Across An Estuary and Up A River

Well I didn't really walk from Villanova to Padron, but I racked up 10 km (6.2 mi) walking around Villanova this morning taking pictures, walking from where the boat docked to the Albergue, and wandering around Padron looking for the supermercado. 

Pictures from my morning walk in Villanova 

 Symbol of the village of Villanova and his fiesta on the Sunday of Pinatas. Or so the plague said. 

Fishing boats

There were a bunch of statues of writers and musicians from this area:

Last night in the Albergue there was only me and four Italian women from Milan and the daughter of one of the women. They were all very nice, but we could only have limited conversation. Wevsaid a lot with our hands, heads moving, and sounds. One woman spoke some English and that helped. What struck me the most was how these women looked so stylish on the Camino. I mean they looked like they belonged at a classy resort. And it was all so casual. Maybe Italian women from Milan are just born stylish. 

We didn't have to leave the Albergue until 10, and there was no reason to leave early since the boat didn't leave until 11 am. So we all slept a little later and mussed around getting packed up and ready to go.

After I ate and got dressed I walked down to the dock to wait for the boat. I saw the film crew arrive. There were more Pilgrim's than the five Italians and I. We all ended up gathered around the film crew. People were asking what the film was for and when it would be shown. I was just standing there and she asked me in English where I was from. I told her, we chatted a bit and she said she wanted to ask me some questions later, if that was ok. I said sure. 

The boat came, the Italians and I hopped up front. The film crew was in the back, so I had my back to them the whole time. Going out of the Arousa estuary it was really windy so there was a lot of chop on the water and we got sprayed a bit. Very exciting stuff. Then we stopped and the Captain talked for awhile about the estuary and history. It was all in Spanish, but I probably wouldn't have paid too much attention even if it was in English. I think I prefer the sensory experience, rather than the factual explanation. This surprises me considering how much of my life I spent learning and memorizing facts. I never get the little audio players when I go to a museum, whether art, science, or history museum. I just don't like them. I feel like they interfere with, rather than enhance my experience. 

It just occurred to me that there is a performance art piece I there somewhere. Maybe audio players in an art museum that plays weird music or recites the Gettysburg Address, or just an audio book. Anyway, back to the boat 

After the estuary, we entered the Ulla river. The further up the river we went, the calmer the water became. In the estuary we saw some kite surfers and a duck fly overhead. Up the river we saw kayakers, fishermen in skiffs, ducks swimming and a crane along the shore. 

After he got done talking that time, the boat started going faster. We were flying. I love boats at any speed. Wind in my hair, the smell of sea air, the bounce over the waves. I realized today that riding a low bottom boat over waves is a lot like riding a horse, another thing I used to do. For both, in order to keep your teeth from getting rattled and your bum bruised, you have to ride with the motion of the boat or horse. 

I was just experiencing the whole thing. It occurred to me that this was like a mini Camino of spiritual experience. The first day was hardship and pain, the second was suspended wonder and the third was pure joy. 

The captain stopped a couple more times. I think a lot of the talking was for the documentary, because what was supposed to be a one hour boat ride actually took almost two hours. More fun for me. 

Here is the picture of one of the Italian women and her daughter. I gave the daughter one of my braided things to hang on her back pack. 

Before we docked the film crew woman came up and said she would like to talk to me after we docked. So Ehen I got of the boat she was standing there with a guy with a camera and another guy with one of those big fuzzy microphones. Anyway, she interviewed me, then caked for my email address so she could send me the a copy. After that, I rejoined the Portugués Camino and walked into Padron. It was about 1 km. I got to the Albergue and got one of the last beds. Not getting a bed is not the end of the world there are other places to stay. But I was glad I got a bed. I went to the church, lit a couple of candles, went to store, made myself some lunch and now I just chillaxing.  Tomorrow we walk to Santiago.