Well somebody has been keeping all this beautiful Galician countryside a secret. This morning, we had a lovely walk for about an hour and a half, down to the town of Sarria. This is an interesting spot from the pilgrim’s point of view. In order to receive a Camino Certificate, you must walk the last 100 km’s to Santiago, (or cycle the last 200 km’s). Sarria is 110 km’s from the end, so it is the principle starting point for those just wishing to complete the qualifying distance. Because of this, huge numbers come to Sarria by bus and train and the stream of pilgrims coming through from the east, meets up with this new stream. Result, a much busier Camino from here on.

We joined in for a most beautiful day’s walking, in nice sunshine, through the aforementioned lovely countryside. We promised ourselves a beer stop, 5 km’s from Portomarin, (our target for the day). We picked out the spot in the guidebook and it was our little inducement to keep going. We arrived there tired, thirsty and expectant. No bar! No beer! We left there tired, thirsty and disappointed.

Ah well, we did get to Portomarin and to our well earned beer, even if we had to climb the city steps and enter the stone arch. Worth it in the end.