Camino Day 5: Walking Companions

My last full day on the Camino was also the most social. Right after my first coffee break, I ran into some young Italians and we paused for a while in a small unattended hut that was open as a rest stop for pilgrims. The Italians were in no hurry as they uncorked a bottle of wine and explained that they weren´t planning to reach Santiago for two more days. Recalling that I, on the other hand, planned on walking for at least 20 more kilometers before sundown, I politely declined their offer of wine and continued on my way.

Along the road I came across several people I knew, and walked in their company for a time. The weather was quite nice and I arrived at the albergue earlier than usual. There I met Carlos, the Brazilian, and about 7 young Spaniards, most of whom I knew from before, and we all went out for a snack at the local bar/pastry shop. We had a great time talking and taking photos to remember the experience.

At the bar, at the Spaniards´ insistence, I tried some orujo, a very stiff Spanish liquor that comes in clear and yellowish-green varieties. The liquor is supposed to help with digestion, which is questionable, but the belief certainly faciliates the siesta tradition.