Pontevedra, it turns out, is full of young people who party all Saturday night. It had seemed that our hotel was on a deserted square – but evidently the bar was just around the corner – and all night there were throngs of partygoers celebrating outside our window. When I set out at 6:30, the revelries were showing no signs of winding down and I felt decidedly underdressed with my shorts, tee shirt and backpack amongst all the partygoers with their high heels and elegant dresses.
My feet were still swollen but Caldas de Reis has healing thermal springs – which one can soak one’s feet in – so I was excited to arrive this afternoon. Cristina was now taking an alternate route to Santiago and I again left before Johanna and Cem. I kept up my spirits by belting out negro spirituals/English folk songs/Indonesian children’s songs and anything else I could think of. This must have increased my pace because today I arrived first.
As the Camino approaches Santiago, more religious symbols are evident along the way.
photos – a tiled picture of St. James and Santiago Cathedral, two roadside crosses and a shrine to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Caldas de Reis is a town that provides few photo opportunities! I was, nevertheless, excited about the healing properties of the thermal waters and wasted no time soaking my feet. I was puzzled that my feet seemed to be getting more swollen, not less – until someone pointed out that hot water, even from thermal springs, was exactly the opposite of what I needed! Oh well – I live and learn.
Fatijah's Camino Portugués 2016 