Padron, Spain

Calda de Reis

I’ve taken the last two days off walking because the walk to Pontevidra really took it out of me. My vertigo was worse and boy were my leg muscles talking to me. I spent yesterday in Calda de Reis, sleeping and sitting in the sun reading. They had a lovely pool but the breeze was too cold for swimming.

What a pleasure it is to read in the sun in October, with palm trees swooshing in the breeze nearby! The hotel I stayed at in Calda de Reis was very far from town (though near the Camino) so I did no exploring. Today I slept in til 10:30 AM and took a taxi to the last stage of the Camino, the walk to Santiago Compostela. It’s over 15 miles up and down mountains, so I doubt I’ll be able to do it all, but I’ll do what I can.  I know the last half is all through urban areas, so I decided to start with the natural part of the trek. After that I have two days in Santiago before my train back to Madrid and my flight home. 

The place I am staying in today makes me feel like I’m in A Room With a View. Though I don’t have such a room.  My view:

Very Spanish, no? It used to be a private home; it is now a pension run  by the son of the family.

I took a nap until 3:00PM, then walked into town. There are a  ton of 13th and 14th century buildings to visit in Padron, but I didn’t want to tire out my legs before tomorrow’s trek. I had a siesta-time cafe Americano in a cafe near this monument:

Then I sat in a park to read, as dinner will be at about 7:30, which means a meal of  tapas, since a real evening meal starts at 8:30 or 9:00 PM. I want to get an early start tomorrow. 

(Seven teenagers just decided to sir near me and smoke, so I had to change benches to avoid the fumes. Even after moving, I can still smell the pot smoke. 🤦🏻‍♀️)

Last night I had a lovely plate of Pepitos, a small, mild, green pepper that is seared and salted. They say one out of ten is hot, and I have been the recipient of that one!

I will save my reflections on this trip til I am ensconced in Santiago.  I will tell you now that I’m very happy I came here.  My soul feels fed right now.