Day 38 - Triacastela to Sarria

144 km to Santiago de Compostela

We got up early and walked in the dark for half an hour.  Sunrise was awesome, Brenda saw the Milky Way.  I guess in the mountains and away from any cities we can see the night sky much better.

Of course we had another climb.  This time was 310 metres.  We passed the village of San Xil (San Gil) and finally reached the alto Riocabo (peak Riocabo).

By now the sun was up, a marvellous day, lots of pilgrims in the Camino many of them we knew.  Now down the 300 metres, sometimes it feels like we are digging a hole just to have to fill it up again,  up and down, by noon we arrived to Pintin.  The first town with a restaurant in over 10 km. The place was full of pilgrims.  We ordered lunch, a sandwich of chorizo and eggs (delicious).  We sat at a table with Marie, a young German girl, very interesting gal, 20 years old speaks fluent Spanish, English and has traveled the world, many countries in Asia and Latin America.

After lunch the heat arrived, 23 C, but wallking in the sun with the backpacks it felt like 30C.  We walked for a other 3 hours but today we felt both very tired and I had very sore feet.

We decided to spoil ourselves by staying in the best hotel in town, the Alfonso IX.  It really was not more expensive than some hostels we have stayed in.  I think he gave us a special pilgrim rate.

The story related to king Alfonso IX, as in the hotel name, is that he died here, in Sarria, in the XIV century during his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.  It is incredible the number of pilgrims who die in el Camino.  We have seen innumerable number of crosses marking the places where pilgrims have died.  There is talk that a pilgrim died this year in the Pyrenees.  May all of them rest in peace.

A walk in town and dinner outside at a cafe.  While we were eating our friends from yesterday, Emiliano y Eliza (Spanish and Brazilian) went by, they were planning to walk another 5 km.

Mass at the church of Santa Mariña at 6 pm is for pilgrims.  Today there was a group of around 30 teens lead by a young priest that start their pilgrimage tomorrow.  The kids were very impressed when they found out we started in the Pyrenees and I really like showing off with 15 year old girls.  It was very nice to see so many young people at church and very excited about their pilgrimage.

Sarria is a common starting point for pilgrims.  There is a requirement to walk a minimum of 100 km to get a Compostela, a certificate of a Pilgrim, thus, many pilgrims start here, 110 km from Santiago de Compostela.  El Camino should be a lot busier from now on.  Sarria, with 13000 people, is the largest town on el Camino in Galicia.  From now we will find mostly small villages.

Our Lady of Sorrows, it is appropriate now that we are close to Easter that we think of you, our mother Mary, it is very difficult to imagine how you suffered the last days of your son and Our Lord Jesus.  Mother Mary pray for us.