Day 7, Viana

I had a good sleep but woke up cold. After a couple of days where I only needed the silk liner, I didn't take the sleeping bag out last night, but wish I had. Lesson learned.

We left this morning at 6:15 am from Los Arcos and have walked about 8km to Torres del Rio. Lasse and I ate eggs and toast for breakfast at the albergue, while Esther is having a bocadillo (sandwich) here. And of course, Fresh OJ. This is a very pleasant location for a break with our shoes off. We are just joined by David from North Dakota, he is a priest.

About 7 am, en route to Viana, we stopped to capture the sunrise behind us.

There are lots of memorials along the way. Of course, with no details, but this one included a Canadian flag, so I snapped a photo. We passed a large array of rock memorials, mostly hand-printed inspirational messages held down by rocks, sometimes written on bar receipts, I noted.

About 3 km from Viana, we came across two buskers who were playing for tips and we stopped to listen for a moment.

It was quite a way (10k) between Torres del Rio and Viana, so there were a few food trucks and such as well. I bought a few cookies by donation and shared with Lasse.

Just a little before Viana, I snapped Lasse with this way marker. Esther and I had been commenting on something odd that Lasse hadn't noticed. No matter which direction the arrow was pointing the way, the walking pilgrim image is always facing the opposite direction. I cannot understand it.

Until today, the paths were often empty. Today was a totally different story with many more Peregrinos. And there were a wider variety of nationalities today as well.

It was hazy / cloudy all day, making it much cooler than yesterday. In fact it was only 24 by the time we arrived in Viana at 11:30 am.

As expected, Esther and Lasse continued on to Logrono this afternoon, not wanting to stop for a short day. Esther needs to arrive in Santiago about 5 days earlier than me. And Lasse is flying home the day after tomorrow. So I am alone in Viana.

I've made plans to meet with Lasse for breakfast in Logrono at 9. We exchanged phone & email details, so I will enjoy seeing him again before he returns to Denmark. I told Esther we would see her in Budapest and keep in touch via email. They are both following my blog and they will send me emails & pictures.

I am checked into a very nice albergue with lockers! nice showers and comfy-looking bunk beds. Happily I have a bottom bunk on the same floor as the bathroom.

I've just eaten some bread and sausage and an orange, but it won't be enough, so I am off to explore Viana (pop 4000) on my own. This is a relatively large town for today, having passed through Sansol (pop 10) and Terros del Rio (pop 150).

Beautiful pink sky

Camino buskers

Esther, Lasse, and David

Shoes off at the break

Canadian memorial

Stone memorial

Hiker points the wrong way

David showing his Camino skills

View from the park behind Viana albergue