Camino Frances - Sarria to Santiago - Day 9

9km, 20k steps

Cooler and cloudier this morning, then sun all afternoon. Good walking weather 😁

Another short day and we arrived at 12:30, having had a lazy morning and the last to leave the Albergue in O Pedrouzo. We were right about the snorer, but luckily he quieted after a while. Steve was woken about 2am by chanters walking by outside. All kinds of pilgrims doing their own thing.

We stopped just once at the second bar in San Paio, which was much quieter and had better and cheaper beer/food than the first bar where everyone stopped. There was a sign attached to a tree just before we arrived that announced there were 2 bars, which we believe would have been put there by the second bar owner in hope for more business. Worked for us.

Views from the path

The crema is helping with the bite itch, but my legs are still getting redder and more swollen/hot.

Coincidentally, we are staying in San Paio albergue, after having no room at the inn at our first two choices. It's ok here. We have a private room with a bathroom and a good shower and three single beds. Extra bed means we have an extra pillow and extra towels, so that's nice.

Not many food options, possibly because it's the feast day of St James (after whom the Camino de Santiago is named). We ended up having the menu de dia at the overpriced restaurant in our albergue. Steve was ok with his meal (potato salad, penne Bolognese, mostly melted ice cream), but I was not impressed with the amount of vinegar on my starter salad - the lettuce and tomato were fresh, but it was floating in an extra 1/4 cup of vinegar; my fish and boiled potatoes were swimming in tasteless oil. The wine was good and the dessert was good, but too sweet for me.

The halls of the Albergue feature various Camino and Galacian maps, which I like; especially the Portuguese Camino map, since I plan to walk that next summer.