Thursday, March 29th

Palas de Rei - Melide

Our camper is parked next to a football field in Palas de Rei, so on Wednesday evening we will witness a Spanish men's football game without having to go out in the rain again.

On Thursday morning, we wake up to gray but dry skies. However, we learned our lesson yesterday and bought some rain capes. So we start this morning at 9:45 in the brightest colors from Palas de Rei on the Camino towards the west.

Today we only have to cover a total distance of 17 km as a daily stage, so we take it easy. We take our time, visit the small chapels, and admire the small villages and market squares. At around 11:00, we pass by a romantic village with moss-covered walls. "Everything is so incredibly green here," I say, and my gaze falls on a green door. "Even the doors." "I see a green door and I want it painted black," Conny quotes Mick Jagger at that point. Normally I would be completely ecstatic and incredibly proud of my little sister. But today her quote only evokes a smile from me. We are tired, all three of us.

Even in the weeks leading up to the trip, I suspected that the third day would be particularly difficult. I was right.

The weather kept us on our toes with recurring showers until noon. At 12:00 noon, after the first 8 kilometers, the weather finally shows mercy and we take a break. In the midst of a eucalyptus forest, we sit down and empty our lunchboxes while little sun rays flicker. Nevertheless, we quickly get cold. We are wet and decide to stop at a café today and have a warm coffee. We do this at 12:55 pm at the 58.5 km stone. We pay 5.80€ for three coffees and three pastries and are served very friendly. We sit under a green awning and talk about the passing pilgrims. Meanwhile, Petrus opens all the gates of heaven and it pours down. When the shower has passed, we happily shoulder our backpacks. But when we catch a glimpse of the small café, the euphoria quickly fades. Terribly dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. And their downpour doesn't take long. Now, despite our newly acquired rain ponchos, we are soaked and cold. At 2:15 pm, we pass the 55.5 km stone to Santiago in Melide's small industrial area. All day long, I have been suffering from pain in my left ankle joint, and now I am really struggling with my joint.

Yesterday it was Conny who said, "Today, the journey is not the destination for me. Today, I just want to arrive!" So today, it's me who has to arrive before the pain takes its toll. At 2:30 pm, we reach the city center of Melide, where the Camino Primitivo coming from the north along the coast and the Camino Francés, which we are pilgrimage on, meet.

At 2:51 pm, we then reach the 53.052 km stone and also our camper. Done for today. There is coffee and for dinner, pizza and grilled pork.

And today I can't do anything more than eat. I am exhausted and need to go to bed.

Good night!