last day and return trip
E hatisitsoe: 15.05.2018
Ngolisa ho Newsletter
the night before, we were at a pulperia. to our surprise, we received our food before 8 pm. only when we asked for it did we receive the menu for pilgrims. so we had pulpe (squid) as the main course (secondo plate), for appetizers I had small peppers bathed in olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt. a dessert couldn't be missing either, so I had (homemade) rice pudding. something different for once.
we slept in a hostel with eight-bed rooms.
since the day apparently was going to be tiring, although we weren't sure, we cooked pasta with carrots and sausages beforehand and packed it in a plastic bag. we went to bed at 10 pm. unfortunately, with interruptions because there was a celebration in the alley. so not much sleep.
before arriving in Santiago, we also planned to go to Monte do Gozo. on the hill in the village before, we heated our pre-cooked lunch with the remaining gas. now we got a second stamp at the church of Monte do Gozo. at the monument, we saw the cathedral in Santiago for the first time.
the descent to Santiago is very steep. once we reached the bottom, cyclists have to take a strange route with many slopes to get into Santiago. finding the pilgrim office was difficult because the old office is listed in the guidebook. so we looked for and found the new one.
afterwards, we went to a café (and had tortilla) to warm up because a cyclist pilgrim had a problem with his Ortlieb bags. unfortunately, my bags don't fit with his. but he thanked me for my help.
we move on. we want to take the bike on the bus to the airport since the hostel is not far away. but unfortunately, the bus driver says we can't do that. so we'll have to ride another hour and go up 150 meters. in drizzle.
arrival at the supposed "albergue." but that was the wrong address. it's called "casa." it's almost the same. I use the phone in the supposed albergue. luckily no one sees me. when I check it with Google Maps, I realize it's two houses further down...
we are kindly welcomed. it's cold inside, but the owner makes a fire. after paying, we go shopping in the store across the street, and then we cook. incorrect cordon bleu (frozen) with leftover pasta from the house supply, carrots with peas and onions.
I thought we were alone, but I find more people in the house. a German and an Italian. he speaks German. I cook with him and discuss bicycle pilgrims on the regular walking route. it's a hot topic, as you know.
dinner by the fire with wine is very cozy and rounds off our pilgrimage wonderfully.
we pack for the flight (no liquids in hand luggage), then I take a shower and shave for civilization. we go to bed at 10 pm.
the alarm is set for 05:20 am and it works. everything is packed on the bike. some chocolate milk. and off we go on the bike. after 15 minutes, we're already at the airport. we take the bikes apart and have them packed in boxes for 17.50 euros per bike. check-in is easy. before that, a brief conversation with a bicycle pilgrim in French. he and his wife made 250 km from Porto to Santiago in 6 days with rental bikes. security check is also smooth. a coffee with a sandwich helps pass the time while waiting. then the well-organized EasyJet boarding. unfortunately, we have to wait 45 minutes on the plane because of Marseille...
arrival in Geneva at 12 pm. then we pick up the car and load the bikes in the "bring and kiss zone" - that's what the zone is called - and off we go home.
we slept in a hostel with eight-bed rooms.
since the day apparently was going to be tiring, although we weren't sure, we cooked pasta with carrots and sausages beforehand and packed it in a plastic bag. we went to bed at 10 pm. unfortunately, with interruptions because there was a celebration in the alley. so not much sleep.
before arriving in Santiago, we also planned to go to Monte do Gozo. on the hill in the village before, we heated our pre-cooked lunch with the remaining gas. now we got a second stamp at the church of Monte do Gozo. at the monument, we saw the cathedral in Santiago for the first time.
the descent to Santiago is very steep. once we reached the bottom, cyclists have to take a strange route with many slopes to get into Santiago. finding the pilgrim office was difficult because the old office is listed in the guidebook. so we looked for and found the new one.
after waiting for 2.5 hours, pilgrim's patience, we finally received the pilgrim certificate. a coffee while waiting warmed us up a bit. it was just as cold inside as it was outside. in the pilgrim office, the man calmly asked me how my pilgrimage went. I am not prepared for that. so I spontaneously said to him, "good!" he found some nice stamps and said my pilgrimage was now complete. somehow I'm a bit sad.
afterwards, we went to a café (and had tortilla) to warm up because a cyclist pilgrim had a problem with his Ortlieb bags. unfortunately, my bags don't fit with his. but he thanked me for my help.
we move on. we want to take the bike on the bus to the airport since the hostel is not far away. but unfortunately, the bus driver says we can't do that. so we'll have to ride another hour and go up 150 meters. in drizzle.
arrival at the supposed "albergue." but that was the wrong address. it's called "casa." it's almost the same. I use the phone in the supposed albergue. luckily no one sees me. when I check it with Google Maps, I realize it's two houses further down...
we are kindly welcomed. it's cold inside, but the owner makes a fire. after paying, we go shopping in the store across the street, and then we cook. incorrect cordon bleu (frozen) with leftover pasta from the house supply, carrots with peas and onions.
I thought we were alone, but I find more people in the house. a German and an Italian. he speaks German. I cook with him and discuss bicycle pilgrims on the regular walking route. it's a hot topic, as you know.
dinner by the fire with wine is very cozy and rounds off our pilgrimage wonderfully.
we pack for the flight (no liquids in hand luggage), then I take a shower and shave for civilization. we go to bed at 10 pm.
the alarm is set for 05:20 am and it works. everything is packed on the bike. some chocolate milk. and off we go on the bike. after 15 minutes, we're already at the airport. we take the bikes apart and have them packed in boxes for 17.50 euros per bike. check-in is easy. before that, a brief conversation with a bicycle pilgrim in French. he and his wife made 250 km from Porto to Santiago in 6 days with rental bikes. security check is also smooth. a coffee with a sandwich helps pass the time while waiting. then the well-organized EasyJet boarding. unfortunately, we have to wait 45 minutes on the plane because of Marseille...
arrival in Geneva at 12 pm. then we pick up the car and load the bikes in the "bring and kiss zone" - that's what the zone is called - and off we go home.
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