Tui to Porrino

Today will be the real test.  I have decided to walk half stages according to the guidebook.  That shortens the distance and gets me away from the crowds, if there are crowds.  After the first few weeks of this camino, ten people would be a crowd. The day started cool and foggy.

Leaving Tui, pilgrims have an encouraging sign about their progress.  Bom Caminho looks and sounds like Portuguese but this is Spain so it's Galician, which is closer to Portuguese than Spanish.  The "nh" in Portuguese is the same sound as the "ll" in Spanish, i.e. "y".  The distance to Santiago is 114 kilometers which is about 70 miles.

These structures are all over Spain and Portugal.  They were used for washing clothes.  There is always fresh water flowing into the tank from a spring.  I can imagine they were once the social center of every village.

Here is the man himself, Santiago, St. James, in his traditional pilgrim garb: a floppy hat with a scallop shell attached, a long wool coat and a staff with a drinking gourd tied to the top.  

A roadside shrine.  Similar to the descansos in New Mexico which mark the place that someone died.  These seem to be found at crossroads and are more of a reminder for the faithful.

The alburgue in Porrino.  It has 50 beds in three dormitories.  The government of Galicia has built these just for pilgrims on the Camino Portuguese, Frances and del Norte.  They are beautiful, clean and well-organized but often somewhat lacking in heart and soul.  Good news - I feel fine.