We began our second day of walking in sandals along mostly paved roads.
The recent morning fog has been nice since the cool ocean breezes are now behind us.
Oh, and there was this wooded area that was still damp from an overnight rain. Yes, Mikey’s sandals got wet and his feet started sliding in them, but he’s not complaining. I mean, the grass is always greener…
OK, maybe that saying is true. This was just a fun stop. All the other cows were content to relax in the sun, but Bessie was HON-gry. Oh, and she doesn’t care – the heifer kept munching away and totally ignored “Pilgrim DeMille” with the camera.
But this bull was magnificent. Just look at his massive neck and chest. Mikey had to zoom in on this shot because he was going nowhere near this guy.
We naturally passed through yet another Eucalyptus forest. So Mikey checked into this seemingly ever present tree and here’s what he found: Apparently, the tree was introduced in Galicia back in the 1990’s by a catholic priest. Rural property owners were amazed by the speed in which they grew (up to 15 times faster than native trees) and began planting them throughout the countryside. The problem? A sharp decline in native species and a quick rise in this non-native flora could be negatively impacting local ecosystems.
Well, back to the Camino… Mikey saw this cute albergue village a little ways out of Abadin. (Maybe something to keep in mind for next trip! I mean, it has a pool.)
Here’s another Galician-styled hórreo. A little more modern, it is constructed with bricks that have multiple small cutouts.
Not important, but Mikey thought this school bus stop was a bit creepy. I mean, even adult Mikey cautiously approached it, looking to see if any creepy clowns were hiding inside.
Speaking of creepy – why would you do this?! Zoom in. Go ahead. That’s a fake cow. Too many questions.
And this … no, just kidding. The dog is real and he was having a really cute dream. Mikey wonders if he’s as active while dreaming as this dog was.
We made it to Vilalba in decent time considering the slower pace due to sandals. The guidebook recommended walking through the town and stopping another 20km in Baamundo, but 20km was all Mikey felt like doing today. The goal is to find some athletic tape that will keep his bandages in place and better cushion against the boot.
Naturally, we checked into the albergue and headed to the church. The Church of Saint Mary is pretty austere compared with some of the small town churches we’ve encountered thus far.
It did have a pretty neat altar, though.
This is a very well-known (regionally) sculpture of the resurrection. Not to offend, but what’s with the locks?! I mean, “insert Houdini joke,” but Mikey couldn’t stop laughing once he saw them. #foolmeonce
Moving on…Vilalba is known for its 15th century tower that was once part of an independent family’s castle. It’s now a luxury hotel.
It’s also known for its cheese – San Simon to be precise. Ivory in color and always shaped into a teardrop, this soft-ish cheese is really amazing. Mikey bought a smaller one and will probably still be working on it for a couple of days. Yum.
If not already, the town should be known for its pinchos. Mikey quickly learned that every time one orders a drink, he is offered a small snack. Given that a glass of wine was about $1, the night consisted of:
“Would you care for some mussels?”
“Please.”
“Tortilla de patata?”
“If you insist.”
“Mini-hamburger?”
“I love you!”
5€ for 5 wines and 5 different snacks? Mikey had quite the progressive dinner and slept very well, indeed. Buenas noches.
Mikey on The Way 