Day 7: Tui to O Porriño - Friday, September 30, 2011
Party time in O Porriño |
We had hoped that we might be able to get breakfast on the way out
of Tui but it was not to be; our first coffee was more than 9km away.
On route we had to cross a motorway which highlighted the Spanish
approach to lavish spending on new roads. We left a minor tarred road to walk
up a dirt track and enter a forest. Round the first bend the dirt track gave
way to tarmacadam which led on to a fine new bridge over the motorway. It was
wide enough to carry at least three lanes of traffic but as soon as we were
across we were back on a forest dirt track.
A short distance further on we came to Cruceiro San Telmo. Six or
seven locals were there with a variety of implements, presumably to tidy the
site. They seemed to be bit grudging with their 'buenos dias'.
Coffee and a muffin were really appreciated when we reached
Orbenlle and it was helped by meeting up with fellow peregrinos, including for
the first time a German-based Iranian and his daughter.
Soon we were in Porrino's industrial zone which continues for a
number of kilometres. The road was shortened for a time by the company of Hari,
but we were slowing him down so we sent him on his way.
The next bit of excitement was the appearance of the Google camera
car. Whether it was recording or not remains to be seen. (I suspect not as I
have since checked Google Street View and that stretch of road has already been
covered.)
O Porriño seems to have a poor reputation because of its
industrial zone but it is in fact a delightful town. We had lunch outside a
restaurant on the main street and, soon after we finished, workmen started to
put up barriers in preparation for some sort of festival.
In the evening the town was thronged with families - walking,
eating, drinking and watching cyclists and runners compete in races around a
circuit which started and finished in the town centre. Along with Hari we we're
in among them enjoying tapas.
Comments
Post a Comment