Day 8: O Porriño to Redondela - Saturday, October 1, 2011

Sun rising over Igrexa de Santa Baia de Mos

This was to be another short day - we just wanted to reach Redondela. Our first stop was a very friendly cafe come shop opposite the albergue in Mos. We had again linked up with Hari minutes earlier and he joined us for coffee.

Coming up the hill to the cafe I was greeted with a very warm 'buenos dias' from a man I took go be a local. Chatting to him later in the shop I found that he had perfect English, spoken with an American accent. He turned out to be a Bolivian who had spent much of his life in southern California and was visiting his sister who lived in Mos.

Along the way
We had a bit climbing to do after that which ensured that the Iranians caught up with us. We chatted for a while before everyone returned to their own pace.

One more stop for refreshments brought us into Redondela and another fine albergue in the town centre. My only complaint was that it was a bit cramped but I think every bed was needed that night. Many Spaniards seemed to be on the Camino for the weekend.

We were in Redondela in time for lunch and were served much too generous bocadillos at the Cafe Bar Central close to the albergue. Afterwards the owner wanted to know where we were from and when he heard Ireland he took us over to show us a photograph hanging on the wall of another Central Bar, this one in some unnamed town in Co. Donegal.

Back near Mos, Hari diverted to Vigo Airport to meet his daughter, Marika, who was going to walk with him for the remainder of the Camino. We met Marika for the first time in the Redondela albergue.

It was Saturday evening and we wanted to get to Mass which was scheduled for 8:30pm, which was awkward. Finding a restaurant to have dinner before that time was difficult and waiting until afterwards would see us locked out of the albergue. We had to make do with a pizza in a fastfood restaurant.

It wasn't the albergue's fault but it turned out to be a very noisy place. I normally fall asleep immediately, but not this time. A festival in the town resulted in much merriment in the vicinity of the albergue. That seemed to be accompanied by a couple of stationary motorbikes being revved up interminably. I eventually got to sleep but others told me that the noise continued into the early hours.

Redondela albergue

Party time in Redondela

19th century rail viaduct in Redondela

River scene

Next: Our Day 9 - Redondela to Pontevedra

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