Real day 7 – Sunday, October 18
Walked from Villafranca Del Bierzo / Albergue de la Piedra to Vega de Valcerce / Albergue Magdalena. Fine Albergue with great hospitalier, Matthew, who roasted chestnuts over an open fire for us, that evening.

Day 8 – Monday, October 19
It was raining when we woke in Vega de Valcerce / Magdelina so we took a taxi to O Cebreiro. We hung around there for a few hours but the rain kept up so we took another taxi to Alto do Poio / Albergue Santa Maria de Poio. Not much of a walking day. Here’s what we saw all day – taken from the front door of our Albergue of the one across the street.

Day 9 – Tuesday, October 20
Alto do Poio / Albergue Santa Maria de Poio – woke up to fog but no rain so we walked to a small bar at Meso Betularia and called another taxi (to avoid steep knee and hip damaging terrain something that’s as important to avoid as blisters – especially for bodies as seasoned as ours) to Tricastela. Walked from there, blessed by the sun to Samos / Albergue Domus Itineris.

Day 10 – Wednesday, October 21
Walked from Samos / Domus Itineris to Saria / Cristal hotel – almost 17 kms through lovely countryside – lots of cows and valleys (that’s code for way too much up and down).

Day 11 – Thursday, October 22
Walked from Sarria / Cristal Hotel to Mercadoiri / La bodeguina de Mercadoiri then taxied to Portomarin / Albergue El Caminante. Another long day – 18kms walking with a lot of new peregrino friends who join now it’s less then 100 kms to Santiago de Compostala.