Palas de Rei to Melide

June  14th - Palas de Rei to Melide
Another hot day making our short walk of 13 or 14 kilometers seem much longer. I think now that the end is in sight we are starting to realize that we're tired in a way that one night of sleep is not going to solve. Even though we're past all the large mountains our days still involve a lot of  ups and downs. Our villages today included Sn Juliàn, Outeiro da Ponte, Pontecampaña, Casanova, Mato, O Coto and a lovely little spot just over an old Roman bridge called Furelos. I notice however that I hardly ever take pictures of the towns - just the rocks and trees and weeds and things. You just can't take the country out of the girl it seems.

 I could have looked at this reflection for hours.

 I'm totally in love with the intricate shapes of the old oak trees which never seem to show up as well in my pictures as in real life.

 Clearly I have a thing for rock walls.

 The little bridge at Furelos - which actually looks much better when you can see the beauty of the village on the other side.

 As my son was meeting us today to walk the last three days of the camino with me we decided to stay in the same hotel he had chosen - the Carlos 96. We were happy to see that it was at the beginning of town and it was wonderful to have an elevator take us up two floors instead of the usual walk required in an albergue. Our room was clean with fresh sheets, a bathtub and shower that no one else would use that night and was a welcome relief. After cleaning up we headed to the centre of town to eat some "pulpo" (octopus) for lunch as is the pilgrim tradition in this town of about 7500 people. We also took a look at the little church that has its door on the 10 Euro bill and at the cross which is supposedly the oldest cross on the camino, dating back to the 14th century.

When my son came we sat in the restaurant area of the bar, drinking tea, beer, wine and water according to people's preferences and chatted with a friend we had met earlier. We eventually decided to have lunch at the hotel restaurant which was only 8 Euros for soup, a half chicken and fires and dessert, plus wine, bread and water. At the end of the day the waiter made a queimada, which has a variety of traditions attached, o e of which is that it is a witches brew. It is made from grape skins, apples, oranges and grappa and maybe other alcohols and set on fire for a half hour. It's quite a dramatic sight as he lifts the spoon up high and the fire along with it. i don't know if any witchlike incantations were used. He really wanted us to taste it so we did, and as you might imagine  it is completely disgusting but a fun process to watch.

Tomorrow we will start out on the last 55 kilometers of our journey. We are both REALLY looking forward to getting home.