Yesterday was rest day in O Barco. We took it easy, walked around town, did some shopping for supplies (because today is Sunday when all the stores are closed, tomorrow we have a very long stage without any places to buy food). The hot afternoon brought lots of people out on the long grassy park along the river bank.
Evening was the wine fair. This is an up-and-coming wine region, specializing in Mencia (red) and Godello (white) varieties. The fair was set up in a square in town, with booths all around for the different wineries. Five euros bought us wine glasses and tickets for as many tastings as we could manage.
This couple's winery (Bodega Santa Marta) has made the first sparkling wines in the region. Very tasty.
At the same time, a number of blocks away, the local truck drivers had their own fiesta going, with decked out trucks (they cruised through town a few times blasting their horns), a Mexican band on a stage, and dancing.
Today's stage from O Barco to A Rua was short, only about 14 km, and very mellow. We continued following the Sil river valley.
Lots of vineyards and wineries.
Just as we entered A Rua, and were standing deciding which way to go, we ran into one of the vineyard proprietors we'd talked with the previous night. He remembered us and said hi. Gave us some great pointers about where to go and best places to eat in town. We headed up a path to the private albergue, which is run by a woman named Asun who is also an official of the local Camino group. What a delight. We were brought into her home as houseguests. After we dropped our packs, we walked into town for the mid-day meal. When we returned, we washed up and then sat in the courtyard (below) for a bit to write and journal. Asun asked to interview us for a radio show the Camino association puts on. We ended up talking for several hours, about all kinds of things. They are trying to grow pilgrim traffic on this camino a bit (not too much).
I am considering this route in September because the international road bike championships will be taking place in Ponferrada (Sept 20-28) while I am nearby. I thought a quieter route might be in order. Could you tell me what the loose dog situation has been like? Now that the route is being used more, has that issue been handled? I'll be totally alone so I don't need that hassle.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very lightly traveled camino, which we appreciate. Even though the numbers have been growing the last few years, you are unlikely to encounter other pilgrims.
We've run into loose and barking dogs in every village, but none have been even remotely threatening to us.
I've also been posting more about the route and our impressions, geared more toward other pilgrims, on the Camino Forum at http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-de-invierno.79/.
Buen camino.
Dan