Vigo to Redondela 15kms
Total distance 193kms

A huge difference on the Camino today. There are about ten times as many people walking. Vigo is a popular starting point for people with limited time who just want to do the last 100km to Santiago. They of course are fresh, keen, noisy and excited and walk much faster than we who have been on the trail for longer.  There is a difference in age make up as well. Previously the majority of pilgrims were of about our age. Now there is a much broader age spread with a lot of young ones in their twenties. We walked with a group of three couples from Galway Ireland. Yesterday, Saturday, they had flown from Galway to Santiago and then got a taxi to Vigo. Today they started their pilgrimage back to Santiago and will finish next Saturday and fly home Sunday. So a weeks annual leave and they can walk 100km of the Camino Portuguese. So easy when you live in Europe.

Yet another foggy morning as we left Vigo. The first five kilometres were slightly uphill through residential areas before we reached a ridge. From there it was flat, through woodland on a dirt trail, so it was very easy walking. There should have been nice views down to the coast but we couldn’t see much. There was a large, elegant suspension bridge carrying the motorway over the River Vigo but we couldn’t see it till later in the morning when it emerged from the fog. Walking through the forest was perhaps the most pleasant part of this trip so far.

This morning we met up again with one of our new friends, Kathy. We hadn’t seen her for a day or two because we had rest days in different locations. Her walking companion, Aussi Rosemary, left the Camino today and took the train to Madrid. Kathy is a straight talking lady from New York.  She is one of those people who can strike up a conversation with anyone, anytime and she lets you know exactly what is on her mind. She is walking on crutches as she does not have quads on one leg. We don’t know why. She hasn’t said and we haven’t asked. She gets along very well but sometimes if the path is too rough or steep she will take a bus or taxi. As they say, everyone walks their own Camino.

Our hotel in Redondela is right in the heart of town and right on the Camino path. It doesn’t have a lift and we are up in an attic room, but it does have a nice little roof terrace. The terrace has free tea, coffee and cake, a microwave, a clothes washer and dryer. After a day on the Camino and we are feeling a little tired and sore, it is lovely sitting up there in the warm evening looking out over the roof tops. We know exactly what Carol King was feeling when she wrote Up on the Roof.

When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof, it’s peaceful as can be
And there the world below can’t bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin’ tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowd
And all that rat-race noise down in the street (up on the roof)
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let’s go up on the roof (up on the roof)
At night the stars put on a show for free
And, darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-tellin’ you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I’ve found a paradise that’s trouble proof (up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There’s room enough for two
Up on the roof (up on the roof)
Up on the roo-oo-oof (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, baby (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, honey (up on the roof)
Everything is all right (up on the roof)