Day 6, Azinhaga - Tomar

15,12km (out of 36,1km)

22507 steps

New Compeeds on the old blisters

Yesterday we had amazing dinner at the hostel with and older pilgrim couple from England. We had very good conversations over the dinner and we were seemingly happy.

After the dinner I had conversations with the Italian guy sharing our dormitory with us and we figured we'd be leaving the same time in the morning. It was very nice as we were able to turn on the lights and didn't have to sneak around in complete silence.

We woke up extra early, at 5:00 and started walking at 5:30. The sun was still below horizon when we got out of the gate. We walked together for an hour or so before the Italian decided to go his own pace. We waved goodbye and I was pretty sure we wouldn't see him again.

Around nine we stopped for breakfast on the outskirts of Golega. We had done good speed for the morning and were pretty happy to find a decent breakfast place for ourselves.

We sat there looking at the horses across the street. They were tied on to trailers and they looked very healthy. We had been joking about getting a horse to carry us and our stuff so we were actually having a long discussion in which one we'd take.

After a while we realized there was people sleeping on the mattresses behing the trailers and we can only assume that it was a proper gipsy camp. We had a good laugh when we realized that we probably could've bought one of the horses if we wanted. ...it would've been kinda hilarious to go home and try explaining to my landlord why there's a horse living in the inner yard of the apartment block.

We continued following the misleading arrows to Golega and were surprised when we met the Italian walking towards us. He told us that we were lost and not on the Camino. We made a u-turn and after consulting several maps and people we found our way out of the city and were back on the Camino.

The Italian had stayed in Golega for a "20 minute party". He was telling us how he found some kind of a festival there and ended up drinking sangria there. He was only a few minutes before us and we were wondering. It took a while for us to understand that he had actually found a festival in the tiny village before 8 in the Sunday Morning. But yes, he was in a festive mood and we walked together for another hour or so.

Soon after the Italian went his way we sat down in an albergue on the way for a cup of coffee. I got a ride to Tomar from the man running the albergue and S continued her way walking.

After I left the backpacks to the hostel I roamed around the city for a while, had my coffee at the central square and enjoyed the heat. Around one I went back to the hostel and did a long yoga for once. I was doing it in the common area of the hostel and there was people coming in and going out all the time, but I'm proud I managed to keep my focus in the yoga instead of concentrating on what was happening around me.

#CaminodeSantiago #CaminoPortugueseCosta #CaminoPortuguese #Camino #pilgrimwithadragontattoo