Narone, Espana

One of the gifts for us in this kind of travel is relinquishing our desire to have everything mapped out for us so we know what to expect each day. We have walked over 2,500 miles on these trails and have found that at the end of each day, we will be okay. We will be safe and protected one way or another. It is a reminder for us that all our days are this way. No matter what comes along, we are good. That said, we decided not to book rooms except for our arrival in Ferrol and to see where our journey would lead us.

Our place in Ferrol, El Suizo, was fantastic. The staff gave us some great recommendations on visiting sites while in town. When we left Ferrol, we asked our hotel if they could make any recommendations for the next place we would stay. Lores made a few calls and told us nothing was available in Neda, our next destination. She called a friend in the next city, and he had a room available, and we were set. Narone is a slight detour from our route, but it was a perfect walk and a delightful place for us to stay.

We enjoyed an early night out and a pilgrim’s dinner, which meant we could eat by 7:30. Without many other pilgrims in town, many people stopped us along the way to share their own experiences. We were happy to be back in Spain.

When it came time to leave, we once again asked for a recommendation for a place to stay in the next town. Our host made a call, and we were set for Pontedehueme. We would do this every evening and found that we stayed at the best places and were off the beaten path.

We have noted a few changes since COVID. A lot of people were still on the trail at a time when things usually slow down. Everyone we met had pre-booked, and most had luggage services. We were among the older walkers, and it was nice to see so many younger people enjoying the walk. We are learning there were many ways to make this walk easier and still keep some authenticity to it. A little of the spontaneity may have been lost with our nightly bookings, but at the end of a long day, we knew just where to rest our tired feet.

We are getting back into the rhythm of walking and moving forward each day. Walking from village to village is a bit hard but exhilarating. There is much for me to learn on these stunning walks.

Buen Camino. You are loved…