Days 7 and 8 - A Fonsagrada to Lugo - 58 kms

Day 7 - A Fonsagrada to Castroverde (34 kms)

Day 8 - Castroverde to Lugo (24 kms) 

Hola amigos 

Another two fabulous days on Camino Primitivo. 

Sorry about no update from yesterday (Monday). We (Dominique, Maurice Chevalier and I) had a long and challenging day with the last of our steep climbs and descents and some steady rain for the last few hours just to keep us on our toes. We arrived in the Albergue around 5.30, quite a bit later than usual, in wet and muddy clothes and shoes that needed some attention. 

The distance between villages, and the options for accommodation, meant we had to do one 30+ day on either Monday or Tuesday. So we chose to make the long day on Monday so we would arrive in Lugo by early afternoon today with plenty of time to explore and enjoy the old town. Tonight I'm sending through an extra post just with photos from Lugo. 

Jill and I did a similar program on the Camino Frances when we were coming in to Leon, making sure we had a short walk in (18 kms from memory) so we could enjoy as much time as possible in The Parador, and strolling around the town of course!  Our Pensione Alba in Lugo is no Parador, but it's a welcome change from the albergues - even though they have been of a high standard these past three or four days, it's nice to have some peace and quiet, and your own space. Not to mention your own bathroom. 

The last two days also saw a fairly dramatic change in scenery. On Monday, just a few kilometres before A Fonsagrada, we entered the region of Galicia, leaving the mountains of Asturias behind us. For me the beauty of the first week was on a grand scale that sometimes took my breath away. Now the beauty is in the detail - the unexpected gems around the next corner. The next four days in to Santiago will be leisurely by comparison to our time in Asturias. Expect to see peaceful county roads and well trodden dirt paths through eucalyptus groves and small stone villages. 

And we can expect to see many more peregrinos in a few days time, when the Camino Primitivo joins the Camino Frances at Melide, about 50 kms from Santiago. Even with the expectation, I think it may be a bit of shock. Time will tell. 

Time to sign off. Dominque and I are meeting Maurice in front of the cathedral at 7.30. We'll find a tapas bar and enjoy a farewell dinner with Monsieur Chevalier, as he returns to Dublin tomorrow. He has been a lot of fun and I sure we will miss him on The Way tomorrow. 

Hi to everyone and special thank you to Mike, Jan, Sara, Cathryn and Ray, Helen C and Helen (Mum) for being in touch. So nice to hear from you. Muchas gracias. 

Hasta luego

J x