Padron, Galicia

Caldas de Reis to Padron

Distance: 18.5ks

Other peregrinos seen: 30-40

Weather: sunshine and breeze, perfect walking weather (20-25 degrees)

It felt good getting back on the trail again today. We left early morning before the sun became too hot. This week is a special week in Galicia, it is an entire week dedicated to the The Feast of The Apostle and there are a range of local fiesta's in each town, when we reach Santiago de Compostela there will be a big concert and fiesta in the plaza. 

 We walked  alongside streams and through small woodlands. Not too much road walking today but as we get closer to Santiago this will change.

Alongside the trail are small alottments, water fonts and plenty of grapevines.  It is intersting  to see so many peregrinos today,  groups of school and uni students on summer hols. We met a lovely Austrian couple in the late 70's walking along hand in hand and we chatted   to a '20-something' chap from Germany, its so interesting hearing a range of  views and concerns  on the state European and world politics! Naturally there is very real concern about all the terrible terrorist acts and Spanish police have today announced a further step up in security at all tourist hot spots.

We crossed the River Sar and mid stream we saw the two biggest schools of fish ever seen in a river.

 The pics on our little snappy cam don't show the fish very well but there would have been  approx 500 fish in each school. They looked like trout but they could be a Euorpean Perch? There were some really big beauties there but nobody was fishing.

It is said Padron is where St James came up river by boat and preached in the beautiful countryside  long before he was killed and his body brought back to Santiago and then Santiago de Compostela Cathedral becoming the pilgrimage site for so many.  There is a small hike up to a hill with some fantastic ruins....I feel a sculpture of the day coming on, just need to get up that hill.