Samos / Sarria

I went a little further than I planned yesterday bit it was worth it. I took an alternative route that is not in mane of the guidebooks. It led me through woods along a river and it was so beautiful. It was mostly shaded so the heat wasn't much of a problem. I walked the morning with a retired couple from Belgium who I met awhile back. They're sweet. Then I was completely alone most of the afternoon until about 3k before arriving in Samos. Then I met up with a Korean woman named June.

Samos is known for the Benedictine monastery there. Its one of the largest and oldest in the world. I missed the tour because we got there so late but we got to go to mass, with vespers. These monks have voices! I find it so amazing that they dedicate their talent to God like they do.

We checked into a new albergue right across the street and it was heavenly. There were real comforters on the beds. The place I was in the night before didn't even have any blankets to offer. After a shower and laundry we went to church and then on the recommendation of the Hospitalera we went to the other  side of town to a small place for dinner. They specialize in beef. It was the best meat I've had in Spain. Just a plate of carne. Yummy. We were so full we could hardly walk back.

But when we did get back we found that we were locked out. It was after ten and we were so busy eating we missed curfew.
God was with us and when I knocked on the door of the bar next door the owner recognized us from earlier and found someone to open the door. I felt like a teenager sneaking in after curfew, lol. June and I went to the roof to collect our clothes and realized they were still wet so we snuck back downstairs to put them in the dryer. Everyone else staying there was already asleep. It was an adventure.

This morning we thanked the bar owner by having breakfast there and started off for Sarria with another friend, Julia from Germany. Since we started off late we arrived in Sarria about noon. Sarria is the starting place for many people on their pilgrimage because its the last place you can start and still receive your Compostela certificate. This means only 100k to go. There's a sense of excitement that we are nearing our goal and a sense of sadness that its almost over. Julia and I decided to stay and got the last two beds in an oasis of an albergue. It has WiFi, laundry, a garden, a place on the roof to lay in the sun, a reading room, and a fire room where they light the fireplace each night for the pilgrims. June had to keep going to keep on her schedule so we said a sad buen camino and walked her to the edge of the city.

While there, a teacher and student came up to me and asked if I had a few minutes to talk to their English class. They needed practice with a native English speaker and it was a truly neat experience for everyone.

After a bit of time relaxing on the roof I'm going to find a store for tomorrow's provisions and look around town. Dinner at seven then early to bed. Since there are so many pilgrims now we are advise that albergue fill up quickly. I'm not too worried. I know God will provide. He always does.

A fun evening of song from a group of Italians ended the night perfectly.