Albergueria to Xunqueira de Ambia to Ourense:
We departed Albergueria with still cloudy skies. In fact, I dragged my fingertip on an outdoor table to find it coated with red sand from the Sahara.
Before leaving I found my shell from 5 years earlier on the wall across from my dorm bed.
The walk early was downhill 7.5K through rolling hills covered in pine trees to Vilar de Barrio where we stopped at the friendly Bar Ruta de la Plata for tea. Then mostly flat and then up and down 16K to Xunqueira de Ambia and cozy, inexpensive Hostal Casa Tomas.
The plaza with the Church of Santa Maria a Real was a pleasant place to have a drink before checking into the Hostal. The village was nice and quiet.
Xunqueria de Ambia to Ourense:
Beautiful sunny morning as red sand of the Sahara has settled and the skies are bright blue. Most of the walk was on the road as we made our way about 27K to Ourense.
The Cathedral de San Martin was founded in 550. The present structure dates to 1220 and is mostly Gothic. It is beautiful and worth a stop.
The entrance or Portal of Paradise is spectacularly enriched with colored figures of angels and saints.
Then on to the train station as we need to abort our pilgrimage for the second time due to some meetings in Santiago.
Tough to leave a Camino early. A first for me but there is always tomorrow. And a big hug to our Dutch friends Bo and Mariska who we met and walked with in a seamless fashion after a 5 year absence. One of the most beautiful essences of the Camino.
