San Xulian do Camino

On Sunday the mist lay heavy at 6:30 a.m. when we left the Xunta. 

The trail led through thick forests with leafy canopies and Middle Earth groves.

Cows out for breakfast 

Between two Als -- "Coach Al" and "Al the Optomist," an English pilgrim who has walked many Camino routes and contributes regularly to the Camino de Santiago Forum run by Ivar. I recognized Al from his member photo.

A double horreo

An overgrown laundry washing station 

St. James commands in Palas de Rei, a larger town where we took a bar break. There seemed to be more albergues and bars/restaurants here since we passed through in 2011.

A thumbs up to the "Menu Peregrino" at a Palas de Rei restaurant 

An albergue's bedding is drying before the next pilgrim crowd arrives.

Never ending flowers

Mom and daughter walkers Denise and Sophia are from New Orleans. Denise is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and had worked for Spain's tourism department. Sophia just graduated with a photography degree from the Art Institute in San Francisco.

Sophia's nails show 'Camino spirit'!

Rather then staying in larger towns, we've been finding albergues in small villages, which exude a charming rural pace (but sometimes have spotty wifi).

Dad settles in with the iPad at the albergue O Abrigadoiro in San Xulian do Camino.

Shaking off flies 

The 12th c. iglesia includes a cemetery, which is a typical feature of village churches in Spain.

The pilgrim's meal was the best one we've had thus far and prepared with extra flair -- it included soup, ensalada, tortilla, y chocolate mousse. Other walkers were from Spain, Germany, Italy, Quebec, and 3 sisters from Flint, Michigan -- one taught Spanish at Grand Valley State, another taught at a girl's school in Flint, and the last lived in Rome as part of a lay order.