Santiago to Faro

The half day in Santiago quite enough, the ancient energy of the Hospedario San Martin, with its pilgrim rooms in the eaves where monks once slept, palpable, the common spaces shared with posher pilgrims paying €60 ... their chance to mingle with the middle way peregrinos paying €25, even with the abundant breakfast double the price of nearby albergues ... meanwhile, on the streets, other wanderers washed up here, wondering what to do next ... panhandling alongside the local beggars ...

If the Camino is Life concentrated, the economic game is highlighted here too, with scores of bars and restaurants offering pilgrim menus in the historic centre, yet strangely none found focusing on vegetarian or vegan diets ... plenty of octopus though ... and whilst pilgrims have the chance to play the money game lightly, the business folks do too ... some clearly concerned with profits, others seeming sincere in their smiles and allowing the income to follow ... customers may measure and seek bargains, gorge on special offers, take too much wine at lunchtime (a common trap for this blogger and post-prandial plodder) ... or accept the games, keep it simple, be grateful, smile ...

Porto bus quick ... over the border without stopping ... passing towns previously walked ... body grateful not to be trying this trip today .. . brief stops at Pontevedra, Vigo, Brags, Porto Airport and finally to the bus station at Casa la Musica, leaving a decent walk in the Sun, armed with map and simple directions, to Sao Bento Station in plenty of time for the 15.47 express train to Faro ... and lunch first ...

Train fast and comfortable past Coimbra, Lisbon, through the Alentejo in the dark ... finally to Faro, with nothing booked, a late aimless wander to stretch the legs and eventually a rather trendy boutique hotel, with the very friendly Pedro checking me in ... legs well rested and soon ready for more action ... though no more 40kms for a while ... perhaps a wander up from Porto after visiting Diogo in Coimbra ... when the weather picks up ... rain forecast for the Algarve tomorrow ...