Day 28: Triacastela to Barbadelo

All was quiet in the dormitory... and it was after 6:00am! And it stayed all quiet in the dormitory until about 7:15am, when a few people started to move. I've never come across that before, so I don't know what was going on

Bye Triacastela...
The walk today was delightful - the path wandering up and down and around through the forest...
...every so often diverting through a village
I was sorry to miss the 6th century monastery in Samos, but I figured my shin would appreciate the lowered km count - it would have been a 6 or 7km diversion

What does an abandoned village church look like?
Inside?
What are these on the roof?
The slate walls are here to stay...
... except when a tree gets involved
It was interesting to see slate buildings in the villages, some with and some without mortar

I made it to Sarria, which is where many people start the Camino. It's the second most popular starting place after St Jean Pied-de-Port, the reason being that it is just a bit over 100km to Santiago, and 100km is the minimum distance you need to walk to qualify for a Compostela, the official certificate confirming the completion of a pilgrimage to Santiago
Another ruin 
Multi-storey cemetery...
Leaving Sarria, the path suddenly switched to being between a river and a railway line, and the bird song was back
Elevated motorway in the distance
And then after a climb... the best albergue ever! This is the chill-out room, complete with keyboard, guitar, ukulele, books to swap or take away, board games etc
Obviously the whole place had been recently renovated, so had modern fittings but retained charm

An outdoor garden to sit in, a 'spa' with very cold water to dangle your feet in, and an 18th century mini-chapel - what's not to like?
Did I mention the pilgrims' meal in the garden?

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