185 km to Santiago
The morning was crisp. We had breakfast in our room and set out into a fresh new day. The landscape shifted again – small villages returned, and our legs, still tired from previous days, demanded a gentler pace.
Vineyards once again dominated the scenery. We had our first coffee in Cacabelos, then continued through hills and rows of grapevines. A tiny chapel among the vines caught our attention. We were amazed to see that the grass between the vines was still hand-mowed.
We headed toward Pieros, walked some distance along asphalt, and finally found ourselves on the way toward Villafranca del Bierzo. By noon, we arrived in town.
First stop: beer. But soon, an odd tension filled the bars. We learned that there had been a power outage. At first, we thought it was local – but no, almost all of Spain and even parts of Portugal were without electricity.
All our plans – washing clothes, cooking a meal – fell apart.
We searched for accommodation. The alberques were already full due to reservations, so we managed to find a double room at market price. We also needed food. Bars were only serving drinks and cold tapas. Thankfully, we found a store and stocked up.
My phone was completely dead. Exhausted beyond words, I collapsed into sleep. Ive wandered a little longer, but soon he, too, was fast asleep.
That’s the story of the great blackout day.
Take care,
Martina & Ive
