Tag Archives: Miño

Not the End of the World – Camino Ingles Day 4

September 9, 2017. Miño to Miño 5.4 miles (8.69 km per my phone)

No, that wasn’t a typo.  I stayed in Miño today.  This morning I woke up before my alarm after a great nights sleep, stepped out of bed and said “OUCH“!  Actually I was thinking something else in that moment.  

Apparently my right knee did not like the 29 floors (according to my phone) that I went up.  Now what?

I spent some time rubbing my knee and considering my options.  I tried walking again and it was somewhat better. I thought back to other Camino challenges:

2011 Camino Frances I had about 8 blisters and went to the doctor, got sick with fever, had problems with my allergies.

2013 Camino Frances went pretty well really, I can’t remember any big problems. One or two small blisters.

2015 Caminho Portuguese da Costa I had two bad blisters and one of those got infected. I won’t forget that soon.

So my point is that I’m ok.  I can walk fine, most of the time. It’s not the end of the world.  I’m disappointed, but fortunately I have plenty of time. I decided that I would do the following:

1) stay in Miño today and  just exercise lightly.

2) take some anti-inflammatory medication and use some cream

3) see if I can find a knee brace

4) walk to Betanzos tomorrow and send my backpack to my next stop.  

I went down to breakfast where I saw the Italian Peregrinos from Milan that I had met yesterday.  It felt a bit lonely seeing them leave after breakfast and then have to carefully walkup the two flights of stairs to my room.

However I walked back down those same stairs and took the opportunity to explore this pretty town some more. Here are some things that many Peregrinos see while on Camino.

The Pharmacy

The Grocery Store

The place where you buy churros!


I did go for a second breakfast here. The churros were still good.  This time with coffee!

The local church



The church was not open, but the sign gave me its name.

The Menu del Dia


The above reminds me a bit of what my mom calls the blue plate special. You get wine, or water or sometimes pop.  A choice of a first course, then a you can select a main course then dessert or coffee.  The price is pretty good for a lot of food.


The above is a picture of the sidewalk and the street.  The street is on the far left.  The red is parallel parking and then the sidewalk.

The train from an overpass view


A local bus stop

A fruit store

The tourism office

Market Day tomorrow!

My favorite, the pastry store!

Seafood Store used by the locals.


Those who know me well will understand the significance of the picture above!


Here are those chestnuts that the squirrels took Wendy Gage!

I still remember how surprised I was when I first came to Europe to see so many “specialty” stores.

Cute little tree growing outside if a restaurant on my way to the beach.


A very fun looking hair salon.  I was tempted…..

In Miño there are two main beaches.  The one that I showed you yesterday was the Port.  Today though the tide was out.


Ok, I live on a Port city and I was amazed to see the last picture.

A pretty bush; anyone know what it’s called?

I bought two of these.  Arepas made by a very nice woman from Venezuela!  Very fresh and filling!


My first view of the Praia Grande (the big beach).


This is a video of the big beach.  By this time the wind was picking up and it was starting to rain.  Fortunately it didn’t last long!

Well, not an exciting day, but I got through it ok.  I’ve be n sitting for awhile so I’ll take a very short walk to the grocery store to get some bottled water.

Tomorrow I’ll be on my way to Betanzos!

Ocean View Wins! Camino Ingles Day 3

September 8, 2017.  Pontedeume to Miño 7.8 miles (12.55 km according to my phone).

I wasn’t sure how much sleep that I’d get last night; Festa das Peras in Pontedeume was really loud!  I was tired enough though that the next thing that I knew I was startled awake at 6:30am by my alarm and also the party in the street below me!  Wow! 

I got ready and went downstairs to pay and the owner said that the second day is even crazier!

Got some breakfast at the local bar and saw a few Peregrinos pass by.  The Camino Ingles has more people on it than before, but many fewer than the most popular, the Camino Frances.


At this point I’d decided to go to Miño instead of Betanzos.  I knew that there were going to be some fair sized hills and that I hadn’t put in the training time.  Also, I have plenty of leeway in my schedule so why not go to the beach?

I knew that my first challenge of the day was the climb out of town.  Curves going uphill for about 1 mile or so.  It reminded me a bit of the first small section of crossing the Pyrenees, with everything really steep. Close to the top I noticed an older woman watching my efforts.  She didn’t seem too impressed. When I got to her she let me know that there was a way that wasn’t so steep! I thanked her.😇

I’m in the right place


After the hill (mountain), I had a nice walk on a country road.  I love plants and saw heather, persimmon, limes, grapes, pears, flowers, newer houses and older houses too.

Heather like I have at home

Difficult to see due to the light, but these are pears.

Persimmons

Lines

Grapes!!!!!


Next I went passed several picnic areas, got a little lost, saw a really big aloe vera plant, went by a golf course (thought of you Bill S.), over a freeway and then groaned.  Another hill!

I should have taken this path

Hill number 2

 

There was no one to see me sweat.  Several small groups of people; mostly Spanish had passed. I did eventually make it up and found another really pleasant walk.


Before too long I was starting to go down hill and took a break at another picnic area.  Here I met three Spanish men from Ibiza.  I asked them to take a picture for my mom!


I was almost to Miño!  Briefly walked alongside of a stream, through some forest, beside a freeway, and I made it!


Miño is a really nice town.  I went to the tourist information booth and was given some suggestions of where to stay.  She showed them to me on a map and even called to make sure that there was a room available. An older German couple came in and the walk had worn  them out also.  They were taking a bus to Betanzos since they were on a limited amount of time.

Here’s a picture of “La Terraza Hostel” and my room.  Pretty ok place in a good location.  


After resting, showering and washing my clothes, the next order of business was eating. I felt hungry, but not ravenous. This chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato did the job.  


Still plenty of time to go to the beach.  It was well worth the trip!


Just had to finish my day with churros and chocolate!  


Tomorrow I’m off to Betanzos.  It’s getting chilly and there are clouds.  I hope it rains a bit tonight and then dries up before dawn!