Day 24

Today we woke to frost on the ground as we left the mountains.  Bundled up in long underwear and lots of layers and made our way down the mountains and into the foothills and the valley.  It was all very beautiful.

Leaving at dawn.

Heading west.

Above the clouds.

Cemetery.

Walk thru the woods. Said to be witches there.

This is Annie, as in Little Orphan Annie.  She was found in a ditch in Greece by Sara from London.  It is Ainnie’s first Camino.

Camino statue.

Another one.

We ended up staying in Samos at an enormous Benedictine monastery.  The albergue is pretty simple. There are 70 beds but only 10 are occupied tonight.  Seems most pilgrims are shying away from the simple lifestyle and booking at swankier places or private rooms.

Our place tonight in the monastery.

Our host, the monk on the monastery tour..

Artwork inside.

We did a tour of the Monastary itself.  It was beautiful.  It is the largest in Spain and the second largest in Europe.  Staffed by only 4 monks.

We had a nice dinner with Bob from Boise, ID.  He is 60 and wanted to do it with his son, but the son couldn’t make it.  He only started in Leon, as he only has 3 weeks.

Yesterday we met a group of 3 from Alaska.  That is from Alaska now.  They were originally from Waunakee, WI.  Ended up on the Monastary tour with them today.