Today was kind of a mess. AS I mentioned in yesterday’s post, my phone service stopped working, and it turns out my "30-day" phone plan actually expired in 28 days—go figure. This hiccup made me realize how reliant I am on the web. My translation app was useless, maps lost much of its functionality, and I couldn’t make any reservations for hostels for the remaining days. Given the large crowds entering Sarria, this was a significant issue.
I hiked about 14 miles to the next large village to find a place to buy a new phone service plan. Unfortunately, they informed me that I would need to go to Melide, about 10 miles down the road. Given the current time and the siesta hours, my only option was to grab a taxi to Melide.
As a result, I don't have many photos or commentary today, as I spent about four hours trying to find and secure a new phone plan. This experience highlighted the unexpected challenges that can arise on the Camino, reminding us to be adaptable and resourceful.
I stayed in a big hostel last night with 36 people in my room, and for many, especially those who started in Sarria, this was their first night on the Camino. Well, it was quite an eventful night! Just before bed, one woman started screaming (in English) at another woman, accusing her of stealing her money. It got so heated that the manager had to step in to calm things down.
Next, I had the misfortune of sharing the room with the infamous “Mr. Kim,” a notorious mega snorer. Luckily, my earplugs helped somewhat with the noise, but it was still pretty loud. To top it off, the hostel, like most, had a 10 p.m. lights-out rule. However, several of the newbies returned from a night of drinking at midnight, making all sorts of noise and further disrupting everyone’s sleep.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention—the person in the upper bunk was flopping around like a fish out of water all night. So, not the greatest night for sleeping, but it definitely made for an interesting night!
Like many recent mornings, I was greeted by overcast and foggy conditions.
Lots of people on the trail this morning.
And at the outdoor cafes.