Day #17 Sarria to Mercadoiro (a little hamlet 5 km or so outside of Portomarin)

Today was overall one of the most beautiful and enjoyable walks we've had so far.  We left Sarria as dawn was breaking - a little later than usual because we decided to have coffee and a bit to eat before setting out.  It was clear and cool.  After an hour or more of walking, as we passed a big field of sunflowers , it began to rain, so we had a big scramble to get rain gear on.  We walked on through small hamlets and farmyards,  through woods with ancient trees full of birds singing,  through open fields with views of stone walls and cows grazing.  The rain stopped and the sun shone through billowy white clouds and then the wind would blow rain clouds over again with more gentle rain.  At one point we could hear a farmer sort of yodeling or something in the distance.  We stopped mid morning in a little grove where there was a big rock to sit on and shared an orange.

There are many more peregrinos on the road now, but mostly they pass us.  We had decided to stop before Portomarin if we liked the looks of the Albergue in Mercadoiro.  As we came upon it at about 1:30 pm, it was an instant "Yes! This is it!"  It is an Albergue in the middle of the countryside - a patio with tables and umbrellas, hammocks to nap in -  run by two enterprising young men.  We have bunks in a room with 2 German girls, 2 Japonese women our age, and a couple.  A very satisfying day!