A short day today, only 20km, a relatively flat stage with some elevation (350m) but a lot of downhill towards the coast at Cee, and a fairly steep downhill at that. It was pretty cold as I left the pension and soon I saw frost on the grass, after passing a couple of streams that had flooded the path.
It soon warmed up, and turned into another beautiful day both weather wise and walk wise. I am really walking in the middle of nowhere, but on very well kept paths, passing farmland, rivers, small villages, and plenty of forest, including areas where the eucalyptus trees are being replaced with other trees that hopefully give more back to the earth than the eucalyptus trees.
At dinner last night there was a Spanish father (in his 70’s) with his two daughters. They were also walking the Camino and staying at the same pension. They didn’t speak much English, so we only spoke briefly. They were eating breakfast at the local bar when I arrived this morning, we said hello, and exchanged a few words before they left.
I caught up with them again as they were leaving that last cafe before Cee, 15km away. One of the daughters spoke some French, at the same level as my French, so we talked and walked for about 30 minutes. This is the 3rd year they walked together, it was quality time together. I took their picture as we stopped to look at Vakner, a mythological figure in Galicia.
It was a fairly flat stage until about 4 kilometers before Cee, where I walked down towards the sea from about 250m, getting the first glimpses of the sea as I walked downhill.
I arrived in Cee around 2pm and could check into the hotel I was staying at. I took a walk around the small town. Like many other towns across Europe the town centre had several empty shops. I down to the coast and sat for a few minutess in the sunshine. In reality there was little else to see or do, so I returned to the hotel and rested my tired legs in the bathtub.
The hotel had a popular bar and restaurant where I ate in the evening, although the food wasn’t too great.
I didn’t have many expectations to the Camino Finisterre, but these three days from Santiago have been fabulous- beautiful countryside, great views, great paths and some climbing. This is a great starter Camino and one I may consider walking again. I won’t be walking the last leg from Cee to Finisterre, as I walked it in 2023, before starting the Lighthouse Way. Finisterre is certainly a must visit place, not least if you are lucky and can book to sleep at the lighthouse.