Now, I do hope no one was waiting with baited breath for a post yesterday ….. I say that because I had got into a routine of writing each night , as both Kathleen and I had of climbing mountains each day – and suddenly not doing so feels very strange ( this morning even the DB looked at his phone out of habit to see where we had got to ….” Oh of course “ he said “ you’re here and not there!”)
Well we are now both back , safely ensconced I our own homes ! When I last left you, we’d been enjoying the festivities in Muxia before partaking of our delicious last lunch of the trip – Gambas a da Lolo and Zamoriñas to start …
These were followed by a wholesome salad and a thin T- bone steak (which spilled over the side of the plate) that sadly stumped even yours truly! Oh and I forgot, all washed down with …. you’ve guessed it, a bottle of delicious Albariño! A fitting end to a wonderful Camino !
Well we had an early start the next day – so off to bed for an early night we’re we! Early night maybe ….. but sleep evaded us . Of course, you’ll say … with a journey ahead, too much excitement etc etc. No, Dear Reader , not at all …I alluded earlier to the partying abilities of the Spanish, but maybe I omitted to tell you of their love of fireworks. No matter if it’s the middle of the day ( as in the Fallas festival in Valencia when the noise is more important – and for half an hour at 2 pm each day for a week the “ mascaletas” let rip) , or the middle of the night (12.30 to be precise) as in Muxia on Saturday night … Sunday morning of course!……when something akin to the “ Battle of the Somme” played out about 5 minutes walk from our room!!!! You would think that then peace would reign, the fireworks signifying the end of partying for that evening/ morning! Don’t be silly – of course not – the music boomed from the stage with as much vigour as before .
So when we arose at 6.15 , what did we hear? Why, music of course and the sound of partygoers silently communicating their delight and happiness – they thought they were communicating silently, in reality on the decibel scale their chatter was akin to a rock concert.!
So bleary eyed we go outside the hotel to wait for our taxi taking us at 7am to the airport – if we were hoping for the still darkness of the early morning , we were out of luck ! They were all on the way home – peace and quiet – nowhere to be found! The poor driver had to manoeuvre the car through the narrow streets of Muxia, endeavouring to avoid the occasional reveller who considered themselves infallible and as having priority on the road! According to the driver, the Fiesta de Muxia is famous nationally – and further afield – so no wonder there were so many people packed into that lovely little coastal town!
So we were off to the airport – a journey of 1 hour and 10 minutes – and a route that traversed all the mountains and countryside that had taken us 7 days to cross ……. are we mad? Not at all ……..we wouldn’t change a thing !
On arrival at the airport , we had to check in my case ( if you remember booked, because the airline charged “How much?” to transport our walking poles) After the usual questions such “ Did you pack the case yourself? Are you carrying anything for anyone else? ( at this point I nearly said yes but decided against it lest it open a whole load of security questions) So I just told the nice lady that the only reason I was checking in a cabin bag was to bring my walking poles with me “ Oh” said she “ you can transport them free of charge from here” ……What!!! “ You can carry your poles for free but it is only from Santiago Airport”
Dear Reader, what would you say? Too late for us, but if any of you intend to follow in our footsteps, you heard it from me first ! What a pity the website of our airline didn’t inform us of that – oh, of course I paid to put my cabin bag in the hold on the return journey , so that means they gained financially from my ignorance ….. there you go!
Anyway at least the plane was on time , so all aboard …… and we are sitting in the first row behind the middle of the plane emergency exits. Good ….. and I’m already calculating how quickly I can get round to them …. Now I’m not OCD but I do take things seriously when I’m going to be in a tin can ( in effect) approximately 6 miles above earth. So I’m watching the people sitting in the seats by the emergency exits . A stewardess talked to them all , explained what was required and checked they were all happy to assist the cabin crew in case of an evacuation. Everyone nods …. then one has to be told to put her oversized handbag and coat in the overhead locker . Not looking good, think I – at least there are others.
Oh dear ….. now for the safety briefing …. Clearly we are told to remove headphones and listen and observe the briefing. So, we have one of our potential life savers with headphones clamped over his ears ….. now I’m pretty sure I know how to fasten my safety belt but I still watch the demonstration….. and yes the oxygen mask automatically falls with a lack of cabin pressure .Emergency exits are clearly marked but the life jacket ……..ha, where is it ? Above you or under your seat? If you listen to the briefing you know but one of the people we were relying on to get us out in case of emergency had no idea – still with earphones clamped on watching his phone intently . Well at least we knew , and I knew how to fasten it , and where the whistle and light to attract attention were – though it has always puzzled me that if a plane goes down, my little life jacket light and whistle are going to play any role in attracting attention! Hey ho!
Well I’m pleased to say we landed …. safely of course ….but the plane must have slowed and then stopped only because all the passengers applied the brakes …..
Oh dear , I am nowhere near finishing what I had to say ….. too much of a good thing….. so please forgive me , I bid you all goodnight , tomorrow I’ll continue our journey home but will end with the sign on our long awaited car park transfer bus …..
OUT OF SERVICE …….😉😉😉
Camino Romero 