Ribadiso to Madrid :  Day 25 Meaningful Moment Deb and I get some down time now. Been out three times in Madrid already today. We are staying near the main points of the city.  Of course, we have been here now more times than I can count on one hand. So as we're walking about looking at all this wonderful architecture and history and culture, we recall the memories of previous times. Date 16 Aug 2026 (Sunday) Weather High: 96f. All sun. Doing for shade. Total All Caminos: 2450 miles Lodging (Deb & I): $125 Zinc 1 @Calle 10 Arenal / 2 nights Total Lodging: $ 935 Airplane(s): € 500 Santiago to Madrid Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: $ 1580 / $ 199 Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides (Deb & I): € 40 Taxi fm Ribadiso to Santiago airport € 40 Taxi fm Madrid Airport to Madrid Central Total Transportation  (Deb & I) : $ 357 Food (Deb & I): € 30 tapa hopping € 30 night time food run Total Food: $ 1038 Random Thou...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 24 Meaningful Moment This has been such an amazing experience. To do a Camino in service instead of by walking.  So many interesting people to meet with so many interesting stories.  So many people who just want to talk and share.  So many people who know just what they want, are here for the moment, and then on to Santiago de Compostela.  I feel like I've been a part, a small part, in the lives of many people who have passed through this place of sanctuary for the night.  Spanish, Italians, Polish, German, Chinese, Korean and even a few Hungarians and Romanians and people from Great Britain, one from Slovenia, one from Belgium and, hard to believe, only a sprinkling of Americans.  Undeniably the best part has been sharing this entire experience, starting with our visit to Leon and ending here in Ribadiso, with Deb. Date 15 Aug 2026 (Saturday) Weather Temperature in the high 70s. Mostly sun. Total All Caminos: 2...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 23 Meaningful Moment There may be something more significant later today, but we started on opening with only five pilgrims. Haven't seen such a low number like that, possibly since we started working here. It's now 7:00 p.m. and there's only 10 pilgrims here. It is incredibly boring. 9:30 p.m. Deb and I said our goodbyes to Elena, one of our two bosses. It's been a pleasure to work with her. Her style contrasts greatly with our other boss, Jose. We say goodbye to him tomorrow. Date 14 Aug 2026 (Friday) Weather Temperature in the low 80s. Cloud cover in the morning. Sun in the afternoon. Followed by a late afternoon cloud cover. Total All Caminos: 2450 miles Lodging (Deb & I): Municipal Albergue de Peregrinos de Ribadiso da Baixo (room provided) Total Lodging: € 700 Airplane(s): Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: $ 1000 / $ 199 Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides (Deb & I): Total Transportation  (Deb & I) : $ 26...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 22 Meaningful Moment Had a nice talk with Deb this morning about some issues that have been perplexing me in my life.  I find her to be a fountain of common sense. Date 13 Aug 2026 (Thursday) Weather Temperature in the high 80s. Cloud cover that rather quickly gave way to sun, sun, sun in the afternoon. Total All Caminos: 2450 miles Lodging (Deb & I): Municipal Albergue de Peregrinos de Ribadiso da Baixo (room provided) Total Lodging: € 700 Airplane(s): Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: $ 1000 / $ 199 Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides (Deb & I): Total Transportation: $ 265 Food (Deb & I): € 10 Coffee and Churros con chocolate € 20 ensalada de queso de Arzúa (very salty) & French fries Total Food: $ 910 Random Thought of the Day Typical start to a morning. Lots of cleanup because we had lots of people last night. But got it all done and then took a walk into town for some shopping and churros and coffee. It'...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 21 Meaningful Moment Total solar eclipse in Ribadiso Minutes into the eclipse. About 30% partiality. Date 12 Aug 2026 (Wednesday) Weather Temperature in the high 80s. Pretty much sun all day. Total solar eclipse tonight. Total All Caminos: 2450 miles Lodging (Deb & I): Municipal Albergue de Peregrinos de Ribadiso da Baixo (room provided) Total Lodging: € 700 Airplane(s): Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: $ 1000 / $ 199 Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides (Deb & I): Total Transportation: $ 265 Food (Deb & I): € 4 Bar Manuel coffee  € 10 Mesón Ribadiso Drinks and Tartar de Almendra Total Food: $ 875 Random Thought of the Day 9:15 a.m. (-10h to total solar eclipse) All finished with the daily chores of wiping down the bunk beds, wiping down the bathrooms, picking up litter around the bridge over the river and the other morning things. Deb and I plan on a morning walk in a little bit. Morning walk: this morning we walk...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 20 Meaningful Moment Breaking dawn over the Rio Iso, Ribadiso Received the news today that one of my hiking buddies who suffered a major stroke shortly before I left for Spain, has made enough progress to move from the intensive care to rehabilitation home.  I visited him twice before I left for Spain, and each visit reminded me of the fragility of life.  Then I started remembering all the funerals I've been to in the past 12 months of people from various relationships. It's made me think that I have not given it sufficient thought about how I want to be treated, should something like that happen to me.  The truth is that, like the old joke goes - I want to be physically healthy, physically strong, physically capable but I leave this planet because I got hit by a bus. Date 11 Aug 2026 (Tuesday) Weather Temperature in the mid 80s. Pretty much sun all day. Total All Caminos: 2450 miles Lodging (Deb & I): Municipal Albergue de Pereg...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 19 Meaningful Moment 2:00 p.m. Must be smoothly settling into the routine because we've walked into Arzúa for shopping and churros and coffee,  opened up the doors for our first clients, and processed everybody that was waiting.  I have nothing to put in this blog so far.  Well, that prediction didn't hold up. Keep reading. Had a really interesting conversation about life's troubles. Without giving away the details, Deb and I spoke with a person who has faced incredible acts of violence in the midst of war, in a place where they are trying to do good.  On the one hand, the person was working in a hospital, trying to provide health Services, and on the other hand came unwanted interactions with the Wagner mercenary group. The stories the person told were things I'd heard about on the national news but would never have had any reason to personally experience.  As much as I've traveled the world, as much as I've been to many countries, my ...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 18 Meaningful Moment Festival de los Botes Meal:  Raxo is a traditional Galician comfort food made of small, cubed pork loin pieces marinated in garlic, salt, and spices like paprika or parsley, then pan-fried in olive oil. It is usually served hot over a generous bed of french fries. Raxo Kids having fun at the foam party Area Recreativo de Ribadiso Date 09 Aug 2026 (Sunday) Weather Temperature in the low 80s. Morning clouds and afternoon sun. Total All Caminos: 2450 miles Lodging (Deb & I): Municipal Albergue de Peregrinos de Ribadiso da Baixo (room provided) Total Lodging: € 700 Airplane(s): Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: $ 1000 / $ 199 Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides (Deb & I): Total Transportation: $ 265 Food (Deb & I): € 30 Playa No Playa Roxa Total Food: $ 816 Random Thought of the Day Since we are planning on going into town this afternoon for a local Fiesta, we felt no need to get up early and get throu...

Ribadiso Albergue : Day 17 Meaningful Moment Walking back from the Feria de Arzúa Date 08 Aug 2026 (Saturday) Weather Temperature in the high 80s and 100% sun all day. Total All Caminos: 2450 miles Lodging (Deb & I): Municipal Albergue de Peregrinos de Ribadiso da Baixo (room provided) Total Lodging: € 700 Airplane(s): Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: $ 1000 / $ 199 Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides (Deb & I): Total Transportation: $ 265 Food (Deb & I): € 25 Feria de Arzúa € 5 Mesón Ribadiso Total Food: $ 781 Random Thought of the Day Río Iso behind the Albergue de Ribadiso da Baixo to Late afternoon over Ribadiso Notable memories Camino miracle: we first met this family, it seems so many days ago, in León Spain, where we conversed about the Camino. Now all these days later we coincidentally crossed paths here in Arzúa.    Feria de Arzúa Like a public market but more like a farmers market.  We ended up buying cheeses ...