Ribadiso Albergue : Day 19

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 experience has generally been rewarding. 
I've been in some of the richer countries in the world, but I've never been in the most poor countries.
I've not had to face life and death, violence and misery, poverty and oppression as this one person described. 
They are on the Camino to clear their head, find some peace, restore some faith and renew their hope.
We wish them the best that can be hoped for in such a bleak turn of life.

Date10 Aug 2026 (Monday)
WeatherTemperature in the mid 80s. Pretty much 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): € 10 churrrería
€ 10 Mesón Ribadiso
Total Food: $ 838

Random Thought of the Day

Just passed my big German test of the day. 
About 10 German children walked in to get a pilgrim's stamp from the American pilgrims organization on their credentials. 
I tried to explain that it's not official but they could have it, but because of their age I wasn't sure I was explaining it well enough.
So then I found the adult chaperones down by the gate and explained the entire thing in German about how they need two stamps per day from Sarria (100 km from Santiago). 
One of the adults thought that all the stamps prior to Sarria counted for a campostella certificate which is incorrect. 
So hopefully I saved them some surprise later, because the people in the Pilgrim Support Office would have denied them a Compostela if they did not have two official stamps from Sarria every day.

Notable memories

These people are traveling with a group of a dozen burros. The Andalucian burro is an endangered species. There are about 500 left in existence and they are promoting a campaign to save the species.




















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