Day 19 - To Valença / Tui

Walked today: 11.4 km
No of steps: 14,312 steps
Total walked: 278.1 km

We met James and Cristina on the way to the bus stop.We were going to take the bus to Valença, we would have to take the coast and change buses. 

We walked by a taxi stand and I asked how much to Valença, it was €40, ten each, probably not much more than the buses. So the taxi it was.

I mentioned before that I was reluctant to do the walk to Rubiais.  It is around 20 km, no towns, no roads, and a 450 m climb on rocky terrain.  With my weak knee, a blister bigger than a two dollar coin, and rain I didn't even want to try.

Of course this is the last stage I can skip if I am serious about getting a Compostela, the pilgrim certificate at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.  And I want it, this has been a lot harder than 2 years ago and I think this is the last time I try.  The years have had an impact.

We arrived in Valença by 10 am, amazing, walking would have been 2 hard days.  We went to to the fort, the must visit part of the city.  We walked all around it and then followed the yellow arrows of the Caminho de Santiago to the long bridge which leads to España.

We left Cristina and James behind and walked up the the information office by the cathedral of Tui were they gave us a list of places to stay. We ended in the Cabalo Furado, a pensión half a block from the cathedral.  It is very nice to talk to people and understand everything they say.

We had a good meal across the street, I had caldo gallego and fideos with clams.  Awesome.

After lunch I rested all afternoon, I was still very tired from yesterday.  It is hard to believe how much the 10 kg backpack  impacts the walking fatigue. Wonder Woman, as usual full of energy went to look for a laundromat to wash our clothes while the old man layed in bed.

At 5:30 pm we went to the Convento de las Doroteas for Mass.  It is always special to attend Mass in a convent and surrounded by nuns.
It is even more special in this particular one.

After Mass we stayed with Sister Angeles.  She talked to us at least half an hour on the story of sister Lucia of Fatima.  Lucia wanted to be a nun and when she got to the appropriate age, all the congregations of nun had been expelled from Portugal. She made her way to Tui and joined the Doroteas here.  She moved around during her formation years but she made her perpetual vows here in Tui.

While in this convent she had visions of Our Lady and a vision of the holy Trinity in the very chapel where we attended Mass.  We are indeed privileged to be able to attend Mass and to be in the presence of our Lord in this holy place.  God willing we will be back tomorrow for Mass.

After a spiritual high, we came out to rain and to look for food.  A difficult mission at 7 pm in a country were restaurants don't open until 8:30 pm.
We did find a place with pinxos and empanadas. More than enough to make me happy.

Then a walk in the rain to go to the pension and rest.

Sister Lucia of Fatima is not a saint yet but we can still ask her to pray for us.  She belongs to the small club of holy people who have talked to Our Lady: San Juan Diego of Mexico, Saint Bernadette of France and Saint Jacinta and San Francisco of Fatima.