Day 36 - Corcubion to Finisterre

 

I had another short day scheduled - around 10km, plus a 5km walk to the Faro de Cabo, the lighthouse on the end of the peninsular.

There was a little drizzle in the air but I left my poncho off for most of the walk, only resorting to it, a few kilometres from Finisterre and the albergue I had booked for the night. When booking an albergue, it really is a lottery, you just don’t know what you are going to get. Some are good and some not so good. 

I turned up at the door this morning at about 9:30 and I was just hoping to get in out of the rain. The door was locked but a few moments after I tried it, a woman came to the door, and I was relieved when she let me in.

It was such a strange albergue. It was full of Buddhas and other eastern imagery. But perhaps the strangest thing was the lady in charge. She was a young Israeli woman who had got fed up with all the fighting back at home; scared of the bombing and not living in peace. She has come to the albergue to volunteer, in lieu of the cost of her accommodation. The trouble was she really hadn’t been showed what to do. Apparently, the owner lived in the house opposite but she couldn’t get a response from him.

She checked me in but left me to pay the owner when he showed up.

It was pouring down with rain all morning, but I felt I should go to the light house as I was in Finisterre. So, more in feeling I had to get this soaking over with, I put on my boots and poncho and set off to walk the 2.5km to the lighthouse. There were many other tourists making their way up there too. When I got to the lighthouse, I went down to the rocks at the end, took a few photos and walked back as fast as I could. Some how, I was wet under my poncho, my jacked, shirt, shorts and my boots and socks were wet through too.

It was only then, that I realised the albergue was quite cold and there was no way I could get it all dry. I saw the owner come in and asked him if we could have the heating on. The response was a deep intake of breath and shaking of his head. It would cost too much he said. He suggested I take my wet clothes to the launderette for a few euros. I said I would have a look, but really, I had had enough of the albergue and went to find another one without checking out first. I hadn’t paid yet, so I figured I could just leave.

After wandering around the town for 15 minutes, I found an albergue and they had space for me. So, I went back to Albergue, quickly packed and left without saying a word. I was so pleased to get into a more modern building which was warm and dry. Even now, I half expect him to come around searching all of the albergues until he finds me.