SAN ROMÁN DE RETORTA – MELIDE
The beauty and solitude of the Camino Primitivo was embracing me this day with every step. In the morning, the path followed the original Roman road up a hill. Here, the mist touched the silvery leaves of young Eucalyptus trees and a distinct smell of minty pine filled the air. Although I walked alone, I felt connected with the millions of people of the past walking on this road. A magical silence surrounded me.
The construction of an elevated path indicated that normally there is a lot of rain in this area.
On my path today, I passed many Corredoiras (hamlets). The area was extremely poor and often the old granite houses were abandoned and deteriorating.
The people I met in these very poor areas where very nice. We always exchanged some words in Spanish and English. The main communication was beyond words.
Walking up through the typical barren heathlands (elevation 2,300 ft.), the white rocks seemed to touch the sky.
One stone house was especially charming. Nobody was at home and I decided to take a rest on the wooden bench in the front of the house. The fragrance of the pink roses, the humming of the bees and the little kittens, which appeared around the corner and played with each other, made this an especially peaceful place. It was hard to leave.
By arriving in Melide, the Camino Primitivo was merging with the Camino Fránces and the Camino de la Costa. Many pilgrims stayed overnight in this town. I knew this town from my pilgrimage five years ago, when I walked the Camino Fránces with my daughter Anna-Sophie.
