Day 30: Festivals and Melide (Ligonde to Melide)

There isn't much more that's new to say about the walks, my dears. They're long, when you're not next to a road they're beautiful and they seem to go on for bloody ever. That being send, apart from the strange pins and needles in my right thigh I am FINALLY injury free; ironically I've ended up with less injuries than when I started...
With that in mind I am pleased with the progress I am making now, I am consistently walking 30+ km and finding it really easy, admittedly the last few walks are relatively flat but I really wish that I had felt this way from the start.

As mentioned in my previous entry, I am now donning a happy persona to all I encounter on the path; no more angry grumbling and muttering. That hasn't however, stopped me unfurling my beautifully and boastfully filled in pilgrim passport around lowely pilgrims who have only two or three stamps. I make a very big show of finding the right page and spreading my passport out on the table. Their gasps and covering of mouths in shock at being in the presence of such a tank and intrepid explorer is very satisfying.

Wonderfully, Melide - where we are setting up shop tonight - is in a flurry of preperation for a festival of some sort. The Spanish bloody love a festival! How everyone manages to stay out until 5am on a Wednesday night is somewhat of a mystery to me, don't they have work!?

Amongst the hive of activity Paolo, Tarryn and Khalid catch up with me, as well as the American girls. Wandering around the eclectic shops and market stalls is an entertaining and sauntering affair, even if none of us are going to buy anything.

After splitting up to head to our assorted albergues I am disappointed to discover that my albergue locks up at 11 so I won't be able to go to the festival with its fireworks and live music. I must admit that I found this very disappointing but my albergue attendant wouldn't budge on the closing time. Despite my frustration, a small percentage of me thought how wonderful it would be to get an early night and not be suffering tomorrow. Christ, I'm getting old.