Day 32 21 June from Samos to Sarria with 111 km to go...

We've arrived in the bustling city of Sarria , with 111 km to go....

But we left in morning haze ...

We leave Samos and take the main road , the peregrinos take the high road...

But still we have wonderful views..  Farm scene from the road...

Field of purple blue wild flowers ..

We take  a detour off the main road, beautiful sky..quite a misty morning...

Crossing the bridge into Sarria ..

Always the vegetable gardens even as we enter the city...

Riding into the city..takes more  concentration..

My brakes are squeaking, andwe spot a Camper van with a whole lot of cyclists, so I ask where I can " repare  biciclete ". A minute later they have screw Drivers out and have adjusted my brakes...Archie not really interested...

We ride to the old part of the city up a steep hill..

More up...

Past an Albergue with an adjacent abandoned building ... Lots of these scenes..

To a really attractive part of the old city...and book into a Pension, 25 E for the two of us...

Then leave our packs and head for the market..

Along the river...

Lots of stalls...

We are fascinated by the dried herbs...

Buy a slice of Santiago Tarte...famous almond tart...

And find that it is their San Juan Fiesta- st John the Baptist-  which ties in with the equinox...

Have a look at how the streets will be decorated...

In the afternoon they begin to decorate the streets..pine cuttings in the centre firm a green ribbon..

With colored red sand on the outer edges...we're looking forward to the end result-which starts tomorrow in earnest...

We walk  to an exhibition hall where they have  puppets on display - They use larger than life puppets- St James on left- in the feast celebrations...

The man shows us how the puppets are made, first a caste is made then a plaster of Paris mould from this, and then paper mâché ...

We walk past this wall, with crosses inserted at intervals...

This is the cross on the outskirts of the city that is a farewell point..

And then alas, the heavens open, and all the sand is washed away..I read in a comments book that a pilgrim wrote - I discovered the rain in Spain falls mainly in Sarria! -

Rescue operation...then only the green is left...spirits don't seem dampened...

We have menu del dia with a very nice NZ couple and off to sleep....