Day 29: Fonfria to Sarria aka Zummo!

Our albergue may not have had any gluten-free breakfast options, but it did have a Zummo vending machine. Take note: Christmas/Hanukkah/Birthday wish-list only includes this vending machine. In all seriousness, we knew that real food was 12 km away, and that we couldn’t afford to skip out on two meals like we did yesterday since we were completing 23k today. Therefore, we sat for an all-American (ha) breakfast at a bar in Triscaterra, 12k in.

Upon leaving there, our app recommended veering towards the right rather than the left. This meant nothing for 7 miles, no restaurants or water fountains, but shaving off 3 miles and missing out on this supposed beautiful monastery. I’ve seen enough monasteries to last me at least 10 lifetimes, and with a full water bladder, we swiped right to the app's rec. If you too make this decision, be sure to bring enough water and snacks because there are a lot of steep hills and nothing but uncooked sheep and cows in-between.

We finally got to Samos, 5.5 miles from our final destination, where we ran into the Korean gals from dinner last night, as well as other pilgrims. Nothing appeared appetizing at the bar, so we settled for Fanta Limon and chips figuring we’d sit for a decent meal in town. Real nutritious, I know. Upon getting into Sarria, the first two things we noticed were how many albergues there were and the influx of new pilgrims. Sarria is the minimal starting point for pilgrims to receive a Compostela, or certificate of completion, 110k from Santiago. I, like 99.9% of other pilgrims who started in St. Jean don’t believe this to be fair. Go big, or go home. 

We are staying in Hotel Alfonso (€50), in Sarria which is alongside the river and the Camino. This hotel had some of the best customer service we’ve come across... Kidding. Some of the hotels on the Camino seem to treat pilgrims like scum, for whatever reason. It’s like ‘Hey, Doña Luisa, standing behind us is paying the same amount as we are, just with a slightly less disheveled clothing and I doubt she is going to blog about your spot. So be nice.’ Anyway, we were hangry at the time of arrival and too impatient to deal with noses hung up in the air. Due to siesta, the only restaurant apparently open at 5 PM was O Canto (can't find the link), 1k away alongside the river. For €20 we ate the second worst meal on the Camino, or should I say hardly ate any of it. Here’s to hoping for better food tomorrow. Meanwhile, the walls here are just as solid as the customer service.. So much for paying extra dinero to 'sleep.' I'm tired, and hungry.