- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23
We met him just before lunch time, a few kilometres before O Predrouzo.
Pat and I had just been walking for a couple of hours after a late start.
It was one of those cool drizzly Galician days, when you almost feel like you are walking through a rain forest. A rather cool rain forest.
Alejandro was sitting beside the path just watching the Pilgrims walk past. Well not quite on the path, but set back a couple of metres into a field that looked newly ploughed.
We saw him from about 50 metres away and immediately made eye contact.
He had one of those faces that you instantly warm to. You know what I mean? You just know he's going to be an interesting and warm natured character. You can tell, just from the look of him. First impressions I guess. I was curious and knew that we would stop to say Hi... We just had to.
Alejandro was born on the farm. We could see the buildings on the other side of the field. In fact he had lived all his life on the farm. And probably hadn't ventured very far from it, such is the way with many of those who are born on the land and feel part of it too. He certainly looked part of the land today, with mud caked halfway up his legs.
I wondered what he had been doing in the field as there was no sign of equipment or anyone else.
We sat with Alejandro a while on a grassy bank, and even though communication was not easy, we immediately relaxed in each others company. He was one of those souls that you just enjoyed being around. He made you smile....... a lot.
As it was nearing lunch time we were feeling a bit peckish and so broke out a few snacks for lunch. Alejandro's eyes seemed to light up as the 'picnic' starting appearing from our packs. I rather got the impression this was not the first time that he had picnicked with Pilgrims
We managed to assemble some bread. salami, and an egg and bacon roll made from some of our breakfast and some fruit. It would make a reasonable picnic.
The Salami proved to be the most popular!
As we snacked, every few minutes other Pilgrims would pass, and we would glance at them, and they would glance at us, probably wondering what this unlikely looking group was doing sitting at the edge of a field having a picnic.
It came time to go. And there was almost a sadness in Alejandro's eyes as we started to pack up and bid our farewells. Those fleeting but very intense meetings along the way would be familiar to you, but they normally take place amongst Pilgrims don't they?
We made our farewells and even hugged, before setting off along the path.
Pat was very quiet and I knew what she was thinking...........
After only 50 metres, she looked at me and said "Can't he come with us"? Absolutely not I replied, and explained why it was a really really bad idea............
And then as we glanced back, we smiled, as we noticed he was just in the process of making some new friends, who were starting to reach into their packs................
I think this was his 'game'........ Befriending Pilgrims for a Free Lunch.
Which was not hard for him to pull off, as Alejandro was the cutest little dog you have ever seen.
Kind of like a mini Labrador with a red coat......
Pat and I had just been walking for a couple of hours after a late start.
It was one of those cool drizzly Galician days, when you almost feel like you are walking through a rain forest. A rather cool rain forest.
Alejandro was sitting beside the path just watching the Pilgrims walk past. Well not quite on the path, but set back a couple of metres into a field that looked newly ploughed.
We saw him from about 50 metres away and immediately made eye contact.
He had one of those faces that you instantly warm to. You know what I mean? You just know he's going to be an interesting and warm natured character. You can tell, just from the look of him. First impressions I guess. I was curious and knew that we would stop to say Hi... We just had to.
Alejandro was born on the farm. We could see the buildings on the other side of the field. In fact he had lived all his life on the farm. And probably hadn't ventured very far from it, such is the way with many of those who are born on the land and feel part of it too. He certainly looked part of the land today, with mud caked halfway up his legs.
I wondered what he had been doing in the field as there was no sign of equipment or anyone else.
We sat with Alejandro a while on a grassy bank, and even though communication was not easy, we immediately relaxed in each others company. He was one of those souls that you just enjoyed being around. He made you smile....... a lot.
As it was nearing lunch time we were feeling a bit peckish and so broke out a few snacks for lunch. Alejandro's eyes seemed to light up as the 'picnic' starting appearing from our packs. I rather got the impression this was not the first time that he had picnicked with Pilgrims
We managed to assemble some bread. salami, and an egg and bacon roll made from some of our breakfast and some fruit. It would make a reasonable picnic.
The Salami proved to be the most popular!
As we snacked, every few minutes other Pilgrims would pass, and we would glance at them, and they would glance at us, probably wondering what this unlikely looking group was doing sitting at the edge of a field having a picnic.
It came time to go. And there was almost a sadness in Alejandro's eyes as we started to pack up and bid our farewells. Those fleeting but very intense meetings along the way would be familiar to you, but they normally take place amongst Pilgrims don't they?
We made our farewells and even hugged, before setting off along the path.
Pat was very quiet and I knew what she was thinking...........
After only 50 metres, she looked at me and said "Can't he come with us"? Absolutely not I replied, and explained why it was a really really bad idea............
And then as we glanced back, we smiled, as we noticed he was just in the process of making some new friends, who were starting to reach into their packs................
I think this was his 'game'........ Befriending Pilgrims for a Free Lunch.
Which was not hard for him to pull off, as Alejandro was the cutest little dog you have ever seen.
Kind of like a mini Labrador with a red coat......
