Day 22, Caldas de Reis to Herbon, 20.4km

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July 2nd, 2014
Herbon: Convento de Herbon Albergue, donativo
Weather: Lovely and sunny, 24 degrees

Another short day because Joanna and I had both decided we would like to stay in the Herbon convent just outside of Padron, only 20km away. The attraction for me (as well as being an interesting experience) was because the Franciscan monks from this convent were the ones who originally brought back the seeds to plant the green peppers which today are called Pimiento de Padron. They are delicious green peppers with the thrill factor that one in every 30 or so is very hot and the others are mild… I had to eat them at their source!

So we left at 8:30am and strolled along a beautiful forest trail, joined by Vittorio for most of the way. There was an incredible amount of people on the trail and I could hardly believe it was the same walk I had started in Lisbon 3 weeks ago where I hadn’t seen any other pilgrims for the first 8 days!

Padron peppers, in Herbon

We arrived at the convent at 1:30pm and were greeted by a sign on the door saying the accommodation didn’t open until 4pm! Joanna was in desperate need of the toilet so she knocked on the door and we were luckily let into the albergue.

The convent dates from the 13th century but unfortunately all the monks left last year over a dispute about possibly turning it into a hotel (so I heard).

It was 2.6km outside of Padron which is also a very historic city with direct links to Santiago so after settling in we walked into the town to do some sightseeing. It was lovely and small with ancient churches and beautiful viewpoints.

Enjoying a Peregrina beer in Padron

Paseo da Esbolon, Padron

Supposedly the mooring post to which the boat carrying James the Apostle tied up to, in Igrexa de Santiago

Depicting St James’ body being carried by boat

Monte Santiaguino, Padron

We were back at the convent for a guided tour at 7:30pm, mass at 8pm, then dinner with the 2 hospitaleros (a Spanish couple who volunteer to run the albergue there for pilgrims) at 8:30pm. Joanna and I were the only guests so it was just the 4 of us for a lovely dinner of salad, lentil soup and Padron peppers 🙂

The dorm room at Convento de Herbon

Inside Convento de Herbon

Convento de Herbon

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2 responses to “Day 22, Caldas de Reis to Herbon, 20.4km”

Enjoying your blog,thanks for making the effort. You enjoy a drink,i have noticed. I,Martin,leave Porto for Santiago on 27th Sept and have read and enjoyed the blogs of some others.Beth and i have lived in a rural community in the south of Portugal for many years and am now wondering about opening an albergue in the north of the country to serve “perigrinhos”. I was born and raised in Bermondsey,London.Where are you from. All the best, Martin.

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followingthearrows September 3, 2014 at 7:38 pm · · Reply →

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your comment. I think it’s a terrific idea about opening up an albergue, they were certainly lacking on the Lisbon to Porto stages.

I tried to fill up on Beirao as much as possible because it’s very hard to find it here in London and I absolutely love it! As well as the Peregrina beer, I wish I had come up with that concept!

I’m from Melbourne originally, and am back in London now, I’ve been here since 2007.

I look forward to hearing about your walk from Porto later this month.

Buen Camino,
Kat

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