James on the Way: Day 26 - Hospital de la Condesa to Samos

We all slept well and no one made a noise before 6:45. The heating seemed to stay on all night and the room was comfortable. The night before they had promised that they would be open at 7:30 for breakfast, but when we got they at 7:30 there was no sign of anyone or any light in the restaurant. This has happened to us so often now that we never expect the restaurant to open for breakfast at the time they say.
The weather looked better but it was not long before the snow started again as we started down the road. We stayed off the Camino path since we knew it would be very wet, muddy and slippery. After about an hour we reached the next café and stopped for breakfast. The room was warm (unusual in Spain it seems) and we had café con leche and toast with butter and jam.
After breakfast we set off again along the road and between snow, sleet and finally rain we reached lower elevations but the promised sun never seemed to make it through the clouds.

This was the highest point of the day and where we found breakfast in the house in the background.

After a while it was rain rather than snow and we turned off the road on to the Camino trail which took us through a village. It was very pretty and interesting and I wish the weather had been better to take a few more photos but each time I took my phone out to take a picture I got wet from the rain.

We passed a chestnut tree in the village that is reportedly more than 800 years old.

We also went through a little village. Not many pictures since it was raining so hard

Then on to Triacastella. At one time there were three castles here but none of them have survived. I stopped at an ACM to refresh my cash and then back on the road towards Samos. On the way a small dog ran across the road barking and got a bite of my pants leg. We were approaching quite a high bridge and if it had been on the bridge he might have ended up in the river. I have read about pilgrims being attacked by dogs but this was my first experience. I will be prepared if it happens again!
We stayed on the road because the Camino paths were still very wet and muddy from the previous days' rain and snow. Werner had a problem with his leg but managed. I got my trouser leg attacked by a dog but I don't think he did any damage. Other than that we reached Samos and checked in to an albergue where we were able to wash and dry our dirty clothes. They even have heating here!
Settled in and hot showers and things looked better. The forecast is for warmer weather and the wine at €1.50 per 1 liter bottle is within our budget! The monastery is huge.
There is an albergue in the monastery but my book says it is unheated with one long room with 70 beds. The next day people told us it was extremely cold in there, unheated.

The rooms at our albergue were not yet ready so we went to the bar next door to wait. Guess what we did to pass the time. The tapas were free. The sun was out and it was warm enough to sit outside. Quite a change from the snowstorm this morning.