Today began in Palas and ended in Arzua, just 40 kilometers from Santiago. Unfortunately, that meant an 18 mile walk with just enough vertical to remind us that Santiago is in charge. Fortunately, the weather was magnificent and walking through forests of Eucalyptus trees was surrealistic.

Also en route to Arzua we passed through the bustling small town of Melide, once an important intersection in the Roman Via Traiana and the northern Camino route which comes down from the Cantabrian coast. It is most celebrated for its pulpo (octopus) which is sold in nearly all the town’s restaurants.

We entered from Galicia's Lugo province into La Coruña, one of four provinces in Galicia. Beautiful chestnuts and oaks, native to the region, gradually giving way to fragrant forests of eucalyptus, imported to the region for use in construction in the 19th century. The town of Arzúa, the first town we walked through today, is known for its creamy cow cheese. We liked the four cheese pizza!