Andalusian pilgrims demand their money back after discovering that in Galicia "opening the umbrella" is an Olympic sport
"They told us that we were coming to the Camino de Santiago, not to some frogman exams," several walkers joke after a week of intermittent rain
He Camino de Santiago It is full of surprises. Some are spiritual, others gastronomic and others... meteorological. This week, a group of Andalusian pilgrims starred in a funny scene when they arrived in Galicia and discovered that the umbrella is not an optional accessory, but practically an extension of the human body.
«In Seville they told us to bring a raincoat just in case. What they did not explain to us is that here the 'just in case' lasts three provinces," one of the pilgrims commented with a laugh while trying to dry, for the third time in the same day, some socks that have already seen more stages than many veterans of the Camino.
The situation has given rise to constant jokes among walkers, some of whom claim to have developed new skills after crossing the Galician border.
«Before I opened the umbrella in ten seconds. Now I do it in less than one. "I'm going to compete in the Olympic Games in the north," said a pilgrim, laughing while avoiding a suspiciously dark cloud.
Of course, there was no shortage of references to one of the great meteorological mysteries of the community: the famous cow that supposedly predicts the weather.
«They told us that if the cow lay down it was because it was going to rain. After five days here we have come to the conclusion that the cow is lying down due to psychological exhaustion," explained another pilgrim with notable resignation.
However, the Galicians themselves were quick to debunk some of the most widespread myths.
«It's sunny here too. The problem is that when it comes out, we all stop what we are doing to go celebrate it,” said a Melide neighbor while looking for sunglasses that, as he confessed, he had not used since last summer.
Beyond the humor, the truth is that the Galician climate is part of the identity of the Camino de Santiago. The rain, fog and the intense green of the landscapes are inseparable elements of the Jacobean experience and, for many pilgrims, they constitute some of their most special memories.
Because after each downpour there usually comes an improvised conversation under a porch, a hot coffee shared between strangers or the satisfaction of completing a stage despite the difficulties.
And although many arrive convinced that the north is a kind of permanent water park, most end up leaving with an unexpected conclusion: the Galician climate can test patience... but it also offers some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Camino.
Of course, as a precaution, experts recommend always carrying three essential things: a credential, a good raincoat and a sense of humor.
Because in Galicia, as many veteran pilgrims say, If you wait five minutes, the time changes... and will probably change again another five minutes later.
