Day 53 - My mama always told me...

Never ride in cars with strangers. Never take candy from strangers.

I have never been very good at listening to my mama.

One of our trail family is an Irish girl, expert in hitchhiking, and fluent in Spanish. I wanted to try hitching, and before Cz could veto the idea, had sold our return bus tickets to our Hungarian and Slovakian and made a hitching poster.

Irish girl and I stood on the side of the road, thumbs out, and sang " A Santiago Hoy, A Santiago Hoy" (To Santiago today, To santiago today) and waved our sign. Cz cringed and watched our packs.

Our first ride was a young man who was only planning to go 3Km. He said he had some free time, and took us 16Km to a good intersection near a gas station where people fill up before going on long trips.

Our next ride was an older couple going nearly to Santiago. They chatted with Irish Girl, and plied us with cherry candies all the way to their destination. They then decided that Santiago is "only" 20Km out of the way (a whole day on foot!), but they wanted to ensure we got there safely. Remember what I said about Spanish Grandmas?

It was a great adventure altogether, though Cz has made me promise no more hitching. At least not in countries where we don´t speak the language or are not with a pro.

Our last afternoon in Santiago was mostly spent at the bus station seeing family off, and then buying our tickets to Germany. we did go back by the Cathedral to see it lit up at night - very impressive. and, lucky timing, Santiago was beginning their outdoor festival celebrating student musicians, so our final walk through the city was filled with music and light.