Heat

We have heard that energy is very expensive here in Spain. People are careful to turn off lights and they are frugal with indoor heating. Charlie and I knew that we were coming when the weather would still be cold but all we really thought about was how we’d feel hiking in the cold weather and decided we had enough to keep warm and dry while hiking. Turned out we barely did. I threw in a light-weight fleece hat just a few minutes before we headed for the airport. I had packed two buffs and had some misguided idea they would keep my head and ears warm. I’m so glad I threw in that hat. I’ve worn it nearly constantly. But, basically, we haven’t been too uncomfortable hiking in the cold. It’s the hotels and hostels and pensions and albergues and B&Bs that are the problem. And restaurants and bars to some extent.

One strange thing was that on our first night on the Camino, in Bercianos del Camino, there was a large radiator in the room blasting out heat and we couldn’t figure out how to turn it off. We were way too warm that night. The next morning the owner proudly asked us if we were warm enough. I smiled and told him “yes, thank you” and held back saying “way too warm!”. Now I know why he was so proud of providing a warm room. Just about everywhere else we’ve stayed has been cold. Some better than others and some just barely tolerable. After we checked into our Airbnb here in A Coruña and our landlady showed us around I asked her “hay califacción?” She showed us two electric space heaters (the kind that look like little radiators). So, the first thing we did the next morning was shop for something warm to wear in the apartment. Our landlady told us about Decathlon, an inexpensive chain that sells sports clothes. We found some warm but not-too-heavy fleece shirts that work nicely and we’ll be able to take them with us back to the Camino for the cold hotels. Charlie also bought some big thick fleecy socks at a China store that he can wear around indoors.

PS. We’ve blogged about the China stores in previous years. They are all over Spain. There is one just down our street named, in Spanish, “Store of Gifts China”. They are crammed with stuff, just about anything you can imagine. Most is low quality and quite cheap. But sometimes you can find just what you need. And they always seem to be open even when all the other stores are closed during the long mid-day break.