Pilgrims

Day #10: Azofra to Granon, 13 miles

Day #11: Granon to Villafranca de Mont de la Oca, 17 miles

Day #12: Villafranca to Cardenuela Riopico, 14 miles

Monday, September 2

For a couple days we walked with a German man and his daughter (I think they are a day behind us now). When people along the way would mention staying in hotels or eating fancy meals or having their bags transported, Thomas would laugh loudly and say, "But they are not REAL pilgrims." So after 10 days I feel like we can say that we are real pilgrims--tired, sore, dirty, relaxed, strong, and happy. 

Chasing our shadows

"A real pilgrim." :)

Picnic in Santo Domingo de la Calzada-bread, cheese, local melon, ahorcadito (a local almond pastry shaped like a camino shell) and finally trying the La Rioja wine. 

The Cathedral in Santo Domingo de la Calzedo. One of the most famous legends of the Camino has to do with a miracle in this town involving a rooster. They still keep a chicken and a rooster in the church in commemoration.  

Tonight we are staying in a parish hostel, part of an ancient church in Granon. At 6:30 we fixed a communal dinner, followed by mass, then the delicious dinner of soup, and vegetables with tuna, and finally a candlelight meditation in the darkened choir loft of the church. We will be sleeping with fourteen others on mats on the floor of a loft. It is all done just as pilgrims have done for hundreds of years. The view above is from our fancy accommodations down to the common area. 

Tuesday, September 2

Our days have fallen into a pattern of early rising, packing, on the trail before daybreak, break for coffee and breakfast, break for lunch (and a siesta?), arrive at a hostel mid-afternoon, shower, have a beer or two, find some dinner, take a stroll around the village, read and write a bit, lights out at 10. Quite a life!

In eleven days on the Camino we haven't had a drop of rain and very few clouds. The Spanish sun is brutal. I see why they take siestas! I get by with SPF50 and lots of water with electrolyte tablets. 

Looking back at Granon in the day's first light. Staying there was an amazing experience. 

The old church in Belarado is built into a cliff. Those are storks' nests on the tower.  (We didn't see any storks though.)

Thursday, September 4

My family tells me that I have feet like hooves because they are normally very tough. I may have been a little too proud of not having the blisters that everyone else has-I now have four, plus two painfully cracked heels. Going is tougher but the weather is a little cooler today. 

Love all the scallop shells. 

Only 518 km to go!

Lunch stop

Fracking is controversial here, too.