The walk today was a bit boring; green wheat fields in all directions and a long walk alongside a main road for about four hours. It is very hot but there is a wonderful breeze.
Paul and I walked past an albergue with a real swimming pool, all facilities and just 5 euros a night. It was only midday and we felt we should walk further. This could be a mistake. They had no weefee yesterday or at the pool albergue (rhymes with gay) so we stopped in the village of Belorado in the region Castilla y Leon (we left Rioja this morning) for our fix of coffee and weefee.
The afternoon walk was much better and varied with hills, trees of oak and pine, many colourful flowers and the birds are singing again (except the eagles, of which there are many)
These small pueblos are very peasant, they look after their houses and gardens with great care. Also everyone is much friendlier. Everyone calls out "Hola, Buenas Dias" or "Buen Camino."
We have stopped in Villambistia (population about 50) at a newly built albergue which is above a local bar. (bummer) It is very nicely decorated and tiled, fresh sheets and pillowcases for us, the owners wife has just offered to wash and dry all our clothes in a machine. Free weefee, cheap beer and food, for 6 euros a night. (no swimming pool, but cheap beer (did I already say it was very cheap beer?)
Yesterday I lost my hat when I stopped for lunch in Santa Domingo de la Calzada. I should write a song about it; "I left my hat in San Domingo, High on a hill, it calls to me."
We are sitting in the sun and I thought I saw a cloud just now, maybe not?
We have now walked a total of 250 kms (about 155 miles, nearly a third of the way to Santiago)
Look for the storks on the church. A special stone, a possible cloud, a clue to our location this morning, some huge wheat fields and a hint of the temperature (scorchio!)
Muchas gracias, Ian.
ps Instead of a rest day I may have some cheap beer, excellent cheap food and an early night.
What did you do today?
good going ian, a third of the way there, some 250km and no rest yet ..that's amazing.......or did i mis-understand? (must be all the expensive beer here going to my head). Good Camino and Cheers! Steve n and Ros.
ReplyDeletegood morning and happy fathers day! Glad to see youre doing well and ahead of schedule.. looks like the weathers being kind also (better than here!) i will be in south france/spain myself from Fri 13th for a jolly, so we may cross paths along the way! have fun and take care, Mike.
ReplyDeleteHerman the german and Ian on a walking trip in Spain.
ReplyDeleteThey had gone to bed and were lying there looking up at the sky. Herman said, "Ian, look up. What do you see?
"Well, I see thousands of stars."
"And what does that mean to you?"
"Well, I guess it means we will have another nice day tomorrow. What does it mean to you, Herman?"
"To me, it means someone has stolen our tent."
Happy and safe walking Ian, best wishes Andrew.
Really enjoying the daily updates, Ian! Hope you can keep them going. Your great descriptions and the pics really bring the trip to life for us back home.
ReplyDeleteTim and I missed you at the Cow Club last Friday. It was packed out for the England game, and the air con packed up. Shock news is that the beer has gone up to £2.50! (was 2.40)
Had a reasonable summer's day today. I went to Brighton to meet our Andy after his London to Brighton bike ride. It was less windy than of late and some sunshine, so conditions for his cycling were good. We then had to sit on the seafront drinking beer and eating lunch. Yesterday we could hardly stand up on Portsmouth sea front, and when up the Spinnaker Tower I could feel it flapping in the wind. Amazing that none of these storms have hit northern Spain - hope it stays like that.
Cheers ... Dave