Day 10 - Granõn to Villambistia

Well, last night they rang the bells all bloody night and the floor was as hard as nails. Apart from that it was brilliant!

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?

Day 9 - Azofra to Granõn - Bats in the belfry

Last night I slept so well that I didn't wake until 7am. I probably needed the sleep and the legs were a bit stiff for the first five or six kms. no vineyards today, mostly wheat fields.
To give you an idea what the Camino is like; imagine getting up much earlier than you normally do, putting on your shorts, socks, boots and brushing your teeth. Next you put the equivalent of 8 or 9 bags of sugar on your back and then walk uphill for six or seven hours in the blazing heat. Every couple of hours you can top up with water from a fuente (public water tap) or if you are lucky buy a coffee or a coke and something to eat. Then you repeat this every day for five or six weeks!
Somehow this is still exhilarating - or is the heat getting to me?
Wendy asked me last night when I was going to have a rest day. It had not occurred to me to even consider it yet.

I walked through Santa Domingo de Calzada today, supposed to be my destination but decided to walk on as I prefer staying at the smaller places. Tonight I am staying in Granõn (pop about 20?) I am sleeping on a mat on the floor in the bell tower of the very old church. It is a donativo hostel (you pay what you want or can afford) and it is better than any hotel I have ever stayed in! The tranquillity, character and atmosphere is magical and relaxing. There are about 20 of us there tonight and our meal is being cooked by the volunteers who run it. They also give us breakfast before we leave at seven in the morning (another lie in!)

Some photos...long morning shadow, a slower walker than me, Some views, storks on a tower, my accommodation for the night, a pilgrim playing the mandolin and my lunch today.
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I hope they do not ring the church bells all night!

Ian.