As luck would have it, the guy who was driving us back to Hornillos so that we could continue from there to Castrojeriz, was also transporting our luggage, so he dropped Ian and Tanya off and then drove me and the bags to our hotel for the night. Not only was he awfully kind, but the owner of this place let me go straight to my room (at 9:00 a.m.) where I took a hot bath to stop the shivers and then fell into bed. A few hours later I felt much better, and now am back on my feet, ready to tackle the trail again.
Sheets and towels drying in the yard of the hotel:
For those people who cannot get enough of cats, here is one, much better fed than most we have seen, with blue eyes
I don't get it either:
Since there are no momentous photos from the day's walk, some observations (more detailed than previously covered) will substitute.
Weekends: From Saturday afternoon until Monday, everything shuts down. It is like shabbos in Jerusalem except without the siren! Just try to get something in a shop; no es posible.
Albergues: A surprising number of people have had great difficulty getting accommodation. The albergues fill up extremely early in the day, and even if walkers have the means to stay at any grade of hotel, those are often full, too. Their options are to sleep on a church floor, if a church floor is available, or outside, and this without a sleeping bag. Sometimes they call ahead to the next town and try to book there....if they can get transportation. That accommodation might be an issue during the summer months would not be surprising, but in late September, who would think?
Coping with the 8:30 dinner hour. Just about every town has at least one restaurant that serves a "peregrino" dinner. This is a fixed price meal consisting of three courses, bread and wine. The main difference between it and a regular, later dinner is the limited choice, and, of course, you are locked into the three course and wine thing. The first course will include a choice of salad or soup, sometimes a pasta dish. Second: a meat and either chicken or fish, sometimes a vegetarian option. Third: flan, ice cream, rice pudding or some other like confection. Portions tend to be small. No one has complained that the house wine is inferior.
Going to the bathroom en route: There is little shelter, but if one is desperate, one can usually find a spot after a bit. Also, any town that sells food and drink, even the smallest establishment, will have servicios; they are always spotless.
Is the walk difficult? No, it really isn't. Weather makes a difference on any long distance walk, and we have been lucky, very very lucky. We walk at a decent pace, which allows us several afternoon hours at our destination to freshen up, do laundry, rest, organize for the next day, and still see something of the town we are are in. It's a lovely life!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Caastrojeriz
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