Finding treasure on the Camino de Santiago

SUNDAY 19th JUNE 2016 – Carrion de Los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza

Km’s walked – 18.99; steps taken – 25554; floors – 0

“It is your road …. And yours alone …. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you!” Anon

In all the excitement of telling you about yesterday’s adventures, I forgot to tell you that Carrion de Los Condes was a really lovely little town. Vibes and energetic and ful of life. The Hotel I stayed at was really good.  Jose who was my host, cook, laundry person, was just so warm and welcoming. You meet such beautiful people on this path. A lovely town, and a good stay.

I got Babar to reception by 8am as instructed, went for breakfast and sat completing my blog until 10h30.  I knew I would regret the heat later, but it was important for me to catch up. Interestingly enough when I left at 10h30, the town was still really quiet as it was Sunday. Surprisingly, I was looking forward to walking alone and was kitted out with my picnic (purchased the day before at supermarket) for later. 

I am seeing beauty in everything and making a point of it, but I have to say at some point that long flat, straight road produced mirages of people for me. I was all alone for at least an hour, and then I saw some pilgrims, it felt like I was in a wilderness.  And, I have to say it was beautiful. It was a different landscape yet again, and the outstanding feature was the flowers (BIG YELLOW ONES THAT LOOK LIKE HUGE DANDILIONS), and birds, that just did not move, they stayed in place so I could take photos, they were my angels today keeping me company. A tough road, (like running when the road is flat, it just feels never ending). Gratefully it is spectacular otherwise it would be really be challenging on the mind. 

I walk and walk and walk and walk, (Brierley has warned us that it is long and hot and not shady and tough), he is right for a change. I don’t let it get to me I focus on the beauty of the flowers and the landscape. I come across a mobile cafe in a shady area at kilometer 14. I buy a shandy (not my drink if choice but it’s cold), I have my picnic and I move on for the next lonnnnngggggggg 4kms.

I see a tower shortly afterwards, what looks like a church spire and I get excited. But I know by now that those spires trick you into thinking you are there, but you stil have miles to go. I convince myself it’s a random spire in a filed as I see nothing else. I have been singing “SOund of Music” tracks for very long. I have listened to the entire album and had my own private karaoke. Thank goodness there were no Pilgrims. I walk, I sing, I take pictures. I walk, I sing, I take pictures. Suddenly I come over a ride and there is CALZADILLA DE LA CUEZA. The best thing I ever saw. 

I wander in over the hill, into the hamlet, find my Hostal, and I am greeted by the beautiful site of Babar in the entrance (I do of course hug him when I see him), and the most arable, and touchy host I have ever had. Cesar Adamez (many accents missing, sorry).  He is so gracious and so kind and so interested and can’t speak more than five English words, but somehow we get one another. And there’s a lift.  But he helps me all the way to my room gives me a big hug and promises to give me a picnic as I am leaving before breakfast. 

A lovely evening with Jennie (who left after me and still got there before me).  A ten Euro pilgrim menu that was delicious. By now you know we get wine and water and bread and dessert (which I never have). A lovely evening chatting to Jennie, and then the best night sleep in ages. 






CAMINO GIFTS: the birds and the frogs keeping me company.  The flowers keeping me interested in taking photos and not focusing on the long road. A beautiful haven offered by Cesar who has done 8 Caminos.