Postcard Traveller

A good day generally. I found myself able to do 18 km much more easily than I had in the past, and 22 km at a push. Due to the various walking speed of individuals in our group, the time had come to separate. It’s okay. It’s a bit sad but this is how the camino is. You firm groups, get to know somehow and move on. Everyone has a schedule to meet.

We said goodbye in the albergue. It’s a newish one run by Russians. I can’t remember the name off the top of my head. I had bought some stuff for breakfast the evening before, made a hot chocolate and was ready to leave with Kay. Kay organised her bags to go by Jacotrans to Ciruena. 

We walked together to Azofra whereby I had the best cooked breakfast on the camino so far. At around 9.30, we stopped at a bar and u ordered huevas con chorizo. Best move ever. Bread for dipping but not in a sandwich, ie. Bocadillo. It was like a last meal as we knew the walking group was going to go their separate ways. At the restaurant, I was surprised to meet Sherry and Bob whom I had met at Orisson. As they are super fast, I had assumed they would be towns ahead. However, the common cold and a couple of days’ rest in logrono slowed them down.

During the walk out, it was rather rainy, but at least it was cool as compared to the previous day. I walked on to Ciruena, a rather strange town and golf estate. Unfortunately, the GFC caused the developers to go bankrupt and many properties were for sale. Actually the houses do look quite nice but who wants to buy in a place that you can’t sell?

From Ciruena, I walked in to Santo Domingo. I went to the first albergue run by Cistercian nuns. They run several. Whatever you do, don’t go to the donativo one. It is positively medieval. However the beds are very cheap at a compulsory €5. Anyway, an interesting experience, though I would suggest you go into the municipal Albergue or pay for the rooms run by the Cistercian nuns.

The visit to the cathedral was nice though you have to pay €3 for entry. What happened to the days when you could just go into church to pray? Anyway, it’s okay. The church needs money to pay for its upkeep.

I spent the evening catching up new peregrinos including Angelika from Spain, Kent from Switzerland and Anitonio from Italy, after 4 glasses of Rioja, I was pretty much slightly tipsy. It was my biggest drinking night in the camino.