Postcard Traveller

This morning I left with no breakfast other than the baked goods in my back pack. I was hoping for a hot drink in Castrojeriz but alas, no bars were open. I trudged on out of town with the others. I feel I must be the slowest one because soon I am the last in a long line of peregrinos. I am walking all be but I am happy. With my sticks, my backpack, my pockets etc, I finally struggle to get my headphones in my ears. I eat the croissant I bought yesterday. It is dry and horrible. I stick the rest of it into my jacket. Maybe it will get better as I get hungrier. 

I stop a couple of times, mainly to remove layers for temperature management before struggling up this hill. It’s a steep hill. It reminds me of the climb to Orisson but feels easier than 3 weeks ago. Am I fitter? I get into a rhythm and step by step I am soon at the top with a commanding view of the lie of the land. A good point in old days to watch for an invading enemy force. It’s a short walk across the top before a steep descent. I now descend more easily than I did in Roncevalles. I zig zag across the oath like I’m skiing and my poles support my feet in opposite directions. 

Soon, I have walked 10 km and I am at the town of Itega de Vega. Several bars are open and they are competing for business. This is unusual. Anyway, I head off to the third bar, assuming it is less crowded than the others. They had a kitchen on offer with bacon and eggs fry up. Yes! A caliente desayuno! I saw Sylvia. She’s walking with Kim from Switzerland and Kim, a South Korean pilgrim. I had my fry up and left town. I was headed to Boadilla.

Up till then my feet felt good. But I started to feel a squishiness in my boot. Uh-oh. Still it didn’t hurt and I continued to march on, but decided I would go no further than Boadilla today. Besides, I wanted to stay at the Albergue En El Camino. I had good reports of Eduardo.

Eduardo is such a flirt. But he is a gracious host and this albergue is a lively one to stop at. It’s the first albergue where I stepped in ready to present my credencial, passport and money and he says after your shower. It makes all the difference to feeling welcomed. (But don’t think you can pull a fast one. I’m sure Eduardo remembers who’s paid and who hasn’t.)

He shows us the room and I pick a lower bunk bed. The shower is nice. I was the third pilgrim in. I met Mike and David, the latter turning out to be a blog writer (NeverLostForWords) I’m also following on WordPress. I think it’s cool. We head out for a lovely beer and some food in the restaurant/garden. Eduardo, his brother Pedro and their parents have done a great job. For a Saturday afternoon, the place is humming with people coming and going. Local townsfolk turn up for lunch looking very well dressed amongst the smelly and sweaty pilgrims. 

It’s a great place to chill. And though the wifi is crap, I forgive them because the place was wonderfully chillaxing. A word of caution on the evening meal – it’s not great. Might be better to get a plato combinado instead. What is this? Well, you order bits of your favourite and they combine it into one plate.

Otherwise, great albergue!

Did I check out Boadilla? Nope.