Date: 14 September 2018

Departure Time: 07:05 am
Arrival Time: 12:50 pm
Distance: 21.5 kms
Cumulative Distance: 229 kms
Percentage Completed: 24.77%
Accommodation: Parador de Santo Domingo Bernardo
Weather: Cloudy at times – 24 degrees

Today was a day of mixed fortunes for us pilgrims. It was mostly very good but the bad part was a few injuries have crept in. Debra has a blister on her left heel which is not healing. She was forced to buy a different pair of shoes and has arranged to have her backpack transported tomorrow to relieve some of the pressure. Mark seems to have aggravated a very old Achilles’ tendon injury. However, so far so good , as he is ok to walk once his foot warms up. 

The walk itself was very pretty and included some classic Camino landscapes. One of the most interesting features of the day was walking through the town of Cirueña which was a failed golf course development. It truly could  be used as a set in a zombie movie. The 22 kilometre walk  passed very quickly and we are staying in the beautiful small town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Our accommodation is in a Parador and at  €81 per night it  is simply amazing value. 

A highlight of the afternoon (apart from shoe buying) was a visit to the Santa Iglesia Cathedral which began construction in 1158. There is hen house built into a cathedral wall, which houses live chickens. It relates to a story of a German pilgrim called Hugonell – it’s worth a Google. The cathedral also housed an unbelievable museum for a town this size. As we are writing this we are having beer and hamburgers – we like to be multicultural. The weather is absolutely beautiful. 

Tomorrow is a 23 kilometre walk to  Belorado.