Tuesday, July 2 3: Castrojeriz to Boadilla del Camino

I walked 20 km today. 

Vance from Alabama caught up with me before the end of town. He walked with me all day. He told me the stories of Saint Ignatius and Saint Constantine. 

We stopped in one of the towns to get some lunch and Vance had the guy making the most complicated sandwich in Spain. And he used ma as a translator. It's a good thing it was about food because that is half my vocabulary. Vance wanted a tomato cut in half which he then rubbed into the bread himself, lots of olive oil and ham and cheese. For Spain that is a real complicated sandwich. At most there are one or two things on the bread. 

I was so excited to see sunflower fields. I thought it was to early for them as most have been green. 

A small pilgrim hospital/albergue where they offered advice on foot ailments 

Right after this picture Vance and I were standing on the bridge and two bus oil tanker trucks zoomed by. We were looking in the opposite direction and didn't hear them coming. They came within inches of us. It gave us quite a startle. 

We decided to stop at Boadilla del Camino and stay at the albergue with a pool, Albergue En el Camino, €6. This albergue is so cute. It has a nice courtyard with a beautiful garden and several metal sculptures. 

The two teachers from near Manchester England, Lucy and Lindsey, met a history teacher in one of the villages. He just started talking to them while they were sitting at a cafe. He even brought them over to his house and then told them he would pick them up at the albergue and take them to see some of the local churches. The girls invited Vance then Vance invited me. 

So at 6:00 we met Jose with his car. It was the First time in I have been in a car since mom dropped me off at the airports little over a month ago. 

Santoyo- St John the Baptist- beauitiful Baroque organ, 6th century baptismal fountain and a series of reliefs of the life of John the Baptist behind the alter. No photos allowed inside. 

Tamara-San Hilpólito de Real built in 1037 to commemorate the battle of Tamara which united the provinces of Castillo and Lyon. The most beautiful of the three. Only 50 people live in the town today but it used to be a real big town. 

Formista- San Martin boult around 1066, almost 1000 years ago! It was rather plain inside compared to most Spanish churches. I think they wanted to showcase the original architecture, especially the carvings on the tops of the columns. 

In Fromista we ran into Maria and Roisin again. They are just so nice. They great you with hugs and enthusiasm. 

Before we got back Vance and Jose made plans for dinner tomorrow. Vance is obsessed with the roast lamb in the area having heard it is the best anywhere. So tomorrow Jose it taking us to the best restaurant for lamb. 

Lucy, Lindsey, Jose and Vance

We made it back to the albergue in time for dinner, which is a good thing because there isn't a grocery store in this town. Dinner was delicious. They brought out the first course family style. Two big bowls, one of garlic soup which is made using yesterday's bread and a stew with chickpeas. Both were so yummy and I refuse to even eat chickpeas back home. The main course was a choice of fried fish, roast chicken or stewed beef. I chose the chicken of course and it was delightful. It was juicy and well seasoned. It also came with a side salad. They brought us each a freezer section ice cream cone. 

Our bellies full we headed off to bed. The guy on the bunk below me moved non stop, shaking the bunk all night. And I don't understand why people think they can just close the window in the middle of the night. It gets too hot. If you are cold use the use your sleeping bag, don't have one use blanket they provided you. Stop closing the window.