Cathedral of Santa Maria de Leon....

Last night in Carrion I was strolling the old part of the city, when I came across the Church of Iglesias Santa Maria. The door was open and I heard a rosary being preformed.  I walked in and it was filled with nuns of a different order from where I stayed the night before with some other pilgrims.  Then to my surprise the singing started.  It was beautiful.  The acoustics just raised you up by itself.

Another miracle on the Camino!

Words fail to describe the splendor of the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Leon

The picture cannot describe the size of Plaza de San Marcos and the size of Parador de San Marcos itself.

And they keep asking me for directions...

This is where I'm at....

Where I'm staying.

 Notice the templar influence.

 How can you get lost?

 

 San Martin

Strange things on the Camino.....

Trekked 14 km from Itero to Fromista.  I like walking just before sunrise as the day is fresh and you get to see the sunrise.  The Meseta is flat and rich in crops of corn and wheat.  All you see is corn and wheat, corn and wheat!  Fromista has a beautiful roman influenced building in the center of town, numerous tour groups dash in and out.   A guy on the Camino says he is 92?  And I saw a guy hauling his pack in a wheel barrow?  You can see strange things on the Camino!

Buen Camino

Spanish omelette and french bread in the morning after a 5k walk.

Taking a break.

 

Back on the way....

Spent the night in Castrojeriz.  A small village built on the south side of a hill away from the north winds.  There was said to be a castle on top of hill guarding the entire valley.  The knights who built these castles strategically placed them to view anyone approaching.  The towns people leave bottles of water for the traveling pilgrims.  The shell has not failed me yet.

The view from where I stayed.

Knights everywhere.

                       
The landscape is back!  Walked 12 km! Up a 13percent grade and down an 18 percent grade.  The views were spectacular!  I talked with a gal sporting a Sedona, AZ hat and saw a guy doing the camino on a unicycle? Crossed the bridge where Scheen had his mishap in "The Way"! Right now the town of Itero de la Vega is on siesta and I am watching my laundry dry!  I love the relaxed atmosphere of rural Espana!  Muy buen!

 The bridge to Itero.

Leprechauns at the top.

Burgos and a camino miracle.....

In Burgos I had a wonderful pilgrim's dinner of soup, salad, a Spanish omelette and yogurt.  It was announced at dinner that a pilgrim blessing would be held at the convent.  I sat next to one of the Sisters.  She helped me follow along.  After the blessing she told me in Spanish  that I am not alone and I am traveling with a companion. Another camino miracle....

 Where I stayed

Whenever I am lost, I can look at this picture or follow the shells.

Why?

The question every pilgrim must answer.......                    

                   

                                  

 2 reasons why......

                  

A day of rest....

 After walking 15km (the farthest yet!) yesterday, I decided to take a day of rest in Santa Domingo.

A battle of the community drumlins broke out!  All ages participated.  They played in front of the judges at the town plaza.

The cathedral in Santa Domingo.  Notice St. James in the middle.  Buen Camino, peregrino.

While in Santo Domingo I stayed at a monastery run by nuns.  I was afraid to look sideways, Memories of Sr. Mary Aquin!  Haha!