Day 13 - Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz

Left at about 7:00, no breakfast in the Albergue and the restaurant not open yet. During the night I woke up several times including bumping my head on the springs of the bunk above me. The springs were so worn out that they hung down when the person was in it even though the girl up there was not very heavy. I don't think it drew blood but was painful at the time.
We hadn't hurried getting up since we have another fairly short day ahead of us and we already have a space ready for us in the private "Casa Rural". I am pleased at how well I am able to communicate with the local people even though I know very little Spanish. The Latin and French I learned at school more than 50 years really helps. Who would have thought I would ever find Latin useful?

We had a long gentle climb to start of about 250 m (800 ft) which is hardly a stretch for us Pelegrinos now, followed by a long section at about 900 meter level (3,000 ft) before descending down to Castrojeriz. The rising sun on our backs made some interesting shadows.
Along the way we stopped for our usual breakfast café con leche and arrived at Castrojeriz at about noon


We passed an old monastery along the way

 

The church of Santa Maria. Closed when we passed but I will try and see inside later

The church of Santa Maria

A ruined castle on the hill above the town.

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Our room for tonight

We showered, and ate a sandwich in the garden behind the house and then set out to see the town.

View down our street

The town hall and main square

The Santa Maria church which was still closed. Mass is at 7:30 and it is at the other end of town so I don't think we will make it.

This rose window is very famous but we won't be able to see it since the. Church is locked and the weather has turned cloudy. A shame because it is 14th century.

Pilgrim statue in the town. The town's only reason to exist really has been the constant flow of pilgrims over the last 1000 years. There used to be as many as 8 pilgrim hospitals here but these along with the associated monasteries and convents are now ruins.
A lot has been done to renovate the town and work continues. It is really a lovely, sleepy old town with a great many well preserved and renovated medieval homes and buildings.

A pilgrim statue celebrating 1,000 years of the Camino in 2001.
We went for dinner at a local restaurant which was excellent. Potato soup, beef goulash and rice pudding along with 2 bottles of local wine between the three of us.
Staying in a private house is certainly more comfortable but we decided we miss the cozy evenings around the fire or in the square with the other Peregrinos. We will be back to Albergues tomorrow. I am sure we will see some friends again.
As I was going out this evening I reached into my pants pocket and there was the missing postage stamp size piece of paper with the magic bed number 30 on it! The Camino is playing tricks on me. It has a way of bursting the bubble of pride just when you think you are in control it shows you that you are not in control. This is God's world and we need to be humble. The toothbrush, the towel and now the bed number, what will be next?
We have arranged breakfast at 7:00 with the lady here.
Today we travelled 20 km (13 miles) , an easy day. We have now covered 340 km, 214 miles on foot since we left St Jean Pied de Port in France 13 days ago.

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