Greetings! 14.1 miles and 32,413 steps. We have a very pleasant day in the high Meseta of Spain. I can't figure out why people claim it is flat. Perhaps it is the vastness of the horizon. You can see for miles and miles and it is all green, lush verdant green broken only by the clear blue of the sky. We had two very long up hill climbs and then it was mild rolling hills.
Saw this Peregrino as I left Hornillos del Camino. I guess everyone is "doing" the Camino these days.
There are mountains in the background in every direction.
And on the crests are windmill farms. Spain is very conscious of saving the environment with earth friendly energy and many types of recycling bins. Do you realize that in terms of Mother Earth, we are fast becoming a third world country with our big gas guzzling vehicles and our continued use of fossil fuels? Petrol is so expensive in Europe that you just don't see big vehicles. I know I could certainly do better and visiting other countries shames me.
This is a little different type of Camino Cross. I see these often and this one was at the highest point of the day.
Looking down to a Hontanas provides a little idea of the vastness of the Meseta. The Meseta is the high central plains of the Iberian Peninsula.
The church of the Immaculate Conception in Hontanas. The town has a population of seventy people and yet the church was open and a stamp for my credentials was available.
There was this little altar with books in various languages and photos of modern day saints and amazing Christians.
More Camino information.
Look at this beautiful purple flower growing in the middle of the road. Walking on the Meseta is a series of one lane rock roads. Cars are rare except as you approach a village, then you might see one. You are more likely to see a tractor or farm vehicle. There isn't much cover or shade and it gets hot in the afternoon.
It is almost like a desert in some places and when the sun beats down, it feels like a desert. And yet there is so much green.
The sixteenth century, Arco San Antón is situated amongst the ruins of the ancient Convento de San Antón. The convent was built in 1146. The Antonion Monks would leave bread and food for the pilgrims.
The Church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano ("Our Lady of the Apple Tree") or Iglesia de Santa María del Manzanois a Catholic church in the town of Castrojeriz." Both times I have been in this town, the church as been closed. I would love to see the inside of it.
A little trip down memory lane! I had a 1965 robin's egg blue beetle. This one was older but in absolute mint condition. You only had heat at fifty miles an hour! And the engine was in the back.
This was a bit ominous!
We had a dickens of a time finding our hotel. I had he same problem last time I stayed here in Castrojeriz and it was the same hotel. I knew we were getting close when I saw the statue of St James. I remembered it from before. The biggest problem is that the name of the hotel is no where to be found. But we are safe and sound anxiously waiting for dinner. Oh, wait it is wine time! Adios!
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