Sur le Chemin de Arles,Via Tolosana

Sur le Chemin de Arles,Via Tolosana
pilgrim route from Toulouse to Puente la Reina

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Walking Day 18

Today was another day on the Mesa.  We were on the Camino at 0611 and it was muy frio.  The sky had cleared and Venus led our way West.  We found a small bar open at 0730 for Cafe con Leche and a Chocolate pastry that fortified us for the next hours.  We arrived in Sahagun at 1000 and found WeeFee (WiFi) and quickly posted the 17th, read our emails and saw some ruins from the XI c. The most important Benedict Monastary in Espania and a church dating back to the same time with many repairs and ultimate failure were the signature of this small town.  The choice from here was to follow the highway (like I-5) or take the Roman road of isolation.  As you have guessed we went left with the Romans.  This was a nice change from the bordom of the mesa.  Here we found rolling countryside with small forest glades of scub oaks etc.  We now were alone with no hoards or bikes.  This must have been what it was like centuries ago.  We came across a fuente (fountain) for pilgrims that had the best tasting water to date.  On we went till we found our destination of Calzadilla de los Hermainillos, a quiet hamlet of well maintained homes with BMW´s etc parked in front of their homes.  Here we found our respite at the muni albergue that is by donation only.  The proprietor is a volunteer who has done the Camino 3 times, the last falling ill and being helped by other pilgrims.  So each year he spends 2 or 3 weeks running an albergue as his give back.  The pilgrim dinner tonight was a wonderful asparigus and leek soup with pork chops or pollo, and flan.  The young couple that ran the hostel seemed very upbeat despite the low dinner attendence as their season is drawing to a close.  Onward we march with Leon 2 days away and a rest day in sight.
Al reporting....

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