Castrojeriz Albergue Casa Nostra

The terrain changed dramatically today.  We left Hornillos at 7:00 this morning just before sunrise.  It was a steady climb to get to the top of our lonely Meseta for our morning walk.  Peace and quiet prevailed...Andy and I are thinking the crowds are thinning as the days go by.  The climb wasn't long and we were on top of the vast, flat plateau, covered for miles in all directions with grains and sunflowers.  We were at 3117 feet on the meseta.  The grains have all been harvested and the sunflowers are drying out in preparation for harvesting.  They seem to have a different variety here in this region...smaller plants and smaller heads leaning toward the sun.  In the two hundred miles we have walked already we have not seen such flat ground.  It is truly amazing...and we are liking it!

We saw the nearly full moon last night but did not see it this morning.  There were lots of stars out.   We walked a little over 6 miles in two hours and stopped in the town of Hontanas for a treat - coffee and pastry.  It was a pretty little place and seemed quite wealthy.  The houses were all really nice and kept up very well.  It's another classic pilgrim village off a minor road...largely undiscovered except by pilgrims.  As we came down the steep decline into the village there was a cute little stone building with a statue of Mary and the baby Jesus - a place for quiet reflection next to a nice park overlooking the city.  The parish church Conception XIVth Century dominated the town skyline and then the city squares as we approached.  A nice fountain provided us with cool waters at the back of the church.

As we left town there was a beautiful new home in the style of a castle with a stone statue/water spigot in the shape of a naked man.  You can only imagine where the water came out...it was covered with a green leaf.  Someone has a sense of humor.  Just past the village was a very large municipal swimming pool...somewhat unusual from what we can see.  From there we walked on a nice path along the edge of a large hill.  It was well developed and  nice to walk on and see the countryside.
We walked along a country road for a while and when we walked around a corner we were suddenly
among the splendid ruins of an ancient convent of San Anton.  The Order's sacred symbol was the T shaped cross known as the TAU  - a letter of the Greek alphabet and symbolizing divine protection against evil and sickness.  It was often worn as the Pilgrim Cross.

Around the next corner opens the first view of Castrojeriz which is built on levels along and around a large hill/mountain.  A prominent castle ruin stands sentinel over the town and countryside.  We are always excited when we can see our destination for the day.  Andy and I seem to take turns subconsciously stepping up the pace in order to get there.  Andy tends to put his head down, swing his arms, and it looks like he is walking with a mission.

The town is long (about a mile) and lies on levels between the country road and the hill.  We had picked out Albergue Casa Nostra as the place to stay tonight.  It is located in a traditional town house right on the Main Street and on the Camino route.  We got there at 11:30 and it opened about 20
minutes later.  We were the first couple in line after several singles and the young man running the
place offered us a nice little semi private little alcove with just our bunk bed in it.  Bonus!

Andy and I had lunch outside at a little cafe and then did our laundry and took showers.  We also made our way down to the bottom level of town to get food supplies for tomorrow.  Breakfast is included at this Albergue so we will see if that is bread and jam again.  I walked around town while Andy rested.  There are at least five churches in town of only 600.  there are several overlook points with benches at our level near the top of the town.  Very nice and warm in the sun.  Seems like a nice town and it is very scenic.

A few days ago we saw some pilgrims we had stayed with back in Cizur Menor.  The Albergue was robbed the night after we were there.  Someone got into one of the dorms and went thru backpacks
while people were sleeping...stole over 700 Euro and about a dozen cell phones.  So grateful we have not had incidents or problems.  I keep the iPad, iPhone, my camera, and my money/passport in a nylon bag in the bottom of my sleeping bag every night.  Anything else in my pack isn't worth
much...in fact some it won't be going home with us!

Lots and lots of rocks on and along the Camino.

Hontanas -a classic pilgrim village church.

A little place to pray and meditate outside of town.

This funny guy was in the yard of a beautiful home.  Someone had covered his privates with green leaves...

Ruins of the ancient convent of San Anton

Hilltop castle established in the 9th century

Iglesia Santa Maria on the edge of town

Albergue Casa Nostra across the street from Iglesia de Santo Domingo.