The Tasty Pilgrim

So yesterday evening I had a lovely meal just across the street where I stay. As starters they give you a nice plate with macaroni. It is to still the first hunger. Then I choose " aroz Cubana" . Cuban rice sounded exotic, especially in this part of the world. You have some rice on a plate and a ladleful of tomato sauce, topped with a fried egg. Must confess it tasted really nice with a glass of Rioja wine. The tomato sauce is of course home made. At first I thought it was a joke, just a fancy name " aroz Cubana¨. Later I saw it on the menu of other restaurants. Stepped inside a small grocery shop and to my surprise ran into Lips again. I call her lips since she has it in her mailaddress. Anyway, slept very well, woke up several times with a pain in the heel or a muscle and just kept on drinking water every time I woke up. In the morning I felt o.k., not at all tired.

The hostallero made me some breakfast and then I set out. Unfortunately it is a misty morning. The other frustration was that there would not be any water on this stretch of the Camino. This information turned out to be wrong. I walked in the fog, but slowly it lifted and the sun came through. This is how the Camino should be !!!!! I noticed vineyards every where and in the distance mountains topped with snow. Then I came to the first village and my water bottle was empty. I asked someone and he escorted me to the village fountain. Again, lucky that I can myself understood well. Met several pilgrims I had seen before even the French older couple. At about noon the path led through the outskirts of a town. Here I went into a bar for a caffee con leche and a bocadillo. The barman pointed out the best one and told me his mom rules the kichen ! Indeed the bocadillo with omelet and ham and vegetables was a great delicay ! The toilets were clean and smelt clean ! Is this Spain, I thought ! In short the bar was spotless. I could not fault anything.

After having sat for almost one hour I put on my shoes again and walked on.

I fell into fellowhip with two young pilgrims from California. They are traveling the world and have been to India and Middle America and Argentina and the UIK and Ireland and France and are now walking the Camino. Amazing stories I heard. After the Camino they will travel the Riviera and Italy. What a wonderful life ! We came to the town on Najera, but it was still early and I decided to walk on. The town is very old and lies across a river. High up the riverbank there are caves. People used to live here in Roman times. High up we noticed an eagle´s nest. After having left Najera I walked on at my leasure enjoying the landscape.

Then I came to the town of Azofra. There used to be a refugio here run by templars from Germany.

Now there is a Municipal Refugio. So well thought out ! It has three stories and at either side a couple of toilets and showers. In other refugios you would find tens of bes in a row. Here they devided the large hall into cublicles with just two beds and two cupboards to store your things. First a warm shower and some fresh clothes and I went out for a beer. Tomorrow I will find myself in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

After having walked now for several days I have become and even more attractive young man. Even the Gods on the Olympus would be envious of my muscular legs.