Day 21: Villalcázar de Sirga to Terradillos de Templarios, 5.8km (and the Bus)
05.07.2010
Today was not one of my better days. The bar attached to the Albergue was not open when I left around 8a, so I walked 5.8km to Carrión de los Condes and stopped at the Bar España, which also happened to be the place to buy bus tickets. When I woke up this morning, my feet were already sore, even with an increased effort of stretching and NSAIDs. I'm learning to listen to my body and when my left foot says, "NO!", I have to change my plans. I was hoping to walk to Caldadilla de la Cueza, about 23km from Villacázar de Sirga, but there was a 17.5km stretch of NOTHING was really worried about.
I inquired at the bar about a ticket to Terradillos de Templarios and bought one for 3,94€, my most expensive to date. It didn't leave until 12:50p, so I set off to see the town. It was 10a, so I had a couple of hours to kill.
I was able to buy some snacks. I've become quite fond of these chocolate/coconut muesli (granola) bars. I try to buy a box whenever I see them and snack on them while walking. I bought a few of these at a grocery store I found.
There were some pilgrim statues and lots of churches in Carrión de los Condes. I went inside Santa María del Camino. I have been in so many churches over the past couple of weeks, I never know what to expect. I find most of them to be overwhelming with their ornate interiors and this one was no different.
I went back to Bar España and there was Ana and Madeleine!!! Their pilgrimage was over because Madeleine had developed tendinitis in her foot or leg. They were taking the bus home to Bilbao. It was so good to see them one last time. I hung out at the bar, waiting for the bus. I met a couple from the UK who were heading home. The wife had developed some kind of tendinitis in her leg. They do this really weird wrap in the clinics that I wish I could find out more about it. It seems like some sort of pressure dressing but I'm not entirely sure. The medical geek in me really wants to know!
The bus was on time and it seemed as soon as I got on it started raining. We made it to Terradillos de Templarios and an Italian man also got off the bus with me. It was raining good so we went over to a barn filled with cows to put our raincoats and pack covers on. I was giddy with excitement seeing cows! They were so cute. I think the Italian man thought I was crazy when I started talking to the cows. :)
We walkined into "town" and got a bit lost. We found our way once we looked down to the road and found waymarks. The Albergue was nice. I was put in a room with five beds. We had a German woman, an Italian woman and two French women plus me!
There wasn't much to do in town so I journaled, did some blogging, had a cafe con leche and took a nap.
Dinner was in the Albergue. For 8€, we were served the usual peregrino menu. Bread, wine and water. First course was a bean soup I keep running across. I'm not sure what is in it, but in this cold weather it sits real well in my tummy! Second course was trout. It was served skin and all and it was so tender, it practically fell off the bones! Dessert was fruit and I also bought some ice cream.
Tomorrow, I walk 3.3km to Moratinos to meet Rebekah, a woman I know from the online Camino forum. I am looking forward to meeting her. She has been a huge help to me in my preparations for the Camino.
Today was not one of my better days. The bar attached to the Albergue was not open when I left around 8a, so I walked 5.8km to Carrión de los Condes and stopped at the Bar España, which also happened to be the place to buy bus tickets. When I woke up this morning, my feet were already sore, even with an increased effort of stretching and NSAIDs. I'm learning to listen to my body and when my left foot says, "NO!", I have to change my plans. I was hoping to walk to Caldadilla de la Cueza, about 23km from Villacázar de Sirga, but there was a 17.5km stretch of NOTHING was really worried about.
I inquired at the bar about a ticket to Terradillos de Templarios and bought one for 3,94€, my most expensive to date. It didn't leave until 12:50p, so I set off to see the town. It was 10a, so I had a couple of hours to kill.
I was able to buy some snacks. I've become quite fond of these chocolate/coconut muesli (granola) bars. I try to buy a box whenever I see them and snack on them while walking. I bought a few of these at a grocery store I found.
There were some pilgrim statues and lots of churches in Carrión de los Condes. I went inside Santa María del Camino. I have been in so many churches over the past couple of weeks, I never know what to expect. I find most of them to be overwhelming with their ornate interiors and this one was no different.
I went back to Bar España and there was Ana and Madeleine!!! Their pilgrimage was over because Madeleine had developed tendinitis in her foot or leg. They were taking the bus home to Bilbao. It was so good to see them one last time. I hung out at the bar, waiting for the bus. I met a couple from the UK who were heading home. The wife had developed some kind of tendinitis in her leg. They do this really weird wrap in the clinics that I wish I could find out more about it. It seems like some sort of pressure dressing but I'm not entirely sure. The medical geek in me really wants to know!
The bus was on time and it seemed as soon as I got on it started raining. We made it to Terradillos de Templarios and an Italian man also got off the bus with me. It was raining good so we went over to a barn filled with cows to put our raincoats and pack covers on. I was giddy with excitement seeing cows! They were so cute. I think the Italian man thought I was crazy when I started talking to the cows. :)
We walkined into "town" and got a bit lost. We found our way once we looked down to the road and found waymarks. The Albergue was nice. I was put in a room with five beds. We had a German woman, an Italian woman and two French women plus me!
There wasn't much to do in town so I journaled, did some blogging, had a cafe con leche and took a nap.
Dinner was in the Albergue. For 8€, we were served the usual peregrino menu. Bread, wine and water. First course was a bean soup I keep running across. I'm not sure what is in it, but in this cold weather it sits real well in my tummy! Second course was trout. It was served skin and all and it was so tender, it practically fell off the bones! Dessert was fruit and I also bought some ice cream.
Tomorrow, I walk 3.3km to Moratinos to meet Rebekah, a woman I know from the online Camino forum. I am looking forward to meeting her. She has been a huge help to me in my preparations for the Camino.