Castrojeriz

Todays walk from Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz was only 12.6 miles but it felt like 20 miles. We started out at daybreak again and gradually climbed to the top of Alto Meseta. In yesterday's post I mistakenly said that this next week would be relatively flat.  What I have learned is that once you climb to the top of the Meseta its relatively flat.  Rain water tends to pool onto of the Meseta, since there is nowhere for the water to run off to. It sprinkled for about two hours today and we had a couple of miles of mud to walk through on the Meseta. Yuck! Below is a picture of our shoes after we've cleaned most of the caked on mud off them. About half way across the Meseta we decended and crossed the Rio Sansol and then climbed back up to the top of the Meseta again. Mud, mud, mud there was nothing we could do to avoid it except walk through it being very careful not to fall into it.  Finally about an hour of making our way across the Meseta we decended into the classic pilgrim village of Hontanas for a rest and bite to eat.  The rain stopped, the sun broke through, we removed our rain gear and headed for Castrojeriz about 6 miles down the road.

About three miles down the road we passed under St. Anthony's archway.  This was an ancient monastery and hospice in the 11th century and connected to the work of the hermit Saint Anthony of Egypt (San Anton Adad) patron saint of animals and is usually depicted with a pig at his feet. The Orders sacred symbol was the "T" shaped cross known as the Tau - nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet and symbolizing divine protection against evil and sickness. Increasingly referred to and worn as the Pilgrims Cross.  The Order was known for its ability to cure the medieval scourge known as Saint Anthony's Fire (a fungal skin disease often turning gangrenous leading to death) essentially by using the power of the Tau (Love) in its healing practice.

Castrojeriz is famous for its Garlic Festival in July. Tonight I had some really tasty garlic soup which is very popular in this region of Spain, cod with red peppers and flan for dessert. Lee had a pasta soup and succulent prawns a rice pudding for dessert.  We are both fat and happy tonight!

While walking to our hotel this afternoon we came across a skull and crossbones carved in stone on the side of a building.  Above it was carved "Mors".  I am guessing this meant death to the Mors.  The Mors were Muslims that took over most of Spain centuries ago until the Christian armies fought and drove them out of Spain. There are history books written about the wars if you are interested.

Below is are a couple of pictures of the hotel room we are staying in tonight (yes a bath tub!) as well as other pictures from today.  We head to Fromista tomorrow.