Arrived today to Bercianos de Camino Real after an 18.7 miles walk. I actually got my first blister on the back of my right foot hill. I would say great after more than 275 miles in. Using my Keen hiking sandals tomorrow.

Today the weather was again fantastic, couldn’t asked for better weather to walk. On the road we found Roman bridges, ancient churches, hobbits houses (need to read the fine print), Templar statues. A lot of time for deep meditation. These are some of the pictures:

The Roman Bridge, the Templar church and the Templar statue as you enter Sahagún city is a must do.

Buen camino

Hoy fue un día interesante y largo camino de 30.7 km. Hoy, el tiempo fue fantástico, el sol estuvo con nosotros y la temperatura fue perfecta para caminar. Hoy, también fue el día que me salió la primera ampolla en mis pies.

En este día glorioso de nuestro señor camine por un paisaje súper precioso.

Me conseguí en el camino lo que yo creía en la distancia que eran casas de Hobits, pero para mi sorpresa son cavernas de más de 500 años y son usadas para guardar vino y comida para sobrevivir durante los inviernos

También hoy tuve la oportunidad de ver puentes hechos durante el imperio romano y estatuas de los Templares

Hoy también tuve la oportunidad de comer pláticas de cochino que tenía más de 30 años sin comer.

Buen comino

Today there were good things and boring things on a 19.3 miles walk.

The good thing is that the weather was beautiful, blue sky and sunny. Also, with today’s walk, I achieved around 280 miles, that is an average of 16.5 miles per day. Better than my plan.-

The not so good on the day is that there was 13 miles of strait trail and I mean strait, it reminded me Illinois after they harvest the corn, you can see for miles, the main difference that it was planted and it was beautiful green with the mountain capped with snow on one side.

It was so long, that I started to see mirages. I was looking for a tower of a church that would indicate that the town was coming. To my lock the town was in a valley and you couldn’t see anything until you were in top of the village. I got there and ordered the biggest beer they had, rest for an hour and started the last 3.5 miles.

After been at this Albergue without Wi-Fi or coffee facilities I started my walk on a rainy, cold and windy morning. What a change from yesterday.

I walked nearly 18 miles and there is not much to talk about because my head was down concentrating on the path, however there are a few highlights.

I walked on a portion of another ancient Roman road. This road is probably 2000 years + old and I was stepping on it.

Later on there was a huge hill to climb, alto Mostelares. The hard part is when you are walking and see in front of you the big climb ahead.

The other hard part is that when you think that you are at the top, just to find out that you are just half way to the summit.

Today was an 18.5 miles walk, I am getting good at this. I didn’t have a good night last night, my body is fighting a cold. The weather helped today, no rain and even though was overcast I saw the sun a few times, not enough for sunglasses.

It was a bit boring walk-in day, flat and the trail was next to a main road, not much to see, just walk.

At the end, I checked myself at an alberga with private room with share bathroom. Two good things, the other room wasn’t taking so the bathroom was all for myself, second, it has a bath tub, which I used with the bath salt that I got in Burgos. A bath is meaningful in El camino that I cannot describe the feeling you get when you summer on it after walking over 18 miles.

I have some update from yesterday, but the internet here is weak and I cannot upload the pictures.

Buen camino

www.relive.cc/view/rt8363784497

Today was a good day, the sun finally decided to show up!! I walked 18.7 miles to San Bol. the journey was interesting since it was the first time since I started that I separate from the complete group that I has been traveling with. The Swiss took a bus in Burgos to get ahead about 80 miles in order to make it to Santiago by May 1.

Anyway, I went out of our normal routine of coffee 4-5 miles in, beer and lunch about the 12 miles, more beer about the 16 miles out and then wine at the end. It didn’t happened today.

On the way, I found a chapel ran by nuns and it was the first time that I saw the Virgin Mary being the center of the altar small Jesus in the cross on the top. The old ladies where so nice and one of them gave me small pendant of the Virgin Mary and a great blessing in the name of Virgin Mary for the rest of my Camino. It almost brought tear to my eyes.

So I made my mind to stop at San Bol, specking small village. What I found was a farm house in the middle of nowhere with 12 bets. The place was ram by a Cuban lady and besides me there were 3 other pilgrim, all of them women, good for me. One is from Finland, another from Sweden and the other from Chile. We have the dinner there, simple but good, but, just one glass of wine.

I and attaching my journey in Relive for you to see.

I’ll post it later , having problem with Wi-Fi

Buen camino

Hoy, antes de salir de Burgos fui a una capilla de la Catedral de Burgos y oré por mi familia en Venezuela y por los Venezolanos en el país.

Entiendo el sufrimiento por la situación que están pasando pero no se pueden rendir. En nuestra sangre corre la sangre de nuestros indios, como Guacaipuro que no se dejó doblegar por los españoles.

Lo que está haciendo el gobierno de Maduro es una táctica de opresión utilizada por tiranos y dictadores. Ellos causan la falta de alimentos y medicinas y cuando el pueblo está sufriendo le dan migajas para que se sientan bien con el gobierno.

Mis hermanos Venezolanos, no les digo que no agarren las migajas que le da el gobierno, ustedes tienen que alimentar a su familia y atender a sus enfermos, pero no le den gracias al gobierno de maduro y no se dejen doblegar por ellos.

El cambio vendrá, en mis 62 años de vida he aprendido que la única constante que existe es cambio.

Hay muchos venezolanos como yo, con experiencia corporativa en otros países y estoy seguro que ellos así como yo estamos dispuesto a darle una mano al país para desarrollar el sistema económico en forma rápida y efectiva. Devolver la confianza de inversionistas internacionales a Venezuela.

Estamos con todos ustedes, no se rindan, el cambio vendrá.

Todos los Venezolanos están en mis oraciones durante este peregrinaje de más de 800 Km.

Pasen este mensaje a sus amigos y añaden su opinión en el blog

Buen Camino

Before I start relating today’s journey, I would like to share my morning reflection.

By the time that I retired, I have traveled by airplane the equivalent of about 78 times around the world and stayed in many 5 and 6 starts hotels. A few days ago I said that El Camino eliminates vanity, increase humility and create a great sense of Thanksgiving. The experience on the place we stayed last night is a good example. It was a one start hotel and I was excited to have my private room with personal shower. The place is ran by Christian from Ecuador and Lourdes from Paraguay. They made us feel homely. We had a great breakfast that we requested, fry egg and bacon. By the time we left the place, we all felt very thankful to have met them. Here they are with Steve and me.

Picture to come later!!

Now, let’s talk about today’s journey. When I said that everyday was a new adventure at El Camino, today wasn’t an exception. We had snow fall during the night and the rolling hills along our way were covered with snow. Neither to say, the temperature all day was around 35 degrees with gust winds up to 30 miles/hr. I was using my poncho and at time I felt like a seal boat. I was wearing all the warm clothes that I had but the tip of my fingers were numb. I am sure that with the wind shield factor, the temperature was in the mid 20s.

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Buen camino

This morning when I got up I look my boots and give them a great recognition, my boots and my socks have been my best friends and have kept my feet warm and dry.

Today was only 13 miles walk but on hard surface, raining and cold. The forecast for the following days is indicating more sun, thanks for the small things.

In the way, a local artist painted a portrait of me showing deep thoughts. Here is the finished art.

In El camino, one of the most important signs is a yellow arrow and when you don’t see one for a while you start getting worry, specially when you are in the middle of nowhere or in a large city like Burgos. I know that for many years after this experience I’ll be seeing arrow everywhere. The one below was very important today.

Finally in Burgos, the center of the city is very old and pretty. We walked for 4 miles from the edge of the city to the center.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria XIII cannot be described with word, it is an amazing gothic church. I walked the Cathedral and it is even more impressive inside. The construction of the Cathedral was started on 1200s and today is considered a world heritage site. It took more than 400 years to finish. It is combination of many small chapels.

I checked myself today in a hotel (only 2 starts, but with a bath), now, to enjoy a hot bath and later a good dinner.

Buen camino