Najera to Castildelgado

The way of repect:
Repect the land you walk through;
Repect the people and culture around you;
Respect your fellow pilgrims and hosts.


Our day started with a bus ride from Najera to Santo Domingo de Calzada. We were unable to break this leg down and find accommodations so decided to hop the bus. We were lucky and got an express bus just as we arrived at the Bus station at 8:20. 20 minutes later we were in Santo Domingo before anything opened.

 The city is named after Saint Dominic who devoted his life to improving conditions for pilgrims on their route to Santiago. He built a hospital and a small chapel in 11 century. Before his death he managed to build a brotherhood, a bridge over the river and improved the road. His only condition was to be buried on the Camino. So they buried him in the chapel and rerouted the Camino to go around the Cathedral. The Cathedral is also the site of "the hanged man" legend. Supposedly a young man was walking the Camino with his parents, when a young women took a fancy to him. Being a good Christian man he ignored her. She, in fit of rage, planted a silver cup in his bag and accused him of theft. He wasn't walking with his parents at the time, so he was brought back and hanged. His parents realizing that he wasn't there returned to find him still alive. They approached the sheriff who had two chickens ready for his dinner on his table; a rooster and a hen. He said, "Your son is as dead as these chickens." To which the chickens got up feathers and all and the sheriff ran to cut the son down. The legend spread far and wide and some attribute it to St Dominic. Either way the people petitioned the bishop to allow chickens in the church and to this day there is always a rooster and a hen in a special cage in the church. 
The Cathedral is dedicated to Jesus and Mary. Note the bell tower is separated from the Cathedral. I guess the bell tower liked to fall down so they separated it.
This was a hospital and is now a fancy hotel.
This is a pic taken through the window. These state owned Parador's are luxury hotels all over Spain in old buildings. There is even one in an old extinct volcano. The boys can be assured we are not blowing the budget on one of these although they look pretty cool.
Streets around the Cathedral as we wandered around looking for breakfast.
,
My favorite. Spanish tortilla  and cafe con leche.
I got shit from Roz over the way I took this picture. Roz and I don't always walk together but when we do it can be fun conversation. Apparently I took the picture upside down. So after much discussion I surrendered and now take the pictures "The Right Way" around.
I sure hope the rent is cheap.
A really humble little chapel before the bridge.
Cool way to irrigate.
Coming into Granon. It was a steep climb into Granon and then a wonderful food cart and clean washrooms at the top. The walk was feeling really good. We had done 17 km the day before and were thinking no problem to do 12 km.
A new symbol.
Lovely church that I was able to go into.
Again the magnificence of the interiors. The floor was old wood and there were stone stairs up to the pulpit. I have so many pictures of the interior.
Then we got to the other side of the town.
The path you see looks pretty good. We walked where you can see the road. The problem was there was an absolutely powerful headwind.
We had passed from La Rioja into Castilla y Leon province. We arrived in the little town of Redecilla del Camino where they had this statue. We had a rest here and plowed on for the next 2 km.
There were several of these that people had put in their windows.
We finally arrived at our Albergue. We specifically wanted this one as it came highly recommended. It did not disappoint.
The last 5km were killers but that wind dried our laundry quickly.


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