Day 34: To Rabanal del Camino

Population 74. Staying at the Refugio Gaucelmo, recommended by Fraser, and named after a noted hermit and run by the British Confraternity of St James. There's afternoon tea on the lawn at 4:45 and an evening service at the church opposite with Gregorian chant sung by monks at the adjacent monastery and a pilgrim's service at 9:30. The walk here was about 12 km and gradually uphill, with some of it on loose shale and bedrock. Scenery now different from the Meseta with pine trees, yellow scotch broom and heather. A pleasant afternoon watching BBC Match of the Day here in the garden. There's no WiFi here on purpose but I have enough mobile data. Met Mary and Declan outside the church who had also been to the 7pm service.Læs mere