Spain y el Camino

I’m glad the Camino started with a good day, because today was a beat down. I got a bit late of a start at just after 9. I knew that it would be a lot of uphill, but I had no idea! I’m not sure the accuracy of this, but I found online that over the course of the 7.5 miles I walked, there was an elevation gain of 3,940 feet with a loss of 2,011 ft. I began using a mantra to keep myself going “poco a poco, paso a paso.” I’d keep my head down, pick a spot a bit up the trail, walk there, stop for a short breather. Repeat ad nauseam. Also, thank God for earbuds and iPhones- I was able to listen to some upbeat music, which helped. And just when I thought the uphill would never end, the trail let out onto a beautiful hilltop (unfortunately, I didn’t stay to enjoy it- nature was calling and it’s not the sort of place to dig a cat hole!)

Check in to the albergue was easy, though a poor French girl in front of me was denied a bed as she didn’t have her physical passport on her. I bought food tickets for breakfast and dinner, but the assigned restaurant said they couldn’t accommodate celiac. Fortunately the next one I went to said they could, so I got the tickets changed. I’m a little nervous about how well they’ll do, as it’s a small place with probably hundreds of pilgrims. Prayers that they get it right and that my body does ok with the food!

Only a few pictures today and no video because I was dead. Hoping for a good night’s sleep before a long day tomorrow- less elevation, so it shouldn’t be too bad 🤞Baca lagi

I stayed in town for a rest day today. This morning, I was surprised by how sore I was- apart from the one morning that my calves were rocks, I haven’t had a day this sore. It’s let up as the day’s gone on, but not completely.

This morning, I slept late and then found some breakfast and coffee. Spanish breakfasts tend to be bread-heavy, so usually I settle for some tortilla de patata. They said that they had gluten free bread and could put avocado, salmon, and a fried egg on it. Delicious!

Then I went to the La Rioja museum, which was very close and free. They have artifacts dating back to prehistoric times, then walk through the Roman Empire, Visigothic times, Moorish occupation, the Reconquest, and briefly make it into the 20th century. It was interesting to see the really early things they found and the complexity of tools and carvings from those times.

So far Logroño has been delicious. I found a gluten free bakery of sorts. They mostly do jello-type dishes, but also make cookies, some cakes, and some breads. I bought a bolillo and had what was probably the best GF bread I’ve ever eaten! Last night I went out for pinchos, where I found tasty GF croquettes and patatas brava. It’s rare I get to enjoy food like this, so I’m making the rounds again tonight, starting with mushrooms in a butter sauce and grilled squid.

Tomorrow morning I set off towards Nájera. It’s the longest distance yet, coming in at 29km (18 miles for us Americans). I’m debating if I’ll break it into two bits, but the distribution of decent towns isn’t very conducive to the distances I’m interested in going. More than likely, I’ll see how I’m feeling and let my body decide if I should stop early or not.

No pictures today, but I’ll leave you with a language lesson. I’ve overhead people asking to pay in restaurants- they say “me cobras?” Which literally translates to “You charge me?”
Also, outside of my apartment someone left a saying “Que el Camino te traiga aquello que no sabías que buscabas” - “may the camino bring you what you didn’t know you were looking for.”Baca lagi