Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Well we made it one more day. After 20km we are in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Today was supposed to be an easy day, only 20km with a couple of hills to make things interesting. Ah the best laid plans

So we started today in Najera, after waking up and getting ready we went to a cafe for breakfast, this is not normal usually we have breakfast at the next town we come to, but today is a special day, it´s Sarah´s birthday! YAY! So we serenaded her with happy brithday in 3 different languages, and the guy who owns the bar/cafe gave her a free package of chorizo. Not a bad start to the day.

Then we actually started walking, and the first thing we do is a hill, not a little up and over kind of hill, but a walk around a bend and find more up, kind of hill. That´s not the best way to warm-up if you ask me. But we made it, just like we´ve made it everywhere else.

We stopped at a little cafe in the next town (I can´t remember the name right now) and I had an orange juice, I´m so addicted to the fresh Spanish orange juice, it´s amazing, I don´t drinkt he stuff at home, and what I do drink at home (diet coke) I haven´t touched since the airplane. Go figure

After our mornign snack we walked, and walked and walked, and climbed a LAGRE hill. This hill was insane, because first of all we could see it for proabably the last 6km at least and we kept saying "oh that won´t be so bad" WRONG, the first part was very steep then the middle was not horrible, but the last part was really steep too. At the top was a pretty little sitting spot with these cute cement chaise lounge type chairs, heavenly! The next "town" was scary. We passed a golf course, mom, trevor, that made me think of you, then we walked through a housing development. But not just one, like 8! And it was really creepy because no one lived in barely any of the houses, and they had the customary for Spain metal gate style shutters on the windows. It never seemed to end! We just wanted to be done with that place because it was so weird.

After this "town" we finally got back on dirt path and found, guess what, another hill! This one wasn´t as bad, but when you´re tired, any hill is a big one. I made my way slowly to the top only to find ANOTHER HILL! I can´t wait until we get to the meseta with no hills for like a week. Though there is also no shade there.

Finally we arrive in Santo Domingo. We´re at the Albergue run by the Spanish confraternity. It´s VERY nice, the mattresses are thick, the showers hot, the toilets have seats (the last place didn´t, and we´re only like 20 people to a room, which isn´t bad by camino standards.

Tonight is Sarah´s birthday so we´re going out. Of course it´s hard to go out too much when the doors lock you out at 10:00...

Well everyone that´s it for today.
Until next time

Adios and Buen Camino
Carrie

PS Excuse the spelling the keys on this key board are a little sticky.