Camino Frances Journal – Day 14

A glimpse into the journal I kept for all 38 days on the Camino Frances, including up to 10 photos (not necessarily the best pictures but more that they represent that day in some particular way). Today is day 14 – May 4^th. Villafranca Montes de Oca to Atapuerca

Not really sure how I keep ending up with people with whom to walk. Today it was Lana, the Russian woman who had been doing her laundry the same time I was last night. We happened to be leaving at the same time. We chatted about everything from travel, to yoga meditation, to her son.

The scenery was much better than yesterday. Up a mountain lit by the early morning light, shrouded in mist and frost. Through woods of towering trees. The path was mostly dry, thank goodness. It looked as it would be hell if it had been wet. We took a breakfast break, spreading my poncho on the frosty ground – a couple of guys walked by and asked if we had camped there the night before. I said yes and they were incredulous. Had to tell them I was joking, haha….

Took a second break at San Juan de Ortega. Church was closed as usual but for once, it opened before we left. San Juan himself was in there. …

Saw stones set up in a spiral just outside of a villages called Agés. Aliens were here. We continued on to Atapuerca, the site of the earliest human remains discovered in Europe. Found a pretty neat albergue – it has loads of charm in what seems like a medieval building (was probably just built with old reclaimed wood, I’m sure) with 18 bunks in one room, two showers and two toilets.

Ran into Canadian David who is from Winnipeg. We went out to the Atapuerca Museum together but we were about ½ hr too early. Hung out with an Irish couple until it opened. Unfortunately, the tour out to the dig was full and what I could see of the interpretation centre looked artificial, so I didn’t pay to enter. Found out that the museum in Burgos is open until midafternoon tomorrow and it has the bones that had been found here. I will have to see if I make it there in time. …

Went out for dinner but at first it seemed the restaurant wouldn’t be able to seat me or the other couple that showed up at the same time. And then a second pair came along. However, the restaurant managed to squish us into a table for four. My dinner companions were a retired American couple and two retired French ladies who started their walk from Le Puy in France. I spent a lot of the time translating between the pairs. Who knew my crappy French would come in handy so much on this trip…