Sixteenth Day On The Camino Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Go Rockies!

The Rockies beat the Cubs in extra innings yesterday to advance in their quest to win the World Series. I have been catching some heat from the Europeans and the Canadians about the World Series. They say the World Cup is open to everyone in the world to determine who has the best football team. They think it is American hubris for us to call it the World Series when only American baseball ⚾️ teams compete for the World Series title.

I pointed out to them that they don’t have any business giving me crap about the World Series. They make a big deal about the World Cup and call that football. They don’t play play football in the World Cup. It is soccer, not football. The Broncos play football. The Rapids play soccer. It is not that difficult. But these people can’t or won’t acknowledge the difference between soccer and football and the intrinsic superiority of American football over any other game in the world, including the weenie game they call football, that is actually soccer. Seriously, have you ever watched a soccer game? Watching paint dry is exciting compared to watching soccer. Soccer in Europe will disappear once the NFL expands to London, Paris and all the other great cities on the Continent. Can you imagine watching a football game in Paris wearing a beret, eating a croissant and drinking a nice glass of red wine while you cheer on the Denver Broncos as they kick the snot out of the Paris Frenchies. I am working on this issue with the Europeans, but it is a daily struggle for me on the Camino.

We got up at 6:15 this morning, got packed, had breakfast and left the alburgue in Hontanas at 7:30 AM.

This is a sign as you head out of Hontanas. Only 457 kilometers to go to get to Santiago! Yikes! What was I thinking?

This is what is left of an ancient flour mill about 1 kilometer outside Hontanas, looking west, as the sun rises in the east, where the sun usually rises.

This is sunrise on the road out of Hontanas.

This is the sign outside the ruins of the Convent of St. Anton.

This is what remains of the gate leading into the Convent of St. Anton.

Another picture of the ruins of the convent of St. Anton.

This is a picture of the bell tower of the convent.

This is the alburgue that volunteers operate in the ruins of the convent. Very, very basic amenities, no electricity, but very spiritual. Walking through the ruins of this ancient convent I was overwhelmed by the spirit of the millions of pilgrims that have walked past this refuge and sought and received solace and comfort here for over 1200 years.

This is an explanation of the history of the convent. And it’s even in English. Before we left this ancient holy place we said a prayer for Anna.

This is the view as we approach Castrojeriz. Notice the ruins of a Ninth Century Castle on the hill overlooking Castrojeriz. You can take a trail off the Camino that climbs up the hill to the castle ruins. No way am I climbing another hill that I do not need to climb to get to Santiago.

To the right you can see the Church of Santa Maria in Castrojeriz.

This is a wayside cross as you enter Castrojeriz. We stopped here and said a prayer for Anna.

This is the altar piece in the Church of Santa Maria in Castrojeriz. Small town but such a magnificent church. We lit a candle and said a prayer for Anna.

A view of the ruins of the castle as we leave Castrojeriz.

Another reminder of why we are walking the Camino.

This is a view from the ridge west of Castrojeriz lookin back east at Castrojeriz and the trail from Castrojeriz up to the top of the ridge.

This is a riverside park about 1 kilometer outside Itero de la Vega.

When we got to Itero de la Vega it was 4:00 PM and the next village is Boadillo del Camino, almost 9 kilometers away. I decided to stay here at the alburgue La Mochila, Spanish for backpack 🎒.

I hope everyone had a good Wednesday.

Good evening from Itero de la Vega, Spain.