Day 74, June 19
16 miles, 909 miles
Altitude: 1,444 feet (2,970 feet daily high)
Weather: sunny & streaky clouds 45-85F HOT
Sarria
A 1:00 PM curfew should exist for walking in mid-June. Beyond that time the sun is too intense. Even with a hat and sunglasses, the sun painfully penetrates my eyes. Albeit, being still in the shade is pleasant.
Having toured the monastary in the morning, the walked spilled into the afternoon. I didn’t arrive at the albergue until 4:00 PM.
Day 74, June 19
16 miles, 909 miles
Altitude: 1,444 feet (2,970 feet daily high)
Weather: sunny 45-85F
Sarria
One of the oldest monastery in the western world is the Benedictine Monasterio de Samos. A good portion of the monastery has been rebuilt since a fire in the 1950’s.
Toast tasted a bit better sitting across from the monastery.
Day 71, June 16
16 miles, 867 miles
Altitude: 2,066 feet (3,051 feet daily high)
Weather: sunny 55-85F
Vega de Valcare
In memory of Cynthia’s sister who loved walking and was deeply loved.
Parish church of St. John the Baptist.
Day 70, June 15
17 miles, 851 miles
Altitude: 1,607 feet (2,690 feet daily high)
Weather: sunny 55-85F hot
Cacanelos
Build a better box, and you can rent it. Thirty-five “boxes” at 5€ each house 70 pilgrims. Rooms are arranged in a semi-circle around Capilla de Las Angustia, XVIIIthC.
Showers were hot.
Day 70, June 15
17 miles, 851 miles
Altitude: 1,607 feet (2,690 feet daily high)
Weather: sunny 55-85F hot
Cacanelos
In passing, I walked by countless family garden plots and rip cherry trees. The cherries are refreshing, sweet and juicy. For the past two weeks, enterprising individuals have been along the way selling cherries wrapped in newspaper cones.
A large percent of the church steeples are homes to storks. Smaller birds fashion their nest in the lower portion of the stork’s nest.
Day 70, June 15
17 miles, 851 miles
Altitude: 1,607 feet (2,690 feet daily high)
Weather: sunny 55-85F hot
Cacanelos
Roman water cistern Fuente Romano is still functioning. Know a good plumber? Campo, historic village.
Iglesia de Santa Maria de Vizbayo, 11th century Romanesque church. Campo, historic village.
Day 67, June 12
0 miles, 818 miles REST DAY
Altitude: 3,770 feet (feet daily high)
Weather: sun with clouds 55-75F
Rabanal
Thanks to you, my first blog has 23,300 hits in twelve countries!
The Monistery, retreat house, and church.
Day 66, June 11
0 miles, 818 miles REST DAY
Altitude: 3,770 feet (feet daily high)
Weather: sun with clouds 55-70F
Rabanal
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUSSIE DAVE
Benedictine Monastery of San Salvador del Monte Irago
By chance, I have learned a Benedictine monastery serves pilgrims with the only condition that being you must stay several days for a true rest from the Camino. With few pilgrims staying here, the time is less consumed by “Camino mentality” and more concentrated on unwinding. All is done for us, laundry, meals, household chores. It’s hard being in the position of being served.
I feel a peacefulness not previously sensed.
Day 62, June 7
12 miles, 771 miles
Altitude: 2,690 feet (2,2920 feet daily high)
Weather: light rain, sun with clouds 55-70F
Leon
Street in Leon.
Pentecost Vespers with Benedictine nuns at Santa Maria de Carbajal Convent.
Dane’s Concert.
Tapas and two bottles of vino tinto with friends before our 10:30 curfew at the convent. (Matrimony room for two for married couples, male and female dorms for singles…oh to be married if just for the night).
Day 62, June 7
12 miles, 771 miles
Altitude: 2,690 feet (2,2920 feet daily high)
Weather: light rain, sun with clouds 55-70F
Leon
Had you been at Catedral Pulchra Leonina you would have gasped at its stunning beauty. The internal walls are composed of three tears of stained glass windows.
Linda Scandore 