Terradillos de los Templarios to Bercianos del Real Camino

Adobe wall ruins are a familiar sight along the camino.

Written on June 8, 2009.....14.8 miles.

Last night we had a good dinner at the albergue with three young people from Canada.....Colby, Shannon, and Liz. We met them at a pandareia in Carrion de los Condes.

Free internet at this albergue. They offered a private room with toliet and shower for 32 euros...we grabbed it.

At dinner I had mentioned the awesome labyrinth that we had seen at one of the previous summits. A couple of people at dinner had mentioned that they had not seen a labyrinth. We had not even walked 1 1-2 miles this morning when on the right of the path was a labyrinth...about 8 feet in diameter.

Today on our way into Sahagun we had to use our ponchos...so grateful to have them. It rained for about two hours. By the time we arrived in Sahagun we were ready for a coffee. We found a great cafe with many pilgrims coming in from the rain. As soon as we had our coffees and a good visit we went outside to find that the sun was coming out and we could put our ponchos away.

A short while later as we were entering a small village I saw what looked like a small mountain...which it was...it was also a house with four doors, a chimney, and a t.v. antenna, (a true hobbit house). Many houses in this providence, (Palencia), are made out of earth, or in a small hill, or made out of sod and straw.

There was a high wind today that took special effort and mantras. Today´s mantra was Thank you Spirit for the cleansing wind.

When we reached our destination, Bercianos del Real Camino we immediately followed the arrows to the albergue. We´re staying in a Parish hostel in a large room with twenty cots and several surrounding rooms with many bunk beds.

This albergue is truly authentic....very old...with handhewn wood staircase and logs. The village is very authentic as well. We walked into a bar thick with smoke. The only women in there were me and the two young women behind the counter. Many men were playing dominos and yelling out numbers....treinta, cuarenta...30 and 40....I assume those were winnings that they were racking up. I loved it.

Many times while travelling it is hard to really get in touch with the local flavor...this was definitely it.

The beds and dinner are donation in the tradition of the Medieval pilgrimages.

There were two large tables for a communal dinner. Some pilgrims were asked to help with preparing the meal and serving it.

It was a great time. Everyone introduced themselves and the country they are from. There was about four of us from the United States.

We heard about a pilgrim who has walked from Moscow. By the time he reaches Santiago he will have walked 4,000 kms. (2,400 miles).