Days are starting to all look the same. Didn’t take photos leaving Castrojerez.
Many avoid the Meseta. However, Tina and I are enjoying it. It’s an easier walk and, although the terrain is flat, there is beauty in the landscape. This morning we elected to put our ponchos in our travel bag because the forecast was for no rain. That may have been a mistake because it is looking like rain.
The flat terrain lets one think more about life than an achy exhausted body. The other advantage we have is that this is a cool day. It would be, I am sure, a much different experience if it were 95°F + which it was this summer.
The Camino follows the tow path of the Canal de Castilla for a few miles. This canal was built to transport grain to market. I understand that it was nearing completion in the middle to late 19th century. This was about the time that railroads were starting to be built. The canals had a short working history. Like the canals being built in the USA about the same time. Technology changes and those that abapt don’t wind up in the dustbin of history.
After their short life as a working canal, it was used for irrigation (for which it is still used) and for mills. There are some tour boats as well.
Tonight we had the Pilgrim meal at our hotel. Tina had salad, chicken with french fries (every meal has french fries) and flan. I had Castilian soup ( garlic soup) trout with french fries, and ice cream. Wine is included. We met a number of fellow pilgrims that we know from the trail. One group was from the UK, a group we met yesterday. And, one fellow shares an interest in Robert Burns. He and I (to the great shagrin of Tina and his wife) shared quotations ad nauseam.
We also discussed Spanish lisp. In Castilian there is a definite lisp. Gracias is pronounced “Grathias”. This is proper Spanish. The legend is that King Ferdinand or King Peter of Castile spoke with a lisp. Evidentially there is no historical basis for this. It likely evolved from the “s” and “z” sounds from ancient Castilian.
Tina’s Thoughts
Today I felt thankful for many things, including,
The cooler overcast weather
Continued beautiful landscape
The crosses along the Camino that remind us of God’s grace, love and mercy
For Bill. I wouldn’t want to be walking with anyone else. He has been a helpmate in big and little ways along this journey.
For all of you back home whom we love.
Buen Camino
