Two weeks on the Way - Villalcazar de Sirga

The walk started today along a canal. It then continued, and continued on a gravel path alongside the paved road.

The town I am in has an interesting church. It is a fortress style church built by the Knights Templar in the 12th Century. There is a painting here of a pregnant Virgin Mary. This was apparently a common way to depict her in medieval times but is not the practice since that time.

I've attached a few pictures to give you the sense of the day. Not the most inspiring walking day but I am closer to Santiago de Compostela.

Boadilla del Camino

Another nice walk in the sun across the meseta today. Early on, I passed by the ruins of a monastery dedicated to Saint Anthony. He was considered the patron saint of animals.

The symbol of his order once based here was a "T" shaped cross. It was known as the Tau and its power to heal (especially the fungal skin disease Saint Anthony's fire) was thought to derive from the power of love.

So much for medieval lore... There are photographs of the day attached.

Hontanas

Today was the opposite of yesterday. It was an urban-rural transit. I left Burgos following a river and eventually started walking along the meseta. This is a relatively flat and open area that leads to Leon. There was plenty of sun today and I am enjoying a beer in front of my Albergue in celebration! I am not alone...

There are some pictures of the Way today attached.

Burgos

The walk today was a rural-urban transit. The path started uphill in a partly wooded area. It then merged into a lengthy along-the-side-of-the-paved-road path that led into Burgos. It was quite nice to enter into the old city of Burgos and leave urban sprawl behind. I managed a visit to the main cathedral in town in the early evening. It is quite something.

Attached are some pictures that share the nature of the Way today.

Atapuerca

I did not walk yesterday and there was no blog entry. Today began with an uphill climb and on through a forest. It was nice to be on a path that did not go right along the road.

There was wind again but the rain held off until after I arrived at the Albergue. I have attached some pictures that give you an idea of the Way today.

Villafranca Montes de Oca

This was a day of wind and highway. The path basically went parallel to the road and rarely strayed a few yards from it. The wind was very strong again and in my face all day. I also got temporarily lost for the first time in one town. Those yellow arrows and other markers that point out the Way just disappeared.

Attached are some photographs that give a sense of the terrain and the towns I passed through today.

One week on the Way - Castildelgado

Pamplona seems quite far away. The walk today was in relatively flat, open country with some rolling hills. For those who know Spain, I have just entered Castilla and Leon. This is the largest autonomous region in Spain with nine provinces. I will walk through three of them: Burgos, Palencia and Leon. Tomorrow I will be passing through the Montes de Oca (mountain range).

I have attached some pictures of interesting pilgrim fountains that I saw along the Way today. There is also a landscape picture to give you a sense of the wonderful rolling hills. The weather was nice and sunny in the afternoon, and overcast in the morning. However, there was a strong wind all afternoon blowing right in my face.