Camino: Samos to Sabenche

02/06-19
We were truly sad to leave Casa de Diaz in Samos. How could it be topped?

Our plan was to hit Sarria well after the morning crowd had departed. As the starting point where most pilgrims begin their Camino, Sarria is strategically placed just outside the 100k mark required for pilgrims to earn their Compostela. We've been warned to be prepared for larger eager & noisy crowds on this portion of the way. Our Sunday morning in Sarria is rather quiet except for a 5k race we happen into. I REALLY thought long & hard about quickly registering & participating. I will do anything for race bling. Unfortunately, hiking sandals weren't a good footwear choice.

Betty's cellular plan proved useful today as we hunted through hill & dale to find our room at Casa Caxiguiero. GPS sent us out to an empty field before we broke down & Betty called the owner for offbeat instructions. Finally, we found the property & covered the half mile inside the estate gates to the main house. What a knockout.

Our room was in a private home dating from the 11th to 17th centuries. Our quirky room was exceptional & wreaked of antiquity- one wall of art was protected by plexiglass. My favorite was the huge wooden confessional in our room repurposed as a linen closet. It even had a kneeler. The owner, Theresa, treated us to a home-cooked meal in her garden.

20k through Sarria to Sabenche (population: those in our house)

Camino: Belorado to San Juan de Ortega

11/05/19
A fun day with little surprises along the way. 

Ran across fun pals from Denmark then we happened into an "oasis" in the middle of a forest. This funky rest stop featured neon totem poles, art & hammocks in addition to pilgrim fare. We took time to make a huge "La Vida" message for friends traveling behind us. They knew immediately it was for their benefit but several pilgrims showed me pictures of the message that they had taken throughout the day. Paying it forward!

In San Juan de Ortega, I finally met up with a friend-of-a-friend, Mark, who was also on this pilgrimage so we joined up for upcoming legs after enjoying dinner and pilgrim mass in the local monastery. This tiny village had two restaurants, an inn & an aubergue/monastery.
26k to SJdO (population 20- yes, 20!)

Our message to pilgrims to come

At the surprise oasis

My lovely pilgrim pals Dani & Connie

Before mass at the SJdO monastery

Camino: Navarette to Najara

08/05/19
Another short day through lush vineyards on my way to Najara. At a confusing fork in the road, I conferred with a new pilgrim friend. Once we landed in the middle of a field of grapevines, we retraced our steps & paid better attention to signage. As my Canadian friend & I solved all the world's problems, we enjoyed vineyard & the waterfront views from a cafe in Najara.

Najara's Monasterio de Santa Maria la Real is spectacular. The 11th-century church was built by King Garcia III whose falcon flew into a cave where he discovered a virgin statue that now lives in the original cave tucked inside the monastery.

I scored with a cozy room that even had a bathtub (woo hoo!)
18k to Najara (population 8500)

Today's fun trailmate, Sam

Eddie's birthday dinner in Najara

The monastery in Najara

The virgin from the cave