Day 17 - to Carrion de los Condes

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I really enjoyed the hostel that I stayed in last night. The swimming pool was glorious. Even though I only fully immersed myself for the shortest amount of time. I sat on the edge of that pool with my feet in the water for a good hour or so. Glorious.

I also got a decent rest in - much needed after the hard 28 kms of that morning.

Boadilla was another one of those very small towns with very few residents and only one Mass per week, on a Sunday. Thankfully, a month earlier, the father of the hostel owner had acquired a key for the church in case a priest was walking the way. So I was.

There is a very devout German family of four who are walking the Camino. They walk for 2 weeks each year and started in Le Puy in France many years ago. They were overjoyed to celebrate Mass and I could celebrate it all in English! 

After Mass, it was time for the meal. They lavished us with food and wine. The pea and ham soup was to die for. The wine flowed freely and tastily. I sat with a NZ woman whom I have bumped into every couple of days since Pamplona and two very young German school friends, who finished school two weeks ago and are fitting in the Camino before Uni starts.

I was up a ready for the road by about 5.45am. Unfortunately, two days ago, when walking down an incredibly steep path, I managed to form a blister under the ball of my right foot. This morning, when I went to get my shoes from outside, I managed to whack that blister into the edge of a slightly raised bit of concrete. I felt the sting for the next 15 kilometres.

Notwithstanding the discomfort in my right foot, the first five kilometres were lovely. At that moment when darkness is giving way to light, we walked beside a 5km canal. It was very pleasant. On entering the next town, where I stopped for a coffee and a juice, the canal ended with a weir. 

The beauty of the morning very quicky disappeared. The next 20kms were all a gravel path beside the road - unattractive and unappealing. I also managaed to find every single sharp stone and step on it where the blister in my right foot is.

Even though today is slightly shorter than most of this week, only 25kms rather than 28-30kms, it still felt long enough. Strangely, I developed two new blisters on those longe second toes. I thought that these toes were immune from more blisters, as they are just crusty dried skin. BUt, when I took off my shoes today I was greet with something that looked like a balloon at a children's birthday party. You can all be thankful that I did not take a photo :)

Tonight, I am staying in the parish hostel that is renowned for its singing nuns.  There are a number of different prayer times. Before Mass, in the garden, they lead us in a singalong - helping us to learn some hymns for the Massat 8pm. It should be a lovely evening.