Hontanas to Itero de la Vega

May 21 - Hontanas to Itero de la Vega
Really strange names along this part of the camino!
We planned our day to be 21 kilometers today as the meseta is for the most part fairly flat - except for the hills. We made our way fairly quickly along the 10 kilometers to Castrojeriz where we wanted to have breakfast. We had the usual bread, butter and jam for breakfast at our albergue but that sure doesn't last very long!

It's always a pleasure walking in to Castrojeriz as it is so flat beforehand and there's a little pavement to walk about a kilometer from town. All of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere up juts a structure going right over the middle of the road that is the ruins of an old convent where they used to try to help lepers. It's very attractive and I always enjoy seeing it there. We stayed in Castrojeriz for over an hour and it was hard to leave when we did because it started to rain and we were soon going over a huge hill. What's with this anyway? The meseta is supposed to be flat. But up and up we went, climbing about 150 meters before we dropped back down to pounding along the flat again until we got into Itero. The scenery was lovely though and it was a nice walk. As well, the rain never did amount to anything.

Our albergue tonight is called La Mochila and like the whole town of Itero it was a bit odd and somewhat musty. But the two young women and the young man, the cook, were so pleasant and helpful it was actually quite an enjoyable place to stay. We spent some time trying to find a fountain with dancing ponies that was mentioned in John Brierley's guidebook but when I eventually asked someone in the local corner store, she said it hasn't been there for 15 or more years. Oops John, pay attention to details if you want to write guidebooks.

This is the beginning of the part of Spain where they offer nasty little packages of sweet things for breakfast. Our new friend Nancy from Cambridge Ont. calls them twinkie breakfasts!