Villamenteros de la Campo to Carrion de Los Condes, 10km 

Classy camino footwear – Milan this is not !

As I learned yesterday, there is quite a lot of distance between albergues in this part of Spain, so today I had the choice between walking 10km, or slogging it out for 27kms. 

Despite Dominic’s magic cream and expert ministrations, I had to face up to the fact that one of my blisters is infected and is looking quite nasty. So 10km was a bit of a no-brainer – especially as I had the opportunity for a lie-in (none of this out by 8am nonsense at the world’s most relaxed albergue!) 

I also knew that I couldn’t face wearing my boots today and as the 10km into Carrion was on a relatively well-maintained path, I was all set to walk it in my masseur sandals – not the best move ever, but needs must. 

However, in the spirit of ‘the camino provides’ I was just about to leave the albergue when I noticed someone had left a pair of walking sandals in the ‘take what you need and leave what you don’t’ box by the front door.  Yes, they were a size too big and yes, they still had the imprint of someone else’s footprint in them (ewwww!) but they were a hell of a lot more practical than what I had been planning … and with a pair of socks I could both make a fashion statement, pretend it was a hygienic option and give my blisters a bit of a break. Classy, huh? 

That aside, not much to report.  Long, straight, relatively flat path beside a road that only passed through one town on the way. I was following the lead of about five other pilgrims bypassing said town (and saving all of 500 metres) when a local guy stopped me with some rapid fire Spanish. To say he was suggesting I go and visit the village church is an understatement – more accurate to say I was berated for even considering walking past. 

So, full of ‘camino provides’ I took his advice and ended up spending about half an hour sitting in an absolutely stunning 12th century church listening to some pretty special music being piped through the soundsystem – no idea how to describe it other than it brought to mind a monastery full of monks and had me absolutely enchanted. OK, strange man on the street, you win. 

I am also in love with Carrion. Not only did it have a farmacia open on Easter Sunday (I am now the grateful owner of a tube of antibiotic cream), I am also staying in a beautiful old convent.  The nun that booked me in gave me the option of a private room with it’s own shower and *gasp* real towels, so I have had a delightful afternoon of soaking up the sun, napping and trying to fast track the healing process on my feet ready for another long march tomorrow.