19. Escalona

A great stage today, with good stops at just the right places and pleasant paths to follow. We started with a cafe con letche and tostadas at a bar near our albergue that had quickly become our ‘local’, and then walked on 7 kms to Val de Santo Domingo where we had a delightful morning coffee stop.

 

We noticed that the two main buildings in the central plaza were the mayoral offices and the church, and that put us in mind (as it would) of Graeme Greene’s Monsignor Quixote and the friendship between the communist mayor and the gentle priest. Being in a place like this gives you more of a sense of the meaning of such a friendship.

The path out of this village was immediately pretty agricultural, and nice and soft under foot.

We got a good view of our next stop, Maqueda, and its castle, across poppy fields. 

Lunch and wifi access were in Maqueda, which meant we could post yesterday’s blog. And then it was onto the last 12 kms of today’s stage, through similar agricultural country, to Escalona. It is amazing to walk so directly through farmer’s crops and we passed some men making hay (as it were).

At times the track was more field than path.

But always our way markers came through,

As we approached Escalona we saw a Dr Suess-like scene.

Escalona is an old walled city. As we climbed the stairs to the city gate we were met by a man who kindly accompanied us to the municipal albergue, this one at the back of a primary school.

Enterprising storks are taking every available nesting spot.

And we too are enjoying having come in to roost for the night,

Buen Camino

Neils and Sarah

PS. We began the day by remembering Monsignor Quixote and who should we see as we parked contentedly in Escalona but Rocinante!