The day started out pretty damn good. (See photo below)

A buffet breakfast after a rather swell night’s sleep was just what I needed. The place we stayed at had been absolutely banging. Great beer, great food, great bed and a hot hostess. Nothing to complain about. 

Breakfast was included in the price so I made sure to get my monies worth. I kinda regretted that after 3km of walking but I stand by my decision!! 

We hit the road with the aim to start behaving like real pilgrims and not just swanning around the Camino staying in luxury places and eating luxury food. It was going to be hard but I figured I had better start playing the game. I mean, I have been here three weeks so I should probably start walking properly and budgeting. We will see, it all sounds a bit boring as I write it down. 

The walk was quite nice today. Bloody hot but the roads we were walking in were not too busy. It kind of snaps you out the moment when an 18 wheeler is screaming past you at 100kph. You struggle to feel zen.

We stopped for a bit so Jenny could harass a horse. To be fair he seemed pretty chill and let us both give him a pat on the cheek and a rub on the nose. 

Our goal today was Santillana Del Mar. I didn’t know what to expect because, much like the entire Camino, I had done no research or looked at anything to do with it. I’m kinda glad I didn’t though because it was a lovely surprise when I got there. 

After we had been walking for a few hours I saw a taverna and wanted a beer. While sitting there I noticed the flashing pharmacy sign showing me the temperature. 

Now this is a bit warm. It’s also warmer when you basically have a backpack as a sweater.

Once I had been placated with beer we strolled on. Again the countryside was rather lovely but we did have a small town to get through before the final stretch. 

As we entered it I noticed plumes of something rising up in the distance. I guessed what it might be but then pushed the thought out my mind because I couldn’t be that lucky. But I was. A beautiful power station along the Camino was just what I wanted. 

The noise and sights of industrial machinery really complemented the beauty of nature. I saw a butterfly flapping around me then landing on a small leaf, my eyes then focused behind it to a gorgeous, concrete cooling tower! 

As I listened to the birds I could also see a huge funnel pumping noxious gases into our precious atmosphere. What a wonderful sight to behold. 

Jenny had to tear me away as I was stunned to immobility by the beauty of the oil stained buildings and piles of crap everywhere.

The rest of the walk was actually rather lovely. Still on a road but very very quiet and I could see the sea in the distance which always makes me happy. 

As we approached Santillana the streets changed and the whole aesthetic of the town appeared to have shifted. 

It was an absolutely gorgeous place and it reinforced my views on never doing any research on anything ever. It was such a lovely suprise.

The Albergue we stayed in was also lovely. It had a beautiful place outside to chill out and they put on a dinner for all of us. It really was nice. 

I was chatting to a Dutch girl who has decided to quit her job and do some traveling for a few months. She is now on year two. She was bored of her life and in a position to sack it all off and take herself off traveling. Kinda like myself I guess. 

I have spoken to a few people who have done similar things and every time it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that this person in front of me wasn’t happy and instead of riding it out they hit the fuck it button and made a change.

We went out for an evening stroll around the town after dinner. It looked great at night too. People outside drinking and eating, the warm weather and the smell of cooking wafting through the streets. I doubt I will come across anything like this again but I have nothing to base that on and I won’t be doing any research to find out. So maybe I will. 

Anyway. Bit of a shorter one today cause I’m already in bed and I’m tired from all the food, drink and carbon monoxide from the power plant. 

BUEN CAMINO