So, we used our rest day to explore the cathedral and bell tower in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. The cathedral was very beautiful with a hugely diverse range of artistic work. Our climb up the seventy metre bell tower gave us incredibly distant views of the countryside and of course we were very close to the chiming bells!
The walk today has been unexpectedly difficult as we were walking into a very strong wind nearly all day. We have mainly travelled through farmland and although we have been close to a road, for some of the time, there has been a real feeling of isolation.
The route has had five very small and quaint villages along the way but all of these have had very limited facilities and some none at all.
One village of particular interest was Viloria de Rioja the birth place of St Dominic who did so much to help pilgrims in the 11th Century. His statue stands outside the church and he is certainly well recorded in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where we left this morning.
Although there weren’t many facilities today there were still great artisic reminders that we are walking The Camino.
We’re now in the village of Belorado, we were very pleased the flags were flying to welcome us!