Day 9: Najera to Santo Domingo - 21km

From my dad:

Postcard of Camino

Reflection for the day ... Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery and today a gift ... that is why it is called the present.  We are definitely living in the moment out here and we appreciate/love it.

We are so thankful for the weather!  Today was in the mid-70's with a thin cloud cover ... so a non-factor.   We slept in until 7 for the first time and out the door by 7:45.  Our routine is I shower first while Sue sleeps for an additional 10-15 minutes.  Not much talking ... just going thru the daily check-list ... shower, brush teeth, put semi-dry laundry on outside of pack (both of ours), peel orange which we eat before departure, lube feet with gel, throw packs on and out the door.



Sue on roof of Iglesias Santo Domingo

Today we appreciate the cool air, beautiful vineyards and knowing only 13 miles today!  Our friend Alfonso (lawyer from Madrid) left for the Northern Camino and our friend Cindy (Canada) dropped back a day to rest and wait for crowds to thin out as albergues are crowded.  We love them but so many new people touch our lives today.  Dee and Janet are carrying 22 pounds each ... Crazy.  We have Sue down to 9 pounds and I'm around 20 and that's with food and water. I'm considering dropping a pair of socks because I do laundry every day and who needs 3 pairs.

Santo Domingo is a historical town and we took a tour of the Catedral ... incredible. Our Parador is a nice luxury ... Santo Domingo Bernardo de Fresneda a recently refurbished 16th century Convento de San Francisco at 91 Euro.

Anyone who knows Sue knows she hates peas for dinner, yet tonight in the green vegetables, she ate peas ... it's all about sustenance.

Tomorrow we go 14.2 miles/22.9 kilometers so we are off to sleep.

Buen Camino mi amigos.

Steve and Sue



Religious journey



The rooster in the church crowed 4 times while we were there

Cathedral Santo Domingo who dedicated his life to perigrinos

New friends from The Netherlands

The litigators from Ireland - lawyer sisters

We have our credentials stamped each day

Sue booked a parador and I'm so happy!

The Way

Look closely ... bikers on Camino

Sue is loving it!

Here's our breakfast and lunch

I never stop working ... checking out golf courses for future Nike camps

We constantly admire flowers in villages

Saw these shoes chucked to the side of the path ... I'm sure blisters

Here we go! Day 9, but only 13 miles/21km

Last few kilometers of Rioja region ... I will miss the vines

Our friend, Anna, from Germany

Dee (67) and Janet (61) from Seattle

The last two choices are our favorites!

Finally, fresh vegetables!!

Tomato, garlic, and olive oil - yum!

Restaurant Los Caballeros