Santo Domingo to Belorado

Statue and fountain combination in Santo Domingo

Julie in the streets of Santo Domingo, really nice town.

Leaving Santo Domingo with smiles.

Fountain along the way.

Map for the remainder of the walk.

Small plaza for pilgrims on the edge of a town.  Fountain in the center.

Looking for lunch, all closed up.

So the good news is that we were able to finish 14 miles with full packs.  In the guidebook, this was a complete day that took us 7 hours from 6:30 to 1:30 with minimal stops along the way.  We were able to do more as we are getting stronger and the temperature has dipped to the low 80's and was in the 70's until about noon.  It made a huge difference and allowed us to extend our day.  We had planned to stop for lunch around the 10 mile mark, but the restaurant was closed as the owners were on vacation.  That what happens when there is only one restaurant in town.

So, we ate the last of our snacks, emptied ever last stash, and continued on for the last 3.5 miles hungry.  It's always difficult to plan and the more back-ups you carry, the more weight you have on your back.  I always carry a little extra water, but food can always wait.  The guidebook marks most of the fountains, so you know how much water to carry.  With the heat, it's been a lot, but we drink much less with the cooler temperatures.

So we walked around town last night, got a brief look at the cathedral prior to a funeral and bought some new walking sticks for Julie to help with her knees.  For the most part, towns completely close from 2 - 5, with the exception of cafes.  This is a good time for eating and sleeping, showering and washing clothes.  We only have 2 pairs of shorts, 3 underwear, 3 socks, and a couple of shirts, so Gisela and the girls do laundry almost ever day.  We try to map out the following day for breakfast, lunch and a good stopping point, but towns are spaced out in this part of the Camino, which can leave you high and dry.

so, today we walked with much enthusiasm.  In the morning, all four of us were together, then we slowly split into two groups of Julie and I, and Gisela and Emi.  Julie and I talked about the feasibility of her school doing a trip like this and how it would be organized and costs, etc.  she would love to come back next year and be a leader.  Whe is able to figure out the map, stopping points, and which albergues seem the nicest.  She pushes us to wake up early and get on the road.  It's rare to have a teenager want to get up at 5am to start hiking.

Emi is really coming along as well although she had some difficulty with the weight of her pack the last couple miles, but she refused to offload anything on me.  In the afternoon, Emi and I walked together.  I told her about Julie's plan for a school trip and she is definitely up for another time.  She will go on the backpacking trip next year and wants to train and get stronger.  She has a lot of determination in her which is revealed when things get difficult.  I held her hand the final two miles which helped her with the pace and we were able to catch Julie and Gisela by the finish.  Emi was proud of herself.

We are staying at an albergue with a swimming pool, game room, TV and only 8 beds to a room for 7 euros each.  We split two pilgrims meals for lunch including ice cream for dessert.  We feel like we are staying at a 5 star hotel when in fact other than this trip, we have never stayed at such a budget, 1 star hotel.  But, we couldn't be happier.

The market in town is closed for Sunday, so we are eating at a restaurant twice in one day, another luxury.  Tomorrow, we are on to the big city of Burgos which will be a dramatic change from the small towns that we have been passing through.  Although it is supposedly very nice, I have the feeling we will want to get out on the open road.