TERRADILLOS – BERCIANOS DEL REAL CAMINO
10 APRIL
23.1km
We’ve started out early again this morning. It might be another warm day and we would like to be at our overnight town before the heat of the day. We’ve decided to walk again with Carl today. Since he has walked the Camino several times before, it was nice to just follow him and listen to all his stories.
It’s always such a privilege to see the sun rising on the Camino
It was a quiet morning and not as cold as the days before. There was a relaxed atmosphere between us and we were talking about our dreams and what makes us happy. Since we were talking so much on the road, we did not realised how quick the kilometers went by and at around 8:30 we’ve reached Sahagun – perfect timing for a break!
Me, Carl and Monica in front of the tiny Mudejar-style chapel before walking into Sahagun
Me and Berto at the Romanesque foundations outside Sahagun
Carl told to us that this could be the halfway mark if you’ve started your Camino in St Jean Pied-de-Port
The café’s and shops just started to open as we’ve walked into Sahagun and Carl showed us this tiny bakery on the corner of a street where they had the most delicious pastries ever!
Sweet pastries and café con leche … what a delicious breakfast
After our breakfast, Carl took us down the streets to the older part of Sahagun. We’ve spent some time walking around in the Plaza Mayor and admired all the old buildings.
Old buildings in Sahagun
The historic stone bridge (according to the Brierley guide it is originally Roman, but reconstructed in the 11th and 16th centuries). This bridge is over the river Cea
The last 9km were next to the road and by now the sun was really hot. The trees did not give much shade and we’ve moved quickly along to get to Bercianos del Real Camino where we’ve wanted to spent the night.
Our walking path alongside the main road (the “senda”)
Bercianos was quiet when we’ve walked into town. It was on the heat of the day and we’ve only saw a couple of men working on a roof of one of the houses.
Carl took us to Albergue Parroquial with a cool entrance hall and two very friendly gentlemen that welcomed us as if we were family!
The albergue is a “donativo” (you make a donation for your stay) and they’ve offered a wonderful communal meal.
We took off to the (probably only) restaurant in town and had a joyous time with good food and great friends.
While we were sitting in the backyard of the albergue, we’ve met a couple of Spaniards that were walking the Camino to Astorga. Gloria, Javier and Raul (and his two children) would be our pilgrim friends for the next couple of days and we had a wonderful time together.
Our communal meal consisted of bread, salad and a hearty bean soup.
I just love the communal meals!
The two friendly gentlemen brought some wine to the tables and we had a great evening.
John (from Ireland), Berto and Carl (USA) at the table while enjoying our communal meal
Me and Monica – very happy with our table’s bottle of “vino tinto” 😜
After our meal, we went to another room where pilgrims who wished to, could share their reasons for doing the Camino. It was interesting to hear once again everyone’s reasons and I could only consider myself very fortunate to be on this journey.
Wet and Dusty Roads 
Sights and sites are fine and lovely to see but travelling is all about people, isn’t it? It that this is especially true of the Camino but I suppose that is to be expected, given the share experience.
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Absolutely, it couldn’t be more true … I think when walking the Camino, it’s for most pilgrims not about sightseeing, but about meeting other people that share the same experience!
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You have both absolutely “got it”. From reading this wonderful series I got the impression, and correct me if I am wrong, that whilst you are both Christian it was not a specifically religious pilgrimage although that obviously played a part.
Your writing suggests to me that you were rather more trying to blow yourself out of a rut and you certainly did it in magnificent style.
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Indeed, you are hitting the nail on the head!
Can I tell you something: We’ve walked the Camino alongside Christians (Catholics and Protestants), as well as non-believers and atheists … and we’ve never judged or felt that we’ve been judged, because pilgrims (or then hikers) do this walk mostly for the journey itself. Oh well, I can go on about this … for us, it was an eye-opener that people from different backgrounds, beliefs and politics can walk together in such harmony and fellowship … in the end, those things did not really matter.
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