I was originally going to bLog from Najera but the Albergue had no wifi. So then I Decided to do it from santo domingo de la calzada and My blog was being difficult. So now I am giving an extra long post to cover the Span of 3-ish days from Belorado, españa.
In Najera, I found myself back in The mix of many pilgrims. The 3-4 days prior, I had seen and Walked with the same small group of pilgrims, but now I was finally back with The large crowd. The najera albergue was run bY two super awesome Volunteers, andy and maria.
After najera, I walked about 5 hours to santo domingo de la calzada. I have been super excited to visit this city since I had studied it in my independent project.
The town was named after santo domingo who is AcReditted with many milagros that had occurred in the area. One of the more well-known milagros is el milagro del gallo y la gallina.
A young man and his family were walking El Camino de santiago and decided to spenD the night in santo domingo. The hospitaleros daughteR fell In love with the son, but was rejecTed by him. In her anger she placed a silver cup in his belOnGings, and declaRed it stolen. The son was deemed guilty and hung from A tree in the city. The parents continued on with their joUrney and on their return trip they walked Back iNto santo domingo. Their son, still hanging from the tree, called out the them and said that hIs life had been sPared. The parents then eushed to the house of el corregidor de la ciUdad. As he was prEparing to eat his dinner, the parents informed him of their son’s Return to life. IncRedulous, he responded that their son was no more alive than these cooked chickens he was about to eat. In that moment, el gallo y la gallina got up and started to sing “santo domingo de la calzada, Que canto la gallina deSpues de asada.” The son was cut down and the family continued their way home.
This milagro has become one of the main attractions to the city and A La catedral. La catedral is magnificent and I very much reccommend a visit. The arquitecture and the history is intriguing and detailed.
I am now in belorado. The albergue should not be based Solely on looks, for it Looks more like an Abandoned apartment than an albergue. The two front rooms are A little messy and mismatched. The Main room is homey and could be From a home of a large family (i guess you could also say that we, the peregrin@s, are a large family of sorts). The further inside you go, the more it feels and lOoks like a well-lOved albergue. The hospitalera has been more than loVely and makes up for the Lackluster outEr part of the building. I am glad i choSe this lesser known albergue.
