Camino Passport

On the Camino, you are not a legitimate pilgrim if you don´t have a Camino Passport or as it is more commonly known as - a ´credencial´.  This is your passport to all the Albergues.  Without it, you may have to find a hotel or bed and breakfast.  In addition, it also allows you to enter museums, historic sites, eat at restaurants for a much cheaper price.  As you go from one town to the next, your Albergue or a church will put a stamp on it with a date.  And when you arrive in Santiago, they will check your ´credencial´ to determine if you qualify to receive the "Compostela," a certificate that says that you actually did the camino.

Here´s a photo of my credencial...

Day 19: Reliegos to León (~24kms)

The León Cathedral is absolutely massive!

There was a beautiful wedding going on during our Cathedral visit.

They had traditional music at the wedding conducted by an organist accompanied by a soloist cantor. Very beautiful. 

We took refuge under a little newspaper vending stall during a rainy period in León.  The rain didn´t bother us that much though; we´re coming from Vancouver after all!

All the grocery stores had closed so we didn´t have any food for supper.  Fortunately, Aiden stumbled into a little bar cafeteria who offered a hamburger meal for only €3.20 per person!  Needless to say, we jumped on the opportunity at once.  It included a burger, fries and a nice cold lemonade drink.  It was great!

Day 18: Sahagún to Reliegos (~34kms)

Leaving Sahagún...

On the way to Reliegos, we saw these fascinating structures reminiscent of a certain piece of work by J.R. Tolkien.

We tried knocking and peaking through the windows but no sign of little hairy people... :) 

Our dinner was pasta with sardines as our pasta sauce.  We got the pasta for free as a donation!  There wasn´t any grocery store in this little town so we had to settle for sardines.  It turned out to be more delicious that we had thought!

Day 17: Carrión de los Condes to Sahagún (~38kms)

We took this spot as our rest stop and lunch break.

We had made sandwiches the night before because we knew it was going to be a long walk today. 

This is one of our ´best friends´on the Camino.  It´s important to stay hydrated especially on hot sunny days!

This photo was taken in front of our Albergue in Sahagún.  Crystal was feeling too tired to go grocery shopping but Aiden was there to give her a boost. :)

Our supper this night was potato tortilla, fresh vegetables, sardines and calamares.

Day 16: Frómista to Carrion de los Condes

We made Adobo for supper.  Yum! 

Augustinian Sisters singing to us pilgrims.  It was very soothing after a tiring day of walking!

Day 15: Itero de la Vega to Frómista

Us waiting for the public library to re-open at 5:30pm so we can use the free internet to check emails.  During siesta, all activity in Spain comes to a full stop!

We´ve been having some cooler weather with strong wind.  Enough to make us put our jackets on.

Beautiful church in Frómista - Iglesia de San Martín - described to be one of the most significant Romanesque architecture in all of Europe!

Day 14: Hontanas to Itero de la Vega

The albergue we stayed at in Itero de la Vega had a kitchen so we made spaghetti and meatballs for supper!  It was delicious!