September 2, 2011

I´m in Burgos, not quite a third of my way. Here I had planned a rest day, but am likely taking two rest days. A nagging painful knee took me to a physiotherapist in Santo Domingo. So now the knee is well and truly taped, and I´m well and truly determined to go no where for two days!

Santo Domingo de la Calzada was a lovely town with an old medieval core surrounded by more modern dwellings and industries. Much like many of the towns I went through across Navarra and La Rioja. A truly bright spot on entering Santo Domingo was a Peregrino Information booth, set up to welcome peregrinos to Santo Domingo and provide each of us with a map, directions to the albergues, and (very welcome)an updated listing of all the albergues for the 100 kms!

I stayed at the albergue operated by the Spanish Confraternity. Newly modernized, it was bright, cheery and comfortable. It was also home to the chickens central in the Cathedral myth. The cathedral not only houses the tomb of Santo Domingo, whose live was dedicated to improving the Camino, but also houses a chicken coop at the back. The myth has to do with an innocent boy hanged but not dying. That he lived was proved to the disbelieving mayor when his chicken dinner jumped up and started crowing! Very similar to a myth in Portugal.