Calzadilla de la Cueza
It was a desert in all the senses. Not even water to drink. Dust, and sun hit you in all directions. The only comfort you will have was to find another human being to talk to you. I was lucky, but in the last 500 meters. There was nothing here.
Walking from Villalcázar de Sierga and passing by Carrión de los Condes were the party was last night, you will enter into yourself. Carrión de los Condes was a small villages with a strong past. Today the past was all in ruins. Only the Convent of the Carmelites discalced was alive. I don’t know how many nuns they have, but there was a lot of people outside talking behind the old Benedictine Monastery that now the village uses as a hotel. From there you will see nothing.
You will have to know yourself to handle 17 km of dust, sun and solitude. Your feet will be hitting the hard gravel and you will not see where are you going at the distance because of the heat.
Arriving to Calzadilla was glory. I walk faster to pay 5 Euros to have a bed for the night. There was a pool in the shelter. It was to capacity. I just relaxed in the shade after daily ritual of showering and laundry. The owner of the bar-groceries next door was one of the most welcoming people I have met on El Camino. He was a gentle man running his business, but took care of everyone like one of his kids.
I ate at the other side of town and the fish was delicious. Then I talked to couple of peregrinos and I went to bed.