Day 10 Ventosa to Ciruena

Started walking a little later today, at 7:45. It was the usual. Cold and rainy day. We got woke up by church hymns again today at 6am, has a soft boil egg and bread and my strong tea at the alberque and then off we went.

It was more of walking passed wineries at the La Rioja region and the first town we walked to was Najera which was 9km away. As I started waking a little later than everyone else, I was on the road by myself all the way until Azofra. It was very peaceful.

I walked straight through Najera and has my fruit and croissant while walking. Azofra was another 6km away so I decided to push through and make a stop there instead.

Got to Azofra starving and had patatas bravas and fried calamari for lunch with a glass of orange juice.

Most people said they would walk to Santo Domingo de Calzada which was another 15km away and I initially thought I could walk that there too

1km out of Azofra and it was soft thick mud for 2km. The red mud here might be good for the wines but it sure is not good for walking on. The boots sink deeper and deeper each step and the boots got heavier and heavier too. It was hard work and that's when I decided I am too tired to push on to Santo Domingo. 9km from
Azofra brought me into a town with 27 inhabitants and 1 bed and breakfast called casa rural Victoria

The decision to stop here was the best decision I have made so far. For €20 I got my own double bed room. The house is well heated and warm run by the husband and wife team. There were so welcoming I was nearly in tears. I came here with 3 others. Willie a priest from USA and Eric and Joyce from SA. Eric is a bishop of he Lutheran church in SA and they have the 3 persons room next to mine with an ensuite

I was so tired and even though there is a restaurant next door I asked whether the lady of the casa would make us dinner a little earlier so we can sleep early instead of waiting for the bar to open at 8pm. They were very obliging and I had one of the best meal ever on the camino. Big plate of salad with tomato, lettuce, white asparagus, tuna, olives, onions, carrots, egg to start. Then pasta for main and fruits and ice cream for dessert. They also offered me some of their home made pickled chilli which was yum yum yum

I am very much impressed with this casa. They can't seem to be doing enough for the pilgrims and at 8pm 3 tired pilgrims showed up with foot injuries they even gave up their own bedroom to sleep on the sofa bed for the pilgrims. It's amazing hospitality!!

Very thankful to be able to stay here and share the place with them. I offered to do the dishes but they won't let me :)

Should be able to sleep well tonight being in my own. No snores! Yay!