Where am I? San Juan de Ortega
How far did I walk today? 24.2 km / 15 miles

I really enjoyed my walk today. It was not necessarily the easiest or most scenic, but it felt good. I had a lot of quiet time out there, but also stopped to chat with others. There was a nice breeze to help with the heat as well. My feet seem relatively healed, and I’m looking forward to Burgos tomorrow.

There was one sobering moment on the trail today. The Camino passes a monument for the Spanish Civil War on the site of a mass grave for Republican loyalists. I came with a limited background on the subject, but I am starting to understand it clearer now.

I had dinner with a girl from Montreal and a guy from Birmingham, England. In a roundabout way, we started talking about US geography, and the two of them tried to list all 50 states. They got 32. I’m not sure I could get that many out of a freshman without telling them to study. I asked if they learned the U.S. map in school, and they said they just remembered them from movies and TV shows. In return, I named the Canadian provinces. I forgot Newfoundland, but so did the girl from Quebec, so I don’t feel as bad.

¡Hasta Mañana!