Day 9 Navarette to Azofra

Day 9 started early. We had found the early starts, proved to be cooler, we were able to finish earlier in the afternoons. This allowed us to secure a bed, take a much needed shower and wash clothes and do any shopping we needed and still have some time to relax. You wouldn't believe how much laying down for an hour in the afternoon rejuvenates your legs and body!

The path was mainly through open country. With fields and vineyards.

As we entered into Azofra, we saw a lot of activity in the main square. Men were cooking large pots of polenta. It is a type of cornmeal and usually with peppers and chicken or other meat added.

When we got to the albergue, we found they were filling up their fountain, and it sure felt good on a pilgrim's tired feet!

A typical bed--7 Euros

 

After check-in, we were told the town was in the third day of Fiestas. There was a big celebration in the city square. Everyone was invited. The cost would be 10 Euros which included all you could eat and drink. The fountain in the square was filled with bags of wine and you were given a 1 liter bottle to fill.

 

There was music and dancing, a local family basically adopted us, gave us some of their special wine and made us feel welcome.









 

It was a great time experiencing local culture. It was totally unexpected, but very much welcomed. This is one of the reasons I wanted to walk the Camino, to experience Spanish culture, not with a tour group, but on the local level.

 

We walked 23.2 km or 13.9 miles. Not as much as we had been averaging, but back on track. One thing we accidentally discovered, most people were using the same guidebook that we were using and some days it was harder to get a bed than others. By breaking up the stops between what the guidebook recommended, proved to make getting a bed easier.