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Yesterday’s hike got me back on my feet after a tender stomach. Today I’m feeling even better! Today’s route takes us to Carrion de Lost Condes about 16 miles. We are on day 3 of a region called “Meseta.” Briefly, it is a very flat portion of Spain akin to parts of the Midwest in the United States. Lots of farming, but also lots of beauty!

We met an incredible array of people on the path today. A couple from the Netherlands; the husband was Dutch and the wife from Bermuda. Some folks from Canada, Brazil, France, Germany, Korea, and many other places . . . you never know who you are going to meet!

Once again, we saw things that stimulate the imagination along El Camino. To locals and unimaginitive types these places must seem mundane and ordinary, but to pilgrims passing through they are mystical repositories full of possibilities!

A familiar theme that I have shown before are the “pilgrims” every town seems to have statues, art, posters, murals, the list goes on . . .

This afternoon on our approach to Carrion de los Condes, we got a taste of the “Meseta” region. It was about 3 miles of purely flat open country with terrific skyscapes full of clouds. You could see rain in one direction about 10 miles away and then in another direction sun . . . it was inspiring, but also a bit intimidating to be so exposed. I met a lady from Bermuda and had a conversation with her, which made the time pass more quickly.

When we arrived to Carrion Los Condes it seemed fairly routine, but we soon learned that we had just missed a festival that involved covering about 0.5 miles of streets in flower petals in elaborate designs! We missed the procession by 1 hour and all we saw was the street cleaning crew gathering the remnants!

Luckily a fellow pilgrim was able to provide me with a few pictures they had captured of the elaborate decorations placed painstakingly on the streets!

The most amazing thing about this day was that . . . it rained, but the rain didn’t happen until just AFTER the parade in the city and the festivities were over. Also, we managed not to be caught on the Maseta when the rain came. A miracle perhaps?

Tonight we are staying in a monastery converted into an Albergue. We imagined life as a nun as we watched the downpour outside our barred windows. So enjoy the video and see you tomorrow!