Initial Thoughts on the Meseta

Third Sunday of Easter
14 April 2013

Hot. Dry. Sunny. This is the Meseta, a large arid plateau that makes up the middle third of the Camino through Spain.

The Meseta is said to be the second trial of the Camino. In the first third, you are tried physically. In the bleak Mesta, you are tried mentally.

It has not yet, however, lived up to its reputation for flatness.

We had two trying climbs today, one after we left San Bol, the other near the end of the day.

Eamon and I left San Bol early with the idea of getting the majority of our walking done before the heat of the day set in. I had also hoped to get to Castrojeriz in time for an 11am Mass.

Pretty much a spectacular failure in both respects.

Castrojeriz surrounds a tall hill, atop which sits the ruins of the Visigoth castle.

Thanks to the steepness of the hill, and my collapse after climbing it, we didn´t make it to town until 11:30. It hardly would have mattered, as of the five churches we found in the town, we couldn´t find one that was actually open.

We had lunch and continued on.

The afternoon was rough. Water and sunscreen flowed. And that final hill was a killer, and after a 27 km day, we arrived in Itero de la Vega exhausted.