The Miracle of the Cock and the Hen

Start of the 2010 college football season is today, Washington at BYU. . . GO DAWGS!!!

Final thoughts on Nájera, population 7,000. . .

Donations only at the albergue in Nájera, so I gave 5 Euros. On the flip side of this coin was my later discovering that for the first time in my nearly seven months in Europe this year, NO TOILET SEATS!

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We were joined at dinner by Max from Denmark. It was our farewell to St. Ulf who can't go on due to his severe blistering. It was really sad saying goodbye to this very brave soul, we'll miss his spirit on the Camino.

I had the worst night of sleep I've had on the Camino, just could not get used to the bed.

STAGE 9
Nájera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Distance Walked 21.0 km/13.0 miles
Time Walked 5:11

Total Distance Walked 214.3 km/133.2 miles
Total Time Walked 58:07
Total Spent on Albergue Beds - 51 Euros

Distance to Santiago de Compostela
584.3 km/363.1 miles

Started the walk at 6:50 a.m. and walked the whole way with Trine and Julie at a very relaxing pace. Lots of good companionship and story telling today.

The day started off on a bad note as someone stole one of our Spanish mates walking shoes! Definitely a hanging offense on the Camino. He bought new shoes but had to wait several hours for a shoe store to open, not fun. At the end of today he somehow got them back along with some very lame excuse. . . NOT FUNNY!

Our albergue in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, population 5,600, is very plush with a ton of money put into its restoration last year. They even have a room for heavy snorers. I fessed up and am in a room with only six beds but am all alone!!!

It pays to be honest.

We have an elevator in this three story albergue but only the staff and handicapped may use it.

CRUEL.

Now for the Miracle of the Cock and the Crow, it seems that hundreds of years ago a German couple and their 18 year old son stopped in this town on their way to Santiago de Compostela. A local girl was smitten by the son but he fought off the temptation.

To spite him, she snuck a silver goblet into his luggage and after the boy and his family left town, claimed that he stole it. He was arrested, tried and found guilty. The punishment was death by hanging.

They strung him up and on their way out of town the parents went to claim his body only to find that he was still alive as the spirit of Santo Domingo was holding him up so that he could breath.

The parents went to the judge's home to tell him of this miracle. The judge had just sat down to eat dinner, a roasted rooster and a roasted hen. The judge told them that what they said was rubbish. If it were true then the two roasted chickens should get up from the table and fly away.

So they did!

To this day, the cathedral here in this beautiful Spanish city still has a live white rooster and white hen inside its walls 24/7 to remind everyone of the miracle.

Our albergue looks more like a MASH Unit every night but I am still doing well physically and mentally.

At a tapas based dinner tonight with Trine, Julie, Hans, Jillian, Jaime and Ruth, we found out that this is the end of the Camino for Ruth. She has been hurting for a few days now and is making the right but difficult choice I believe.

The Camino is a hard road indeed!

Vamos Bien.

BUEN CAMINO!!!