Arevalo to Medina del Campo - No frills Camino

Will this new key open this old door? One of many questions as I head back to my accommodation. Tonight it is the Carmelite Seminario in Medina Del Campo - once used to train men for religious life.

Camino days are made of moments and periods of time - in my case, little is organised beforehand, except water and food. Most times, hospitaleras and hospitaleros do not know I am coming. For me - and for them, it is rhe Camino. No frills. It is all about the walking.

Usual early start out the city gate, past the local castle- then to the plains. Longer walk today. No open shops so you carry everything with you. No frills.

Then off the road to more comfortable tracks.
Time for breakfast - tortilla to go!
At the first town school children were preparing for an excursion - parents dropping off, and catching up with each other.
Too early for any open bars. I walked on.
Passing ruins and wondering how and why,
And crops on either side.
I stopped for lunch, but there was no bench or rock or log to sit on, so I sat on the road.
The path had been flat and fine most of the morning, but then it turned to a goat track for a while..

I could see why . . .
The afternoon wore on.
Coming into Medina, scenery changed again.
They have a castle as well!

I was greeted by a friendly Carmelite, Br Francisco, and checked in. I showered, changed, did laundry and relaxed.  A functional no-frills room with a washing line outside the window.
Later, I went down to the Plaza Major for some groceries.
People were out and about.
I stopped for a drink and gave my regards to Queen Isabella for ‘discovering America’- as per the inscription.

The key worked - I made it through the dining room door too.

I self-catered back at the Seminario as all the restaurants closed earlier today.

It had been a no-frills Camino day - satisfying to arrive, ask myself questions and reflect on what happened. I slept soundly.