Las Pedroñeras to El Toboso - Reconnections, connections and disconnections

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Cake and hot chocolate made my Sunday morning- the Feast of Corpus Christi. An offer I could not refuse.
The locals were preparing to celebrate. The streets were lined with flowers and plants, wheat and thyme (that released it’s scent as it was walked on) 

The communities of all the villages along the way today were involved. I was happy to reconnect with this Catholic faith tradition. The welcome I got and the hot chocolate were genuine.
Earlier the farmers were out
The garlic was being packed - the leftovers look like this and were being recycled
And the roads and freeways were quiet.
Locals connected with me and wanted to know about my Camino. Some tell me about theirs. All wished me well.  I had trouble getting away from the artist of this mural.
As it happens, I got disconnected - twice today. On one occasion, I didn’t see the sign because there wasn’t one. There was just a pile of rubble with the path on the other side.
On the other occasion, I was daydreaming and found I was about 15 minutes off course so I found a country path and tracked back. No drama really. The two detours probably cost me about an hour.  And yes, today I saw windmills!
I was on the route of Don Quixote as well as the Camino
El Toboso is a centre for Cervantes literature and cultural history. I arrived in the open evocative square next to the cathedral. Sancho was tired so we sat down. 

Faith reconnection surfaced again - The links between heaven and earth are so tangible in rural places.
I found my way to the local convent - but no answer at first. 

Okay, I’ll go to the bar next door.
The bar manager rang the convent and not long after we went over - we had to ring, knock and call into the cupboard- This has been happening since 1660.
Sisters came and checked me in.

We are sharing dinner tonight.

It was a day of reconnection as well as disconnection. I am also feeling more comfortable connecting with locals - And they with me as my Spanish vocabulary goes from minuscule to a little.









Comments

  1. Anonymous3 June 2024 at 00:43

    It sounds like a special day Mike. Great to see those windmills. I feel myself tilting again!! San Don says: 'For hope is always born at the same time as love.' Buen Camino amigo, Neils

    ReplyDelete

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