Cobreces

Cobblestone Streets

The Monastery at Cobreces

I have the good fortune of being able to access internet here at the Posada in Cobreces where I am staying this evening, so why not post another message. I may not get another chance for a few days. I had a great walk after leaving Santillana this morning about 1100. I looked after my feet, only walking 13km, stopping a couple of times to rest them. I´m trying to be sensible!

Orange Trees are everywhere

One of my stops was to speak to Paul from Hungary, who was walking back from Santiago. When I saw him, he was busy tending his feet so we had something to commiserate about right away. Paul told me that the Norte route has not been very busy, which was good to hear. In fact, he was the first Peregrino (Pilgrim) I have seen so far, though as I mentioned there are some here in Cobreces tonight. He also told me that many people have trouble finding accommodation between Santander and Santillana; this made me feel a lot better (though I wouldn´t wish my experience on anyone else).

Outside the local pub in Cobreces

My other stop was at a stream, located in a pretty spot near a very old church. My guess is that people have inhabited that area for a long, long time. It had that ancient and special feel about it. My feet were starting to complain at that point, so I took the opportunity to plunge them into the cool water for about 10 minutes. The restorative effect was amazing. My blisters have all but disappeared and I had no more discomfort for the duration of my walk. I decided not to take any chances though, and stopped by 1500 at Cobreces. The rest of the day I spent doing laundry, showering, walking around the village and finally napping - something I rarely do.

The Healing Stream

Tomorrow, there are many options for accommodation, so I will simply walk until my body tells me its time to stop. As a parting note, I have decided that the best way to undertake a journey like this is with one´s own personal massage therapist. ... Maybe next time.