Culture Shock

In the last 3 days we did 50km to Logroño, 51km to Santo Domingo de Calzada and 22km to Belorado.

The cycling has been significantly easier over the last 3 days, road surfaces are a bit better. However the compound effect is coming into play - this week we did +-11000 calories and cycled about 33 hours. All this not on rested legs :) Our bike cables are also in need of some TLC so we can't always find the gears we need. But the hardest part has been a lack of sleep. The noisy auberges really got to us, so last night and tonight we found some accomodation where we can be in a double room. Some sleep should help with recovery.

When we entered Logroño we first tried the local church's Auberge. After we entered we got a hug and we got the feeling that the doors locked behind us, if you know what I mean... There was no cost involved and supper with the 'father' would be at 8:30 after which he would stamp our passports. The showers were cold - but we tried to appreciate their hospitality. I started doing some cloth washing and Colette wanted to work on the bikes but we were told that the father doesn't approve of people being in the courtyard. We are not catholics, and after this the 'cloisturefobia' really got to us... halfway through washing the clothes I went to thank them for their hospitality but explained we really need to work on the bikes. We quickly escaped and got the last two beds in the municipal auberge... lucky? That night we went out for some pizas and had some local La Rioja red wine. 

Having told this story I must just add that we really appreciate the local community for their hospitality, many people volunteer to make doing the Camino really affordable - this experience was just a bit of a culture shock.