The Meseta has its own flavor and rhythm, uniquely different from other Camino regions. Grain fields roll gently over the landscape, broken by quaint pilgrim towns.
Storks' nests often top iglesia towers. These long-legged birds stand 4 feet tall and have a wingspan of 6 feet. They migrate in the spring from Africa and seem to find the highest point in every town for their nests. In Cadilla del Camino, where we took a break, there was a water tower (below) with the tallest nest I've seen yet -- an engineering marvel!
This area of the Meseta has the Canal de Castilla, a waterway system begun in the 18th c., serving as a power and transportation source. Today it's used for irrigation.
By the canal we met a dashing caballero and English rider on their way back from Santiago. He said earlier in Fromista a few Spanish ladies had invited him into their casa for watermelon and a glass of claret.
Approaching the town, we saw a family fishing for crayfish in the canal. They said their catch would be lunch.
Fromista's locks -- amazing for being so old.
The Fromista municipal albergue
Dad settles in by zipping off the leg bottoms of his hiking pants. The albergue had a washer, so we splurged for really clean clothes rather than just hand washing them.
The albergue is located right next to 11th c. Iglesia de San Martin with unique corbels, which are buttress-like ornamentation. Each corbel is a different animal, human, or "grotesque" creature. There's over 300 of them around the building. Some looked like they were creatures out of a sci fi movie.
The iglesia opened later in the afternoon, and we were able to see its Romanesque interior.
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