Day 30. Sahagun to Calzadilla de Los hermanillos

Last night I went to the Benediction prayers of the Benedictine nuns at the monastery we stayed at.  The nuns stay in their clausura and the hostel is run by volunteers.  There were a dozen nuns and at dinner we were told by the volunteer that 6 are ill and one is 100 years old, one 92.  Two nuns are from Nigeria and were sent to help care for the nuns.  They make their living making sweet almonds.  I would have bought some but they are only on sale at certain hours.

Only 3 of us were at the benediction.  After the nuns said their prayers, they called the pilgrims to the front and the Abbess said a special pilgrim prayer for us to keep us safe.  I was very touched, I have a soft spot for nuns specially Benedictine nuns.  

What was also interesting was the aspiring nun.  She sat with the nuns and prayed and sang with them.  She was an Anne Hathaway look alike.  Beautiful short hair, tall and lean and dressed in tight pants and very stylish clothes.  We could tell she was new because the other nuns had to direct her to the page of the hymnal.  We found out she was a novice and only 3 months at it.  In a few more months she would wear a habit.   It is going to be tough for her as she has no colleague to share the ups and downs of her road to being a nun.  There is a shortage of interests in the nunnery in Spain and everywhere!

I was excited to walk today after resting yesterday.  I chose a shorter destination so as not to strain my sore knees.  Our destination was 14 km. away and It was a lovely walk following the old Roman way.  

Not many pilgrims take this route, instead they go via an alternative route to get them to Leon.  The views were great, very tranquil, very wide open space as far as you can see, prairies and fields for wheat, oat and barley.  It was a cool day with a small breeze and the walk went quickly.  We were unable to sit for lunch for a long time because the flies and gnats were thick!