Left the wonderful Camino del Perdin Albergue in Uterga at 6:50 this morning. Used our headlamps and I enjoyed the quiet and watching the sun come up. So beautiful.  I didn't tell you we reached one of the highlights so far: Alto del Perdon which is a wrought iron representative of medieval pilgrims. Getting up there was so strenuous that I felt like I was doing penance for all my sins. By the time I arrived I was in tears. Not sure if my tears were a physical release or emotional!  This is hard work!! Going down the mountain is so hard on legs and feet. Karen went ahead to secure our reservations.  Helen and I practically crawled the last few minutes!  We saw Jathy, a woman we met at the Convent of theTrinidad the night before. 

Today we went through Puente La Reina with a beautiful Romanesque church,Iglesias del Crucifijo and the pilgrim bridge, Puente La Reina, that was built to accommodate the pilgrims passing through in medieval times. 

Oh, before this we took a 2.6 km detour to see one of the "jewels of the Camino". A twelfth century Romanesque church.  No more detours for me!  Beautiful church but we have enough miles to walk and enough sites to see without taking detours!!!!  

So hot! Arrived in Maneru at 1:30 and decided to stop. Staying in a three month old Albergue: El Contero which means stone mason and named after the host who is a stone mason. Quite a place with unlimited hot water and beer and a delicious salad!  What more can a pilgrim desire?!  

I do happen to have a pilgrim above me who is from Mexico, loves the NY Yankees, and, has asked me my marital status, age and, my favorite baseball team! Told him if he snores I am kicking his mattress!

One of the pilgrims stopped for ham and cheese sandwich. She asked for mustard and the owner went to his home to get it for her!   Going to do my laundry and to purchase food for breakfast since we will be leaving early.  Buen Camino!