34 San Juan de Ortega

San Juan de Ortega is a very small town. As soon as I reached it, I arrived my Albergue "El Desanso de San Juan," for which both Rita and I had made reservations last night. Rita had arrived around 11 am, and I arrived around noon.  It was a very small albergue, with 3 rooms and each with 3-4 beds on the upper floor.  The first floor is the bar and restaurant and with a nice outdoor patio. Rita and I shared a 3-bed room with another young woman. Rita occupied a single bed, while I settled into a bunk bed with our new roommate.

After check in and showered, Rita and I had lunch in our albergue patio then we went explored the town and visited the Monastery.  San Juan de Ortega 's significance on the pilgrimage is primarily due to its association with St. John of Ortega.

 San Juan de Ortega is named after St. John of Ortega, a 12th-century Spanish saint and architect. He was a key figure in the construction of Monastery of San Juan de Ortega, which he founded. St. John is also credited with building bridges and roads along the Camino de Santiago to aid pilgrims on their journey. The monastery's cloister is particularly renowned for its intricate sculptures.

Within the monastery complex, there is a beautiful Gothic church dedicated to St. John. It contains his tomb and is a place of prayer and reflection for pilgrims and visitors.

Rita and I again had dinner in our cozy little Albergue restaurant before rest for the day.

Monastery of San Juan de Ortega

A shell decorated path

Monastery of San Juan de Ortega

Inside the Gothic Church

Our Cozy Little Algergue

A good meal with my friend and nice weather, life is good!

Our cozy/tiny sleeping qarter 

33 Day 16 Walking Camino- from Villa Franca to San Juan de Ortega

Day 16: Villa Franca to San Juan de Ortega, ~ 12km

(June 14, 2023)

The terrain today on the walk was a stark departure from my previous hiking experiences.

The initial hour consisted of a steady ascent, beginning right after departing from the Albergue. I soon found myself entered in a forest, transitioning from narrow paths to wider, open roads rather than the open fields I was accustomed to. All the way, we walked on none of the parts that were shared with cars.

It wasn't until the last half kilometer to the town that I finally reached the familiar open fields I had encountered before. From Villa Franca to San Juan de Ortega, there were no other towns or villages in between.

The forest held some impressive trees, some of them thriving in the darker, shaded environment.

During my journey, I unexpectedly ran into the French couple friends as they were walking with a couple of their acquaintances, one of whom spoke English, allowing us to communicate through an interpreter. Finally, I learned the couple's names: Bernard and Micheal.

As usual, there were wildflowers along the way, but this time they had a distinct appearance compared to the ones I had seen before. I suppose these were the varieties that thrived in the forest.

Despite it being a relatively short walk, the road was bustling with fellow walkers. I was rarely alone for long as others continuously passed me by. It was a busy day on the Camino!

Arrived San Juan de Ortega