Day Ten- Najera to Santa Domingo de la Calzada (13.5 Miles)

On the way out of Najera we walked past the Convent where our friend Marc Galante, the owner of the antique store in Sana Fe where we purchased much of our Casa Marana pieces, purchased our Pine Amoire. We felt like knocking at the door but continued along the Way. Our walk today was going to take us to one of the most remarkable places along the Camino. The road was pretty flat amongst cut grass fields, although we did gain 1,496 feet of elevation throughout the day. We visited a few churches along the way (no surprise) and had cokes at a Country Club Golf Course which seemed rather out of place along the Camino.

13.5 miles later we arrived in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. First thing we did after finding the hotel, showering, and grabbing a late lunch, was to find the Urgent Care for Chris to see a Doctor about her skin rash (legs and arms). Efficiently, the Spanish Doctor said it was an allergy and promptly gave Chris a shot of a steroid in the butt. Also received a prescription for an antihistamine for the next 20 days.

That accomplished we set out to find the famous Church with the Chickens!

It was just next door to our beautiful Parador Hotel and it was open for touring. The Cathedral of Santa Domingo de la Calzada is so full of many historic items from it’s long history. But the best part is the chickens. Just opposite the crypt of Santa Domingo is a cage with a white rooster and hen. They are kept there to remember the story of a miracle.

In the 12th century a German family was passing through Santa Domingo while on Pilgrimage to Santiago when their son was falsely accused of stealing silver from an innkeeper. The town hanged him on the spot, but Santa Domingo intervened, lifting the boy’s body so he would not die. The boy’s family begged the judge, who was about to sit down to a delectable meal of roasted birds, to release their innocent son. He said he would do so as soon as the two fowl on his plate sat up and sang. That is just what the cock and hen did and the judge released the boy. The white rooster and hen there today are descendants of the two that danced on the judge’s plate! It is so amazing to witness such history and legend in this beautiful country, as it is intertwined with our Catholic faith full of Saints and Miracles. It takes our breathe away.

We then climbed to the top of the Bell Tower- 154 steps! After a rest in our room, our evening concluded with a lovely dinner in our hotel dining room.

Two tired pilgrims head to bed to get ready for our walk tomorrow…..