Day 8: Nájera zero day

My first rest day. No need to get up early to minimize walking in the afternoon sun, so I had a leisurely breakfast at the albergue (scrambled eggs, toasted sandwiches, orange juice, coffee - definitely at the better end of albergue breakfasts!). And I was the last to leave at 8:10 am - my shoes looked lonely when I went to get them
(It is normally compulsory to remove shoes at or near reception at the albergues, and some of them have quite creative places to store them overnight)

I managed to drop my pack off at a hotel that some US pilgrims were staying at, and then set off for a walk around town. It felt quite odd walking without a pack or hiking poles
I had heard that it was worth visiting the monastery, so headed that way. Amazing how they build these huge structures into the side of a cliff
In this case the location was based on a cave found under miraculous/legendary circumstances by King Don Garcia...
I went in after it opened at 10:00 am, and was offered discounted entry since I was so old. Yes it was worth going into the Monastery of Santa María la Real, with an audio guide that was at times quite funny (probably intentionally, but perhaps the translation into English added to the humour)
The monastery was founded by King Garcia Sanchez III so that the monks would pray for his soul, and he gave them plenty of money/property, which I guess helped the praying. I love the line from the audio guide: "this rich heritage made the monastery was fabulously wealthy, which in turn attracted great calamities". So true!
Painted dome, with a cool 3D effect...
So-called 'knights' cloisters, because the local nobles paid large $$$ to place their tombs near those of the royalty...
... with bullet holes in the walls where Napoleon's troops practiced their shooting

The cathedral (part of the monastery) was pretty cool, although again a lot of gold on display...
All in all, an interesting visit
Just another funny (to me) line from the audio guide: some of the tombs of the various kings and queens buried here "are more controversial", in that they also "seem to have graves elsewhere"
Albergue for the night...
Back on the road tomorrow!



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