Today a good threat of thunder storms and lightening , so Stewart and I decided to take the bus to castrojeriz, walking the open fields during a lightening storm is not a good idea, considering my past lifestyle. Rationalized that early pilgrams would ride in a cart , when available or offered, so a bus is the modern cart. A nice bus ride thru the wheat and Oats growing area of northern Spain. Checked into an albergue called Ultria, a renovated structure, very clean , and warm hosts. The host said we should tour his cellar at 8pm. He took us down to the cellar/ wine storage barrels. This stairway and passage was part of an underground network of defensive, and hiding places, it was also offensive as the tunnel had narrow arches with low head room , the enemy would have to stoop over head first to clear the portal at which time their head would receive the fatal blow. The tunnel with its Roman arches, and the tunnel was over 2 km long and connected to a secret portal in the distant church church , this cellar and passageway was disguised as a winery and aging cellar. Above the winery in the main room was a log boom , hand hewn jack screw that controlled the pressure of the grape press.
Thought for the day. Circumstances do not create you; you create the circumstances.
mybuencamino 