I'm a strong believer in the power of the mind to overcome obstacles and influence one's health and recovery. But I've also got to respect my limitations. Several days the last couple of weeks I've walked through some significant pain but I felt that it wasn't risking my health. But after yesterday's soaking walk, and the Compeed doing more harm than good, my feet are a bit of a mess. A couple of blisters, one on each foot, are torn and bloody and I'm afraid that if I don't let them heal I'll be at risk of infection. So, reluctantly and frustratingly, I need to take a break and let my body heal.

I took a taxi this morning from Calzadilla (too remote for bus service, and I waited literally 90 minutes for the taxi to show up!) about 11 miles to the nearest town, Sahagun, and I checked into a very comfortable hotel. I'm at a loss to explain pricing structure here; while not overly extravagant, this is a super modern, marble-floored, sleek 4-star hotel with generous rooms, and it's 34 euros a night (another 7 for a buffet breakfast). So I lucked out.

And the timing couldn't be better. It just so happens that tonight at 7:30, there's a mini-Pamplona, a running of the bulls through town. And the big annual bullfight is tomorrow evening and the toreros are staying in this hotel so there's quite the hubbub.

And while it was raining this morning, the sun appeared after I got here and I took a nice short stroll through town, grabbing some lunch and taking pictures. Mostly walls, as usual. So I'm making the best of it. I'll stay here at least a couple of days. If my feet are not making significant progress by then I may take a bus to Leon and camp out there as well. I may not be able to walk every mile but I don't want to jeopardize finishing this adventure in Santiago. So it's time to lay low.