Camino Primitivo, 14-15.Sep.2022, Madrid

Hi yáll,

I’m continuing my blog via Summer’s skill (thank you, Summer!) as I start on my second Camino. Cannot believe how lucky I am to do another Camino. I should be starting today with a day in Oviedo, but I missed my train. I did get to see it leave the station. Turns out the ones that leave from the left of the posting sign have the platform to the left and the ones that leave from the right, have postings to the right. Now I know. Sigh. 

So – happily, so luckily, I’d planned for a full day in Oviedo to explore and have some jet lag recovery. I was able to get another train tomorrow – only one a day – and get a room at the place I’d stayed last night in Madrid. So – I explored Madrid a bit, so cool, love this city.

The map above shows all the Camino’s – so many choices :). I did the red one that goes across the top of Spain last year. This year, I’m doing the Camino Primitivo that starts in Oviedo and is the purple one below. 

But – now I’m in Madrid. And I had to start with a church, The San Jeronimo El Real, built originally in the early 16th century and was the royal church, right next to the Prado which is a piece of what was the royal palace. I won’t be posting photos of every church I pass like last year, but had to start the Camino journey with one. 

When I missed my train, I decided to do a Rick Steves walking tour and it was great. I’ve walked through these areas before, but per usual, he puts it all into a historical context. This is the Plaza Mayor, oldest part of the city built in the 1500’s and used to be the main gathering place for fiestas, bull fights, political gatherings, etc. Most of the buildings are painted burgundy per Madrid vote – since Franco, they vote on everything. Taking back the power.