Day 7 June 22 Santander to Caborredondo (Oreña) 8 miles walked

Santilliana Del Mar known as the "the prettiest little village in Spain" or the town of three lies : The town itself is not saintly, (although it is believed to be named in part after St. Julianna whose remains are in the former Benedictine seminary) it is not nor is it llana (flat) and it is not near the mar (sea), 

Altamira Caves dating back to at least 1850 years ago from the Paleolithic (stone age ) period, rediscovered in 1879.

   
 

Pilgrims travel light, no need to waste time in souvenir shops.	The first signs of sidra (hard cider yes please) as we neared the apple region of Asturias.	The blossoming window boxes made the main village street particularly charming.
	The monastery and seminary of Santa Juliana	A piece for bibliophiles everywhere
A little reminder of home	Only 534km to go (332 miles)	A garden alter tucked into a stone wall along the way.

Albergue de Pergrinos de Izarra

"If the camino is difficult its because you are going the right direction". 

Looking towards the hermitage of San Pedro as we neared the road side albergue. Shortly before this picture was taken Isabell and I met Andreas, also from Germany. A chance meeting when he stopped to re-tie his boots, he would be with us off and on for the rest of the Camino.

The Lie of the Three Lies

The lies they have attributed to you 

Pretty charming sweet little village of Santillana Del Mar

They have pinned them on us too

Women bent under their weight 

Accumulating world without end

First they question your goodness

But it is obvious 

(despite the Museum of Torture, I couldn’t even stomach the brochure)

You are holy

The Benedictine monastery 

Saint Juliana requiem eternam 

Ancient third century holiness 

Tortured teenage bride 

Finally beheaded 

Refused to denounce her faith

But

You are holy too

 All of us 

Holy by design

Created in the image of God 

Just looking into your deep dark eyes  

Light from the farthest star 

Reverberations of the sacred

In every hallowed breath

Santillana 

They claim you are not holy (Santa) 

They claim you are not flat (lleno)

Sloping city center

Perilous slick cobblestone

Relative to the surrounding Picos 

You are hardly steep

Insinuation comparison self-accusations 

Accosting shape and form

Hips and thighs

Knees and elbows

Bellies and breasts

Your beauty hidden for centuries 

Deep in the Altamira caves

Painted in the dim light of the first torches

Arching dome adorned like the Sistine chapel

Del Mar

They say it is a lie 

You are not beach front property

(location location location)

A two hour detour my blister feet couldn’t bear it

Yet you are close enough

And so are you

And you too

And so am I 

Right here

Where the salty afternoon fog rolls in 

Blanketing the village

The lies dissolve

Breathe in this cooling balm

Exhale dispair

Take your own hand 

Soft and warm

Reach across your body 

Feel the rhythm of your heartbeat

Propel you forward

Medieval modern meet 

Sacred profane and the myth of modesty

Throw your arms open to the blank slate of sky

Fall into the wet grass 

Bask in the miracle of this precious existence 

Holy 

Good

Wondrously made 

Here 

Right here is  

Exactly where you need
To be