It was going to be a short one today, before I tackled the top of the Pico de La Dueña, tomorrow. There was frost on the ground when I left Calzada, but it soon warmed up and turned into a very pleasant walk, although there were a few rivers to cross. The route is very well marked and, after 9 kilometers, I reached the village of Valverde de Valdelacasa. It was here that I met Tomás. The. first of my two strange encounters that day.

Tomás calls himself “Señor Divino Sanador”, he claimes that he can cure any and all classes of ailment or addiction, by the simple laying on of hands. He has had the power from a boy, and believes it comes from the Virgin Mary. I told him that I didn’t have particular problems at that point in time, but he insisted on giving me a short holding hands session, as a power boost. I have to confess, that I didn’t feel much difference but then I am a confirmed atheist and it may not work for everybody. He gave me his business card, told me to call anytime day or night, and that he could operate just as well over the phone. I thanked him very much and walked around the corner to find that the bar was closed. I was tempted to call, but I walked on to the next village, where I found an open bar with good food.

The lady in the bar turned on the television for me. These days, the 24 hour news shows harrowing pictures of the immigrants. A little boy died on a beach last night, so Spain has decided to take in 16,000 more people. Every afternoon, there is the endless interrogation of the Infanta (daughter of the last king and sister to the present one) and her husband over an enormous financial scandal. She looks tired and depressed, he, very handsome, but looks as guilty as a fox in a chicken coop. The politicans, still can’t form a government, even though the elections were back in December.