I started out today walking with two Italians from Padua. One of them was a hospital administrator at a public hospital. They were fascinated by the fact that I would want to take Italian cooking and culinary tradition to America. We had an interesting conversation about the cost of immigrants in hospitals in Italy.

Because the hospitals are public, the city pays for the cost for immigrant health. A very different system from what we have United States. it was also interesting that he said that the immigrant problem is primarily a problem of the south and not the north.

We arrived at the next town which was Villacazar de Sirga. Historically this was a fairly famous town as it was associated with the Knights Templar. Here are a couple pictures of their church.

Leaving the city it was a beautiful vista and a start of what is called the Mazzeta.

I arrived in Carrión de los Condes in the late morning. I had a stop in the church dedicated to St Domingo.

I also found a great bakery that only baked with lieveto madre (sourdough). Needless to say I had to try a few things.

On the way out of town to pass a monastery dedicated to St. Zollo. It was a full Cluny Benedictine monetary and was one of the most important stops in the Middle Ages on the Camino. Today it is a 4 star hotel.