Day 3: Grado to Salas
Distance Today: 11.7 km + 12.5 km
Total Distance from Oviedo: 53.8 km
Elevation Gain: 475 metres + 463 metres
Weather: Overcast
Highlight: Feeling Spooked!
We weren’t in a hurry to leave the La Quintana Albergue in Grado this morning, since it would be a short walking day with just 11.7 km to our destination – or so we thought!
We wanted to stay at the Shelter of the Monastery of San Salvador in Cornellana which I had heard was “fantastic.” It was founded in 1024 by Infanta Cristina. When she died, her descendants gave it to the monks of Cluny in 1122 so that they could establish a Benedictine monastery here. There is a sign on the old building about restoring it by 2024 when it will be 1,000 years old. It is definitely in need of a lot of work! The last renovation was done in 1607/8 as shown above the doorway.
We arrived at the monastery by noon and, since it wouldn’t open until 2 PM, we added our backpacks to those of two others who were waiting to check in and went for lunch. All four of us were back before 2 PM. There was a phone number on the iron gate to call if no one was there. It took a phone call and a code number to open the iron gate and let ourselves in.
Even before we got into the facility, Dave and I were having second thoughts about staying there. We had peeked through an open window into one of the dormitories and it looked gloomy and cold. Worse than that, my imagination started running wild. Maybe it was the bushes growing out of cracks in the stone walls, the black windows, or the black cat that was hanging around. I thought, “What a perfect setting for one of Edgar Allen Poe’s stories or for the wife of Mr. Rochester of Jane Eyre fame to come wandering down from the attic in her nightie at night with a flickering candle in hand.”
It didn’t seem very nice to leave the others on their own in what seemed to us like a creepy place, but another couple arrived who could give them moral support. We all had a good laugh over the situation we found ourselves in, then Dave and I left.
Salas was 12.5 km away and it was hard going although not nearly as hard as tomorrow will be coming out of Salas. We are glad we walked the extra 12.5 km today instead of tomorrow and then having to tackle the infamous killer hill on the same day!
We are at the Albergue La Campa in Salas and just finished a delicious vegetarian dinner shared with four others: Jack and Lucas from New Jersey, Marcus from Germany, and Pierre from France.
Walking the Camino Primitivo is a school project for Jack and Lucas with much of their research having to do with the history of the Camino. Because they are missing school, they are time-limited, but should have enough time to walk the Camino Primitivo and then to Finisterre and still submit their report to their teacher by the beginning of June.
The Albergue La Campa isn’t the best place in town, but we do have a private room with shared bathroom for 15 Euros each and the delicious meal was 12.50 Euros each. In this ancient building there is no heat, escape route, or smoke alarms in case of fire. We’ll go to sleep and hope Mrs. Rochester doesn’t come along with her flickering candle.
6 thoughts on “Day 3: Grado to Salas”
Judy And Dave
When on the Slektain Trail in Dean Park “that Log” I tap it and spend you my love
and strength. Remember the song “The Wind Beneath My Wings”. Your sister
is with you. Happy trekking!! Today we had a pie attack.
Lovely pictures. Hugs Flo
Hi Florence! Oh how we miss those pies! You are right about my sister being here …she is. Thanks for your support. 😊
Hi Judy and Dave
Out of the mists and into ghost territory.
Adventure is definitely the name of the game this Camino…
Glad you are together encountering the occult. ha ha.
Or, was that a Dave apparition???
Sending you love from the west coast.
Love B
Hi Bon! A 1,000 year old building has GOT to have ghosts, don’t you think? That WASN’T Dave. Really!!!
Hi, Judy – My wife and I have been reading your posts, a few a day, to get a sense of the Primitivo. We’re thinking of walking it in 2020 (we’ve been on the Frances twice). Your posts have been a great resource for us. One question: in September of 2018 we spent a few days walking with Markus Weismann, from Germany, on the last stretch before Santiago. He is probably about 50 and worked in a supermarket. Any chance it is the same person? Thanks
Hi Tim, I’m glad my posts have been a good resource for you in planning your journey next year and hope you enjoy your Camino as much as we did. I don’t think the Markus we met from Germany is the same person you met. I don’t remember him well but he seemed to be younger and might have been chums of the school-aged boys from America (what often happens on the walk). Buen Camino!