Day 10: Santo Domingo - Belorado

Today’s stats: 14 miles/1200 ft elevation. La Rioja region to Castile and León region. Today was my toughest hiking day ever - emotionally, physically, and mentally. It took all of my willpower to keep on going and not call a taxi.

Last night marked the beginning of Yom Hazikaron which is always an especially solemn time. It’s like an umbrella of grief spreads over every Israeli citizen worldwide as we remember the soldiers who fell fighting for the state of Israel and those who died as victims of terror. My dual citizenship doesn’t trump my heritage - my people’s history strongly defines my personal history. I was determined to walk thinking: “with their deaths, they have commanded us to live.”

But then I had a sleepless night.

The Parador is a lovely hotel with lots of character, but it is situated on an old square opposite a clock tower which chimed throughout the night. Unfortunately, just one night of sleep deprivation can make hiking very challenging the following day.

To make things worse, Mother Nature wasn’t our friend today. We had to brave gale-force winds. Walking was arduous. I had to lean into the wind to be able to move forward, and at times I was blown about a bit. To add insult to injury, the wind was whipping up sand right into our faces. 

I thought I would have 14 miles to figure out how to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day tonight. But I cannot move. The wind has broken me. I have never been happier to get to a hotel room, ever! I am exhausted, and I want to do absolutely NOTHING. So dinner and a glass (or a bottle) of red wine it is for me tonight. L'Chaim!  & Buen Camino!