The novelty today was the number of bodegas built into the hillsides by some communities. I was also surprised by the number of villages, although “services” for pilgrims are not a feature. That’s not a complaint – it’s an observation, and is kind of nice as that means I am walking through Spain rather than…

Easter Sunday today, but didn’t manage to pass through anywhere at the right time for celebrations. Nor at the right time to find any real food. Even the gas station in Alija had poor pickings – I settled for honey barbeque flavor peanuts with the worst red wine I’ve had in Spain, followed by an…

Today most people took the left turn for the Camino Sanabrés to Santiago whereas the Saskatooners and I went right, to continue the Vía de la Plata to Astorga. I left them halfway through the day as they decided to take a short day and probably bus ahead to meet friends on the Camino Francés.…

Montamarta was not an inspiring town, but the exit had a couple of nice points – the Mesón Rosamari was open for breakfast, and then this edifice appeared on the hill. More walking… a few hours pass, and this appeared on the horizon so I detoured a few hundred metres to explore, relax and figure…

Some images from today.. Spanish cities know how to clean up after a party. In the morning the streets are washed, blown and swept clean before most people wake up. Except pilgrims who are booted out bright and early and need to find their way out of the city. Zamora has a little park at…

More scenery, similar to yesterday, that I need to document. Arrived in Zamora, a historic city which is filled with Spanish tourists for Easter week. Checked out the castle, cathedral,  tapestries, processional preparations. All of your time on the Camino cannot be sublime. Upon arrival at the albergue,  certain tasks must be completed – paperwork,…

The first two-thirds of the day was okay, but promised to be long and hot. Once the path turned away from the road, on good dirt road through fields, it was somewhat like the meseta. I put in my earbuds, shuffled my 100 favourite pieces of music, and powered on. Those were perhaps my favourite…

Today D stayed in Salamanca to replace his lost eyeglasses and then go to Coimbra to pick up the Portugues, as planned. The walking alliances change but the friendships remain. The day was unremarkable. The Albergue at Calzada de Valdunciel had only 8 places and they filled up just before my arrival. It looked like…