Published on Behalf of Donna Blackstock – Donna is walking the Camino Frances  – a 5 weeks and 800 km journey that attracts over 250,000 participants.

Hola,

I am currently in Villafranca at Albergue San Anton Abad. I arrived after 24k and walked into a beautiful hotel lobby. At the back it the hotel is an albergue started by the owner who has done the Camino De Santiago and wants to give something back to the Pilgrims.

At this albergue I have my own cubicle and a bed that is not a bunk bed. This is so rare but I have now had this “luxury” twice. We also had our Pilgrim meal at 7:00 pm (a 3 course dinner for 10e) in a restaurant which will be open later (9:00) for the locals who eat much later in Spain.

We went from beautiful vineyards, mixed with Olive groves to dry brown dirt fields as far as the eye can see. Hay, wheat and oats have already been harvested and ploughed for next year. Although some mornings have been chilly the walking weather has been ideal.

Some days you have someone to talk to and the time goes quickly from place to place or sometimes because the villages are so close together, that seems to bring you to the end of the line more quickly.

Yesterday the walking day ended in Redecilla at San Lazaro albergue. The albergue was 5e for the night and we had to eat at the bar, run by a very personable Moroccan, just a few doors up the road. After showering several people went to the bar for a beer but at 4:00 we had to move out into the chairs in the street as it was siesta and he had to close the bar until 6:30.

Here was the Pilgrim meal for tonight:

• Starters.
  • Mixed salad
  • Zucchini soup
  • Lasagna
• Mains.
  • Orange chicken
  •  Trout
  • Cod in a sauce
  • Chicken breast
• Dessert.
  • Tiramisu
  • Rice pudding
  •  Ice cream

You pick one from each section and it comes with bread and red wine. Tonight I was at a table for 6 with Paul and Kris from Brisbane, Maggie from Sydney and Roz and Debbie from Colorado.

Adios!

Donna