Aljucen

Coming in to Aljucen this small village procession was winding its way up with the risen Christ statue. They were singing and wished us buen canino. The priest gave us a card with the Virgin and blessed us. 

We farewelled Karen today as she is going on to Carceras by train to rest a torn ligament. Yesterday she went to the hospital to get help with her knee and the diagnosis was a torn ligament and rest was required.  Peter, Andy and I set off  and walked through beautiful rolling pasture with wild lavender, yellow and white wild flowers. We are heading for the hot thermal springs town of Aljucen. It is an easy walk but no breakfast till about 10.00 am. We wander past an ancient dam created by the Romans in the first or second century and it is still being used to supply Merida.
Peter nearly cleans up a cyclist. Not as many as the Camino Franes but still they wush up behind you and give you a fright.

We get into town by 12:00 and the hospitalaria insists I have a room on my own ( girls room) but by the time the Albergue fills up I am now in a room with guys I have never met! That is the Camino. There is a completely new crowd of pilgrims some of whom look immaculate! Jean the guy who massaged my feet first day out is staying here too. He is a real enigma. He must levitate to places we think.
This town is famous for the thermal springs and it is set  out like a Roman baths. We went and booked in for a 5pm session. The three of us went back to do our usual chores and as there is only wifi at the bar I took to my bed for a couple of hours. Heaven. It starts to rain and there is a flurry to get our washing in under cover. Off to the baths and we have a big tepid pool and a small hot pool and a cold plunge pool all to ourselves for an hour and a half. Peter and I have a massage afterwards which was heavenly.

 Now dinner at the bar and I can get the wifi to do the blog.
The albergue is very basic but we are grateful for a bed and I hope my fellow roommates won't snore.
The bar is full of Spanish people watching the footy and gossiping. Very friendly boisterous atmosphere.
After a delicious home cooked dinner we return to the albergue up the road and find a set of cards with strange suits. I thought they were tarot cards but they are just cards. The suits are swords, coins, chalices( we called them jam jars) and clubs that looked like zucchini is to me. We play sevens which is a nice change of pace and good for a laugh.

Inevitable Stork and chicks near the dam.

The albergue lounge room and kitchen Aljucen