Fuentes de Cantos

We had lovely accommodation last night in Monasterio, two bunks in a room and a bathroom between four. It was a very well set up Municipal Albergue. The only complaint from me was the washing line. It was one of those pulley jobs outside the toilet window and set on such an angle I could only peg one bit of garment before I pulled the line  to peg the next part. Imagine me on tip toes hanging out a window struggling with the washing line and all the time hoping nothing would fall off into a courtyard below.

The dinner that Sunday was very odd. We decided against the pilgrims menu for a change and thought pizza might be nice. Well that threw the hospitalaria  into great consternation as the ones we selected he didn't have. They were frozen of course!  He brought us beautiful green olives and a plate of fresh chips which were complimentary. Eventually we got the pizzas but they were so oily. We ate half and took the rest back to the albergue for some young pilgrims. The whole meal including wine cost 7 €. 

Today we walked through beautiful woods contained by stone walls, along a babbling brook which reminded me of England and then into wide pasture where I walked through a herd of cows. Leaving that terrain behind we continued through wheat fields and paddocks ready for seed. It is so quiet. By now Karen is in agony with her blister and needs treatment. We sit awhile but that makes starting again painful. As we see Fuentes appear on the horizon we think we are nearly there. Alas! There are more undulating hills to broach before we even get near. These hill towns are deceptive. Eventually we slog past a pig farm and enter town. We have booked ahead today because there is only one place in town to stay. It is the Zaguan Apartementos which are very grand for pilgrims. We have a double room( I am sharing with Peter who is gay) and Andy and Karen have the matrimonial room which is an iron double bed with a lush red velvet bedspread.  The ceilings are decorated and there are friezes around the walls. We have our own kitchen theoretically but as other pilgrims are in the other bedrooms we are not in full ownership. It is a warren of a place. I am hobbling around in my socks bemoaning the fact that there is a pool with water but the day has turned cold and short of dangling my feet I am not inclined to bare anything else. A shower revives and a long sit down. I meet  new French pilgrims and start speaking FrenchAustralian. Everyone is always amazed that Australians are doing a Camino.

We find a bath and encourage Karen to go and have a soak with her cup of tea!  Katarina comes in to visit and sits on Pete's bed. When  she stands up he goes flying off the end of the bed. We have a good laugh.

The Camino and the roman way. These are our markers in Extremedura.

Our first progress sign so far.

Peter resting on our luxury beds

The ghost of pilgrims passed?

21 Kim's today and 120 kilometres completed.  In desperation I email Jonathan to see if he can send me my old boots. If I can't get them in Merida where we are spending two days I will buy a new pair.  So I have learned a lesson- pride comes before a fall. I have been humbled by my blisters. I remember so many on the Camino Frances who suffered terribly but still completed so I know I can overcome. It will be painful  though.