Aljucen to Aldea del Cano

We departed again early, at 5:15, or so. Walked a part of the first stretch together with Philippe from France. Luckily for him him since he would surely lost himself in this very, very badly marked stage. We crossed Puente de Trajano. After the sunrise everything became much easier. He gave me a very good advice on the walking technique that will preserve the most my Achilles tendon. We will meet Philippe few time again during this Camino.

Some two kilometers before the first village of Alcuescar we were shorty stopped by the owner of the house we walked by. He offerd us drinks and food but we stopped just for a short talk. He was delighted that we are from Croatia since he is about to visit our country and its cultural heritage.

He said that we have less than a kilometer to the village?! In the end this kilometer was few kilometers long. Once arrived in Alcuescar – marenada at Restaurante Alta Cuesta. We had the best ham so far. Continued with a lot of regained spirit! At the grocery shop, buying some supplies: sanwich in olive oil for 2 Euros and water and cofee for 2 Euros.

Philippe was sitting down the road and left just before us. Later we met him again and walked almost together for the last eight kilometers or so. „El pueblo de los tontos… todos tontos“. Ok, so we were heading there!

White horse scratching himself.

We somehow managed to reach Casas de don Antonio and take two refreshments there. First time we stopped to cool down in shadow. Not much later we stopped again to refresh us with some cool water. Philippe wet all his hat. Later I regretted I didn’t do the same. Heat was raising and shade disappearing.

Just outside Casas de don Antonio a nice old fashion hacienda and a modern, kitschy hotel Pegado.

Wow! Then the last “burning” 7 kilometers of todays’ stage. Seemed never ending and we had to stop every few hundred meters or to be more precise – by every tree or little shade (who were very rare) we could find.

Finally, I just had to stop only few steps before the village of Aldea del Cano, our todays’ destination. Back of my neck and head was overheating. Andrej remebers that, at one point, I simply felt down on the earth. Frankly, I don’t even remeber that. Somehow we managed to reach hostel Las Vagas bar. Immediate remedy was found in two large and very cold beers, for 5 Euros. I bough also two sandwiches, milk and almonds for 14 Euros.

In the hostal was so hot that I had to go to sleep outside on the bench for few hours. In the evening a botle of white wine Macabeo from Vina Puebla and a modest dinner at the Las Vegas restaurant nearby, for 11 Euros. Stayed at Albergue de Caminantes.

Aldea del Cano to Casar de Caceres

After a very short sleep, early in the morning, at 4:30 we departed since another long day was ahead of us. It was pitch dark and when we were walking over the aerodrome de la Cervera. I was afraid that, in that dark suddenly, a plane could land. Just out of nowhere. We met few pilmgris, in distance the seemed fireflies with their headlight on. The soil was very bad and it was hard to walk. Yesterday’s heat and fatigue were still affecting me. Suddenly, a coldish breeze started to blow and this just added in making this section difficult to walk. I had to take another painkiller tablet of Paracetamol. By sunrise we reached Valdesalor and this specific building.

Walking in parallel with the highway.

From there a long and exhausting walk to Caceres. Again one can see his destination for hours and it looks so close yet…

Entering the city via Calle Oceano Atlantico!

First big city after Merida (actually twice the population). It was very early when we entered the city (around 9:30) but we were so tired so we took few hours to rest and visit the city center.

The Via de la Plata sign.

Finally at late afternoon we arrived in Casar de Caceres. We took a nice, air-conditioned room nearby the city pool, for 24 Euros. Tried their special cheese Torta del Casar. It was really delicious.

*Camino is like life…in short. „You have to be always happy on the Camino“. Is this possible?!