10. Tag 8 nach Alcuéscar

At 6, the alarm goes off and I could definitely sleep a bit longer. At home, I don't need an alarm, but when I'm traveling so much, it's really tiring for my body and it would like to sleep a bit longer. However, after resting for exactly 5 minutes, I pack my things and leave. By now, I have gotten used to living out of my backpack again, knowing what to pack where and when I can put things in. Usually, that's not a problem since I have had more or less a single room or a room to myself, but I don't want to disturb the others in the morning. Therefore, I already pack everything I can in the evening, and in the morning, I only need a maximum of 5 minutes to be ready.

Outside in the dark or in the city, it's bright enough that I don't need my headlamp. I walk through the city, which truly has many beautiful spots to offer. I plan to revisit the most beautiful cities along the Camino de Santiago. When I have time, I try to see one thing or another in the city, but some cities have so much to offer that one can easily spend 1-2 nights and days there. Even when I can visit something like the cathedral or a museum, I can't fully enjoy it because I am in 'Camino mode,' and sightseeing doesn't quite fit into that for me. That's how it has always been on the last routes too. That's why I don't stress myself. Even on this path, I often don't leave the accommodation after arriving. I walk the Camino as I see fit. In any case, I still see a few artifacts and walk through a tunnel, heading out of the city towards the highway. Fortunately, after a roundabout, there is a path for pedestrians and cyclists, so I don't have to be afraid of being run over by a car in the dark. After a little more than an hour, I reach a beautiful lake, specifically the reservoir of Proserpina, which together with the city of Mérida has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is truly a wonderful place where a few people are camping. Moreover, one can bathe there. I would have done that if it were already midday and I didn’t have so many kilometers ahead. Still, I enjoyed the place very much. I walked a bit around the lake, then turned left and walked along a sandy road. I was glad again that the weather had been dry for several days; otherwise, I would have sunk deep here again. I also spotted some animals living in the wild there, even though they probably belong to someone. It is already bright and the next village is already visible. I take a short break at the first bench, take off my rain cape, and apply some sunscreen on my skin. I also pull out my sunglasses, and after five minutes, I continue. And always, after I apply sunscreen, the sun disappears behind large clouds. I continue past the town hall and the church. I pass by a nicely decorated hostel. Then, after crossing a few fields, I reach the next village after just 3 kilometers, which is also small in size. Then it’s back into the forest or over fields. After 22 kilometers, I have also earned a break. I spread my sitting cushion on a stone and lean back against my backpack while I watch the clouds. I really enjoy doing that, but at home in everyday life, I don’t get around to it or usually don’t do it. While I am often busy at home too, when I am in the park, I am usually on the phone or doing something else. I really need to enjoy breaks and my surroundings more. I am working on that. After about half an hour, I set off again. The break has done me good, but I am still not really getting into my stride. But I don’t stress about it anymore. I encountered a few cyclists and otherwise walked the path alone. The landscape is truly breathtaking. This would be a great place to shoot movies. I continue, and in the distance, I can already see my destination for today, but don’t let that deceive you. It usually still takes a few kilometers. It goes uphill and after almost an hour, I arrive in the little town. The last steps always feel the heaviest. When looking for the accommodation, the hostel owner helps me. The accommodation is right next to a church, and in the house, priests both live and work. The accommodation operates on a donation basis, meaning everyone can pay what they want. I encountered similar accommodations last year on the Camino Francés. He shows me my room, and I have a single room. Only one other pilgrim from France is there. Normally, there’s also a shared dormitory, but with two people, everyone gets their own room. Of course, there’s no high luxury here, but everything is clean, there are proper bed sheets, and a chair with a table in the room. After showering, I actually wanted to go out to buy something, but there’s a program here. There’s mass at 6:30 PM, a tour at 7 PM, and a communal dinner at 7:30 PM, meaning the hostel owner, the pilgrim from France, and I. I should also mention that there is no heating and it can get cold, but we have been given blankets, and maybe I will use my sleeping bag tonight. Because even though it got quite warm during the day, it’s already cool in the evenings and at night. I’m curious what we will have for dinner. I have already booked my accommodation for tomorrow. This time in a hostel with other beds. Otherwise, I will just relax a bit now and then join the program later.

I probably won’t check in again today or just briefly later.