11. Day 9 to Cáceres

I woke up once at 5 o'clock and then fell back asleep until 6 o'clock. Other than that, I've always slept through the night so far. I got up at 6, made myself a coffee, and packed my things. Matteo, the other pilgrim, was also awake, but he always takes a bit longer in the morning to start his day. I dipped a milk roll in my coffee and then left with the remaining coffee. It was relatively quick to get out of the city and thus into the darkness. Today I used my headlamp for about 1-2 hours. And that intensely, as the ground was uneven and a bit damp. I also walked a lot on grass that was still quite wet from the night. And today it was the first time it was really foggy. Fortunately, I was walking in the forest and not on the highway. A few animals were spotted again, and most of the flooded areas could be crossed with rocks. I passed by the first town, but I headed for the second larger town, Aldea del Cano. The actual path did not lead through the town, so I had to take a small detour. But I wanted to get something to drink and a food item with protein at a supermarket. That was the plan. I also got water for 35 cents, but in this store, there were a few yogurts that were just a month expired. Additionally, other yogurts were stored next to the refrigerator. Once I saw that, my water was enough for me, and I continued on. Again, as I was on the Camino de Santiago, I passed by a functioning water station. What a pity, but unfortunately, you never know which water stations are operational. So I took off my rain cape, put on my sunglasses, and applied some sunscreen. It was already quite warm and was supposed to get even warmer. To the next town, it was 12 kilometers through the steppe. But I had warmed up and was in really good spirits today. However, I did not meet any other pilgrims on the way. Meanwhile, I followed the U.S. election on my phone and saw that Trump will likely be the new president. In the next town called Valdesalor, I searched for something to eat. The first grocery store according to Google Maps does not exist, and the second was a gas station. I thought a gas station probably wouldn’t be more expensive than all the small local stores, but I was mistaken. Apart from the fact that there was a tiny selection, everything was twice as expensive and more. However, I found a package of cheese for 1€. Outside, I then piled the entire cheese on a half baguette I still had with me. That was a generously topped roll. I took a half-hour break and then set off again. One stretch along the highway and then back onto dirt paths. The way was still 12 kilometers, but in the distance, I could already see the city. But the route still had its challenges, and it was getting really hot. Luckily, I still had something to drink with me.

All along the way, I actually want to enjoy the scenery, but unfortunately, I mainly look ahead and down, as it was still dark in the morning and later the path was so rocky and muddy that I had to be careful.

Upon arriving in the city, I looked for a grocery store and found one. I bought 3 yogurts and an iced tea, and then enjoyed them on a park bench. It was a delight, and thus I’ve definitely made up for the missing proteins from yesterday. Refreshed, I took off my shoes and continued in my slippers, so I could already see a bit of the city. With 50,000 inhabitants, there is a lot to see here. But in the city center, it gets a bit steep again, so I’m already struggling with my slippers. I looked at some buildings, and at Plaza Mayor, I enjoyed a coffee to soak in the vibe of the city and look at my next stage. Then I made my way to my accommodation.

Then I went to the accommodation. For 18€, you get a bed in a 6-bed room. There are blankets and air conditioning. Everything is a bit run-down, but the owner is nice, and there is hot water, soap, and paper in the shower. There is a common room and a small kitchen. After the shower, I lay in bed. I’ll go out briefly again soon. Then I will eat something and go to bed early. So far, there is one other person in the room, but they are currently not there. Maybe I will get to know him or her later. We'll see.