Day 7 – Villamayor de Monjardin to Viana

Absolutely gorgeous day today. Blue sky’s and jet stream.  

After the wild fiesta and firecrackers of last night it was a disrupted sleep. 

A long hot, hard day today.  

It was very cold this morning and people were talking it slow.  I thought to myself. Please no I don’t have the clothes.  Is that a typical girl reaction worrying about clothes!!! 

Well I needn’t have worried. 

I set off from the top of the mountain at Villamayor de Monjardin just on daybreak.  No such thing as a sleep in in the albergue.   The sky was becoming light and I could see my way out of town.  Looking back at it was very pretty first thing in the morning 

Sunday today so no cow, sheep or horse bells it was all church bells and they chimed all over Spain on the half hour and on the hour.  Never had to wonder what time it was!

The countryside today was long rolling hills and ploughed paddocks with lots of grapevines and olive groves. All growing on the side of the many many hills I had to walk up and down today.  

Set off and thought I would walk to the next town Los Arcos for Breakfast.   Well it was Sunday wasn’t it!  There was one little lady who had her paneria open with everything handmade so had a piece of pizza and a nectarine for breakfast and then went around the corner for my cafe con leche.  

The sun was up and the church bells were ringing so off I went.   

It was a really pretty walk today but very hard on the knees as I had to walk up and down hills all day.  Some very long gruelling hills to climb and then just as steep to get down the other side. After about 3 or 4 of these today my body was crying out for relief.   

Got to Sansol at about 11.30 and there was a bar on the top of the hill at the entrance into town in full sun and good wifi so took off the pack ordered a cerveza and started blogging.  An hour later and another beer I was published and it was time to go.  

Am walking and meeting up with quite a few friends I have made on the way and we all seem to walk to the same town and meet up at the albergue for our pilgrims meal in the evening.

My lovely Dutch friends Peter and Johannes  (John) have been following me and overtaking me all day. Got to my albergue tonight and there they were.  A bit of a joke now that we are stalking each other.  Ran into my friend Donna from Canada as well today.  A day of friendships.  

Got into Viana about 3.30 and I was stuffed. Walked approximately 30kms today and as I said before it was hard.  I am finding parts of my body I didn’t realise I had. Once you sit down it is very hard to get back up again and walking up stairs with a backpack is really hard.  Thank goodness for walking poles. 

Just had my pilgrims dinner and am now in bed and it is only 8pm.  

Have no bags under my eyes right now as I am sleeping such long hours.  Of course all the red wine at dinner helps.  

Buenos noches x