Day 26 – Walking to Villafranca del Bierzo

I walked 15 miles today and some of it in the rain.  It was flat so I am jokingly saying I had a rest day.  I am hiking upwards tomorrow.  Another long hike but I’ve already got a plan to make it easier on me.  I got great advice from my current host and I’m going to take it.

My host’s name is Jeff and he’s from the states!  He came to Spain about 10 years ago and fell in love with the country.  He traveled around a bit so he didn’t originally walk the Camino.  In 2022 he walked he Camino, met a gal on the trek and they are still together.  She is from Spain.  On that trip he jokingly talked about buying a place in Spain and wanting to host pilgrims.  The more he talked about it, the less it became a joke and the more it became real.  This is his first year opening up his home to pilgrims.  He has 4 rooms and he was full  so 6 of us (including Jeff) had dinner together.  We will have breakfast together before starting our next day.  This is how community gets built.  Telling stories over a meal.  All of us just happened to be English speakers.  A couple from England started in St. Jean Pied de Port where I did but on Friday (I started 3 days earlier).  Everyone’s Camino is unique.  There’s a saying: “It’s your Camino” and its all about doing it your way.

Today I am heading into O Cebrerio.  Supposedly one of the most beautiful cities/areas on this journey.  I’ve seen so much beauty already!

Buen Camino