Stage 10 - Merida to Aljucen (17.5km): 07/09/2014 06:10

Pilgrims from France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Ireland

Today it was back to the early start to avoid the heat. About four of the first five kilometres were uphill but I find myself managing the hills better - still trailing Pauline though. Almost exactly six hours after leaving our hotel we were in this 12-bed albergue. Shortly before arriving we were caught in a short but heavy shower. A bush provide partial shelter but we were both quite wet - a short walk in the sun soon cured that. In the hours of darkness we had been watching the occasional lightning flash far to the north.

Suddenly the Camino is getting crowded. Well, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration. We were surprised to see another two pilgrims arrive at our hotel yesterday but didn't get the chance to speak to them until today when they stopped at the local restaurant. They are a Swiss couple, planning to walk from Merida to Salamanca on this occasion - they had previously walked from Seville to Merida. We are not in their league, however, as they were intent on walking another 20km today. On the road we were passed by three French people, a couple and another man. Later three Spanish women overtook us. We managed to converse with all six and they are all in this albergue. Later a lone German man arrived and he is sharing a three-bed room with us. While we were in the local cafe a man and his daughter (aged about 12) checked in.

Since then another two Spanish couples have arrived and the hospitalera isn't here to sort things out. At about 5:00pm two Polish girls in their twenties turned up and then, shortly before 6:30pm, an Italian couple, who are probably older than us, came in the gate. I think we have total of 19 here at this stage. Two beds have been made up in the kitchen but I don't know where everyone else is sleeping.

Food to take with us can be a problem at the weekend. The only supermarket we could find in Merida did not open on Saturday evening but we were lucky in finding a delicatessen which had already made up small ham rolls, so we bought four for a euro each. Here in Aljucen the only shop is closed and we finished our dried fruit, energy bars and chocolate today. We plan to buy two bocadillos to go from the local cafe, which should get us through the day.

The interior of Iglesia San Andres - I have lost my photographs of the exterior

Next: Stage 11 - Aljucen to Alcuescar