Robleda-Cervantes

A whole day to spend in Zamora and that is no punishment. I had been here before 10 years ago, when walking the Via de la Plata, but then I was a bit too tired to walk around a lot. Today that wasn't the case. I could leave my backpack in my lodging and explore Zamora.

In the afternoon I paid the albergue a quick visit. The hospitaleros told me there were not a lot of pilgrims on the road, which isn't surprising. The Via de la Plata is scorching hot these months. Crowds will start from Ourense.

Then I went to the ferretería to buy karabiners. The man behind the counter told me he walked the Camino Sanabrés 25 years ago. His eyes started to glow when he digged up memories.

There was only one train from Zamora to Puebla de Sanabria, in the evening. It was running 40 minutes late. The sun was setting when I travelled through La España Vacía. The station of Puebla de Sanabria is a little piece of art. I still had 2 kms to walk to the albergue, but after only 100 meters I was offered a lift and dropped off right in front of albergue Casa Luz.

No sign of the owners, but the door was open. And there were other pilgrims! An American girl and 2 Spaniards. The albergue had everything a pilgrim could ask for. Even duvets on the beds! Very welcome because the nights are cold here. I helped myself with a stamp, filled out the form and left the money on the counter.Les mer