Embalse de Alcántara to Grimaldo, Via de la Plata.

Day 7 – 19 kms. 8.30am start, 12 midday stop-off for nearly an hour, arriving at 3.45pm.

wp-1522259170666..jpg — Today I walked with Marie Noelle from the Vendée, France. I am beginning to dream in French!

wp-1522259170761..jpg — Luckily we left the bus road behind early in the morning.

wp-1522259170700..jpg — Mountains and the village of Cañaveral ahead where we stopped for morning coffee and to air our feet

wp-1522259170745..jpg — It was hot and sunny all day, and we walked between drystone walls.

wp-1522259170769..jpg — We passed this on the way out of the town, going steeply uphill. I love the ‘noble’ part.

wp-1522259170779..jpg — Sometimes we could see the Camino sign but could not get across the barrier.

wp-1522259170788..jpg — The path winding through the vegetation to our destination, Grimaldo. What views!

wp-1522259170709..jpg — Idyllic streams tumbling through the landscape.

wp-1522259170808..jpg — A white Chapel with idiosyncratic orange-tiled roof typical of the Extremadura region. We went slightly off course here, mistaking the gentleman’s shouts to redirect us for a cow giving birth! (true)

wp-1522259170797..jpg — The camino in this region passes through Holm Oak woods and the March sunshine delights, lighting up one of the many pools. There were tadpoles in one of them.

wp-1522259170816..jpg — Wild flower meadows and what might be the Sierra Nevada.

wp-1522259170839..jpg — Not in order: this is the wonderful Embalse de Alcántara which we left at 8am. The very early morning light turned the still water pink, which I have never seen before and did not get on camera. This was a little later as we climbed up behind the hostel and away.

wp-1522259170858..jpg — Ghostly grasses surrounding this natural pool.

wp-1522259170827..jpg — Much of the area is fenced off to stop hunting.

wp-1522259170875..jpg — The first time I had seen pine trees since leaving Mérida a week ago.

wp-1522259170884..jpg — Bleached but soft stone colours acting as a lovely backdrop for the flowers – new species appear every day. Today’s were bluebells.

wp-1522259170901..jpg — A hump-backed Roman bridge.

The albergue at Grimaldo was easy to find by following the yellow arrows – 1km from the camino. It was full by the evening – one toilet between 15 of us – causing queues evening and morning. It is Donativo ie you pay what you want or think it is worth. Clean and with a small kitchen with fridge and microwave, there is no stamp on my credential. The two cafés were opposite and next door – both, as ever, run by friendly and helpful people and serving good food and wine. The one next door opened at 8am for breakfast for us because we guaranteed 10 plus people.