Unfortunately internet reception over the past couple of days has been very slow, and I have been unable to successfully load photos. I have decided to publish posts anyway so as not to get too far behind. I will let you know when I have been able to add photos

A few days ago I meandered. Today we ambled.
After breakfast at Hotel Nirvana which was thankfully incense free at that stage, we set off. Not long down the road we were passed by a couple of women, and I did think how fresh, clean and well dressed they looked, unlike D2 and I who have a distinct ‘pilgrim’ air about us. After a couple of minutes they waited for us to catch up, asked anxiously if we spoke English, and with relief, said they were lost. It turned out they were an American mother and daughter who had started that morning. We assured them they weren’t lost, and told them to watch out for the signs and yellow arrows. They set off again, Mum with her head buried in a Camino map. I hope it won’t be too long until she relaxes enough to see what’s happening around her.
We met up with Asian lady, we have now progressed to hugs even though the conversation is brief. It is always lovely to see her

Soon we were out into the countryside, it was a lovely morning, we were glad to be back on the road and it was just right for an amble. The area is obviously quite prosperous with lots of villas and houses with roses rambling over the brick and wrought iron fences.

Agriculture is varied with poppy dotted wheat fields,vegetables of all kinds and lots of grapevines and fruit trees. The cherry trees were gorgeous, big and shady, and lots of fruit, unfortunately not quite ripe.

Some of the villages had dwellings that were quite ramshackle, and looked as if they were abandoned, but sometimes little signs showed that someone lived there. Unfortunately you can’t see them, but this one had a bright shiny knife and gardening tools on a rack on the wall.

D2 tramped over a field to say hello to a horse which totally ignored her once it realised there was no food in the outstretched hand.

Someone’s dream house didn’t quite happen, while another house, now overrun with weeds, looked as if it had been loved in its time with roses and fruit trees still surviving in the front.

An interesting morning, unfortunately the afternoon was mainly uphill, hot with no shade, and that’s all I am going to say about that. It was a relief to reach our hostal, La Puerta del Perdon in Villafranca del Bierzo and have a beer!
First day back after my rest, and I am happy to say, the feet did well!