Marianne Caminando: 1, 2, and 3 June, 2010 - Zafra, Villafranca, Torremegia - Once Upon a Time in the West or The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

I didn't take many photos between Cadzillo, Zafra, Villafranca and Torremegia. I think I was too busy chatting to people, and it was rather hot. Out of Cadzillo, walked through rolling hills past chicken farms, more barley and wheat fields and several river crossings. I found my walking pole useful. Negotiated the train tracks into Zafra (the yellow arrows are there, but you have to look hard), and through the town centre to the really nice albergue. Beautiful building with small rooms and great facilities. Had dinner with Yuri, more bull fighting on the TV. When it finished everyone left. Yuri is appalled, I am disturbed but curious - what are the rules? The bull dies and is dragged off at great speed.
At breakfast in Zafra I got talking to Bruno, a French bloke who is very fond of ze All Blacks. Apparently he had spent a night drinking and singing with the team in about 1988. Sean Fitzpatrick gave him his jersey. Naturally we talk about rugby, keeps us talking for about 2 days before he capitulates and quits the Camino. The last 5km we are very weary. We stop for a beer on the way into town. Jose Marie, Bruno's friend who is Basque and climbs mountains for breakfast, got there about an hour ahead of us, and comes and finds us in the bar. Villafranca - we are channelling Once Upon a Time in the West, Bruno is very uncomfortable. We go to the Bibliotecha (library) for internet. There is a bar downstairs where parents wait for their kids doing music lessons. Very civilised. We have a beer watching Rafael Nadal beat someone at the French Open. We stayed in a private Albergue in Villafranca.
We got up very early (4.45am) to have breakfast at 5am and left at 5.30am. Long 30km day ahead. Walked through the dark through fields, grapes, grapes, more grapes, lots of tractors going to work in the dark. After about 2 hours Jose Marie is way ahead, then after another hour or so I catch up with Bruno again sitting at a cross roads. He has decided to quit and go home. This camino is not for him. I kept walking, could see someone in the distance behind me, sure enough it was Laia. Waited by a deep muddy river for Laia to catch up, and sure enough, Yuri appeared also. We climbed up onto the railway bridge to cross the river, and walked into Torremegia. Seriously chanelling Sergio Leone. Deserted streets at about 1pm, apart from old ladies in black disappearing into door ways as we approached. An old lady tried to persuade us to go to a private albergue, but Laia knows to ask a younger person. The old lady yells things at us as we walk away. We cross to the other side of town to the nice modern Albergue.