Day 26 Zafra - Villafranca de los Barros

As we left our Albergue this morning we met our young German friend Katrin.  She had been to the local doctor to have her feet looked at as her blisters had become very painful.  After receiving treatment she was off again!

We decided to take it easy today and stopped early for a leisurely breakfast of coffee and toast with olive oil, a favourite in these parts. On the outskirts of the town we came across an old trough used in the old days to water the horses.   Our path continued for about 5 kms to the village of Los Santos de Maimona. In the Middle Ages this town belonged to the Knights of St James and in Roman times was known as Segeda Aurina.

Its beautiful church of Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, dating back to the 16th century was our starting point to continue our journey to our destination of the day, Villafranca de los Barros.  
A few miles further on we came across a farmer on a tractor dragging 12 tractor tyres behind it, criss-crossing through the olive groves.  Intrigued by this, we stopped him to have a chat.  It turns out that Manuel Arroyo is a lawyer who has got fed up with the legal system and decided to run an olive grove instead.  He farms organically and what he was doing was clearing the weeds that grow between the trees.  The tyres flatten the weeds tearing out the roots.  Once the grass is dry he goes over it with the tyres again and this eliminates all the weeds.  He invited us to his home for drinks which we had to reluctantly decline as we had to be on our way.

Shortly afterwards we came across a new Albergue which has been built on the site of an old mill.  It is a beautiful reconstruction but unfortunately it is 5 kms outside the town which would mean having to walk that extra bit the following day.

Six hours after we left Zafra we arrived in Villafranca de los Barros.  There is no Albergue here so we are staying in a "Casa Rural".  Glad to say it has a double bed - no bunk beds - hurrah!