Day 10 and 11 Cordoba to Villaharta

Day 10                            Cordoba to Cerro Muriano   18kms

Another pleasant surprise. Spencer had scouted the route out of Cordoba the day before (I went window shopping, of course I can’t buy anything :( ) We left in the dark, so it was good he had done the homework. The Camino de Santiago route signs were up very high and  would have been difficult to find in the dark, had he not known where to go.

 I marvel at how the Camino reflects life.  When we are on the right path it feels good and our journey is pleasant, the moment we lose our way everything is full of uncertainty. If we don’t see the arrows every so often, I become anxious and nervous. 

The route to Cerro Muriano was a nice climb, about 500 metres up the Sierra Moreno (Black Hills)

  We arrived in Cerro Muriano way before noon, and if the weather wasn’t so hot I would have been tempted to continue on. We looked for a place to stay at “Casa Bruno”, which everyone had recommended but alas, it was fully booked. We panicked a little but the woman told us to go to her cousin’s place, Casa X.  Turned out to be fabulous. The food, the room and the service was excellent.

For lunch we had the regional specialty called “salmorejos” It is made with tomatoes, red pepper, cream, cured ham and olive oil. Fresh bread dipped in this is divine. This was followed by fresh calamari and a sweet cream tart. Life is good.

I’m beginning to wonder if we shouldn’t call this “ The Cantina Way” (Cantina means bar in Mexico) My good friend in Tasmania, Sue Brothel, said to me one day..”When are you going to do this cantina thing??” I think she was on to something. We seem to be going from one great bar to the next. Bars are different here in Spain, they keep the pulse of the village. Everyone goes to them, from grandparents to young mothers with babies. They are a wonderful place to be.

Day 11     Cerro Muriano to Villaharta               22kms

Walking from 6am to 11am seems to suit us very well. The walk to Villaharta was all through the Sierra Morenos, albeit a lot of it was following the highway. We didn’t actually walk much on the highway but at times it was visible. 

Villaharta is a little village renowned for its healing waters. It has been said to cure diabetes and colon problems. 

Healing water fountain

We are staying in another great place, in MiraSierras.  For 14 euros each, we get a whole house, complete with patio, kitchen and view over the Sierra Morrenos.

view from the patio

We feel great. Even though we are spending a lot of time in the sun, the sun is not burning us like it did in Tasmania. In Tasmania I tended to turn a shade of red but here I feel like we are toasting slowly, just like a marshmallow roasting ever so slowly on a campfire. You know, the slow roasted ones that get that perfect golden crunch on the outside?