Day 20 and 21 Rest Day and Merida to Alcucen

Day 20   Rest Day       finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boy, did we ever score on a place to stay!!! For the most part we have been staying in hostels, kind of like truck stop places in North America. They suit us just fine for the Camino. But today we are staying in a boutique apartment in Merida for slightly more than what we would pay for a hostel. 

This is the end of the Camino Mozarabe. We will now join another Camino, called “Via de la Plata.” This Camino originates in Seville. We have already done close to 400kms, we only have 800kms to go.  Hard to believe!

Via de la Plata starts in Seville, Via Mozarabe starts in Granada

Today was rest day and I had to force myself to rest. Merida is so beautiful. Every nook and cranny is a jewel.

roman aqueduct

 There were so many wonderful things built for those retired old soldiers but… I wonder where did the slaves, who built all these magnificent things, live???  The old city map of Merida just includes all the soldiers villas, the theatres and the Gladiator building.





 
 They built 3 aqueducts from reservoirs that they damned kilometers away. Part of these aqueducts went under the ground, through granite!!

Where did all the slaves live to build all this? I have asked several tour guides but no one seems to know.

Temple of Diana

Merida houses the best Roman ruins outside of Rome.

Day 21                                     Merida to Alcucen                                17kms

It’s hot again, so up at 5am. We left Merida before dawn, such a great time to be up and walking. Fortunately both Spencer and I are early risers and are most productive in the morning.

Walking through Merida before dawn

I am beginning to understand why many religions have mandatory pilgrimages as part of their faith. To be able to take time out of your everyday life, to be able to walk and contemplate for hours at a time is good for the soul.

We actually met our first real pilgrims in action, they are doing the camino on bicycles. A pilgrim can do the camino either on foot, bicycle or horse. Having now joined the “Via de la Plata” route I am sure we will see more pilgrims.

Tonight we are staying at a Roman Bath B&B. We are the only ones here and we have the Roman bath all to ourselves. It is a pretty funky place. The town itself only has about 100 people.  

The Courtyard

The outdoor section

The Roman Baths

 The route itself also seems to be better marked.