DAY 2: OCT 7 GUILLENA TO CASTILBLANCO DE LOS ARROYOS (19 Km) 25,484 Steps

The bar next to the albergue was open early and the four of us had a leisurely breakfast of coffee and tostadas. Overnight, the clouds had rolled in making it a pleasant day for walking. At first the trail took us through gentle fields of ripening olive trees but it didn't take long for the path to turn rocky and much steeper. I think the rocks had been placed there solely to be tripping hazards for those who were too bold or didn't pay attention, so I became very focused and walked warily for the last 10 km. 

Castilloblanco de los Arroyos is a pretty hillside town with white houses, trimmed  in various colours and decorated with wrought iron balconies and window grills.

View from the roof of the albergue

The albergue, located on the second floor of a community centre, is quite nice but the citizens are not so nice. During the night someone came up the stairs and stole all of Katerina's toilet and make-up articles that she had left in the bathroom. Pretty brazen.

That evening we got together at a local bar and indulged in a well-earned hearty dinner, liberally washed down by all the red wine we could drink.  It was a perfect ending to the day!

I enjoyed the home made sign outside the bar. Now is this where they have a pilgrim's menu or do they refuse to serve pilgrims?