Mertola to Mina de Sao Domingos . . .

A 17.5 km stroll feeling like a rest day after the two 40s . . . warm sunshine showing Mertola at its best, a climb up to the plain and soon in Moreanes, more than half-way already . . . a coffee and chat with Vitor, who has walked to Santiago and recommends crossing to Badajoz in Spain and going North from there . . . they have albergues . . . here pilgrims can sleep with the bombeiros or firefighters, though not tempted so far, since my Portuguese is still poor and there is money for rooms . . .

Mina de Sao Domingos is interesting . . . a tourist town these days, with a beautiful lake, created by a dam to provide clean water to the mine which was operated by British company Mason and Barry for 108 years until 1966. The town was built around the mine, long rows of simple cottages, bigger houses for the managers, a palace for the owners, now a five star hotel. I am nearby at the Pensao, less posh perhaps, but clean and simple . . .

Tomorrow another long walk - to Serpa, 36 km . . .