Having been advised that 50 young people were staying in the dorms, meaning a double room at dorm price for pensioner pilgrims, the night was indeed alive with the energy of excited youngsters loose in the city ... so, refreshing sleep was taken in instalments and none the worse for that ... at breakfast it was quiet, no pilgrims in sight, just Rosario, young Italian volunteer on the night shift ... no pic, though, it was still dark and indoor lighting dim ...
Yesterday's rehearsal makes this morning's pre-dawn escape from the city smooth enough and yellow arrow evidence of Pilgrim Association volunteers soon appears ... all the way to Santiponce, where official Camino signs appear briefly as evidence of EU investment, though of little practical use to pilgrims ... Santiponce on a Saturday morning offers nothing much to detain me, but a bar by the industrial estate on the way out of town is perfect for removing the third of four layers, beginning the blog, losing a little fluid and taking on some more, via a cafe con leche ... on to the arrow straight farm road through arable fields feeding Seville ... eager legs push the pace and Guillena arrives before midday ... giving options of two albergues or pushing on to tomorrow's stage ... less than 20 km ... some conversation in Spanish elicits a guide to the municipal Albergue and lunch ...
... after which an afternoon wander appeals and Castiblanco, stage 2 in Gronze, appears in good time ... a little slower pace due to gradual climbing and rocky parts needing attention ... a stumble best avoided in the middle of nowhere ... Rosario, having suggested 1000 km to Santiago, mused on the need to get closer to Nature ... indeed important, and then to transcend the separation, which was it seems the original sin of the Bible story ... the afternoon section found Nature less tamed ... sweet Rosemary replacing sickly Roundup from wheatfields ... passing a posh hotel offering pilgrim rates to check the municipal Albergue, though lunchtime research already warned it was closed until March ... into town to find a bed and waylaid by a persistent panhandler, not content with the 2 euros and spotting a mug, proposed going to his house to sleep, though his eyes showed no spark of compassion and instinct said no thanks ... striding off decisively the tour of town returned to the centre and Bar Macarena, where Macarena herself organised a room with her nearby friend, Delfina, and the beautiful Casa Rural Callejon de la Mora ... where the first pilgrim appears, Clement, from Bordeaux on his bike. ..
So, a 40 km first day feels fine in the warm sunshine ... Vitamin D3 levels replenished, energy levels adequate for the task, morale high ... as for the not quite 1000km, it means nothing ... one step at a time and whatever turns out to be the destination will come soon enough ...
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