Stage 7: September 30, 2017 - Gallegos de Arganan to Aldea del Obispo (14km)

When we were planning this, the goal was to eliminate days of more than 20km.
Uphill to Aldea del Obispo
Younger, fitter peregrinos would have no difficulty with the 27km to Almeida but we were happy to make two days if it and stopped in Aldea del Obispo.

 It was a fairly straightforward day. We had to climb a bit in the early morning mist and by the time the sun came out we were on fairly level ground. At one point we were on a path through a field close to a farm when about 100 large black pigs appeared in front of us. We were startled and so were they. Many made their way through an opening into another field but more came down the hill from the farm. Some of them hung around in front of us, so we kept going and they made way for us until we passed through a gate a little further on.

Aldea del Obispo is built on a hill and it seemed a long climb up it. A local directed us to the albergue which was up further, opposite the church. Three boys were playing nearby and one went to inform the keyholder. A short time later a woman arrived by car and let us in.

This isn't a Camino albergue but rather a hostel to boost rural tourism. It has 12 bunk beds in three rooms, separate shower rooms and toilets, and a large kitchen/dining room with television. We paid €20 each which we considered about the poorest value of the entire Camino. Hotel Arcos in Cuidad Rodrigo charged just €45 for the room. Had we been prepared to climb uphill for a further kilometre we could have booked into an old fortress which is now a plush hotel, for €69.

In the afternoon we called into Manolo's bar, a short distance from the albergue, and arranged to have dinner at 8:00. Again, we enjoyed good food and very good value. 


Apparently the name Gallegos de Arganan came from the fact that the area was populated by Galicians after the Moors were finally driven from Spain in the 15th century. One of the features of the Galician landscape is the dry stone wall and it is also a feature of the area around Gallegos de Arganan.

 More images along the road to Aldea del Obispo

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