Because we were starting out from Belorado in mid-afternoon, we were only able to walk about 7 km to the small village of Villambistia. There is a small albergue there, and not much else. The albergue also functions as the town's bar and social center, and serves a communal meal to pilgrims in the evening.
This sign is taped on a door in the albergue. It speaks volumes to the pilgrim experience.
Villambistia marked 500 km for us on the camino.
The next day, after passing through the village of Villafranca Montes to Oca, our path headed up a fairly steep grade for a couple of km. I walked alongside a local man, 81 years old, who walks up the hill most days for exercise and to chat with pilgrims. He was full of stories, including one from a couple of years ago about a pilgrim who dropped with a heart attack on the same hill. He insisted we stop at the spring near the top of the hill for a drink, pointed out with pride that it was the best water on the whole camino.
The scallop shell is one of the symbols of Saint James (Santiago). Many pilgrims wear them on their clothing or packs, and they are commonly used as route markers. This one was hanging from a fence at the side of the path.
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