VDLP Camino Day 1.

My first Camino day on the Via de la Plata (VdlP)! Very excited. I have been waiting years to walk this Camino.

A short walk today, only 10kms, from Seville to Santiponce just as a warm up and to give me time to look at the Roman ruins at Italica. Even though a short walk it was nice to finally get going and some of the countryside was actually quite nice. Being back on the Camino felt like coming home!

This Camino is going to be so different in so many ways.  It’s a much longer Camino, as it will be over 1,000 kms.  The terrain is different.  The daily distances are longer than my previous walks on the Camino Frances.  This is because of the distances between towns and villages.  And I have to carry a lot more water, for the same reason.

But it’s pure joy.  The crunch crunch of the fine gravel under my feet.  The beautiful weather.  Just to be in Spain again is a blessing.  The Via de la Plata has a bit of a reputation for being a hard and lonely Camino.  But I think I’m going to love it.

The walk out of Seville was actually quite pleasant, and the path along the river was really nice.   On reaching Santiponce I had enough time to look around the old Roman Town of Italica.  And then a nice relaxing lunch at my Hotel, just opposite.  I’m definitely feeling like I’m ‘home’.

Tonight I stayed at a large Hotel right opposite Italica, called Hotel Anfiteatro Romano.  It was a tourist Hotel and quite busy, but comfortable and nice food.