Leaving at 8.30 am, we were early by Spanish standards, when just the exercisers, dog walkers and cleaners were about. We found several more horse statues to take photos of before we arrived at the site of the Feria last night. The feria (festival) in Jerez this year is advertised as being from 4 to 11 May, but apparently they started it off with a big party last night (3 May). Unfortunately we had heard about it too late, but we passed evidence of a great party on our way out of town this morning. Maintenance workers were cleaning up the rubbish and adjusting the lights.
We followed the Via Augusta out of town along the train line and had a second breakfast in a popular cafe in the next village. On our way out we passed allotments and small sections with farm animals - a goat had escaped!
We passed the airport and some signs indicating that the track followed the old route used to move stock between summer and winter pastures, the Cañada. Crossing over the motorway, we gained our first view of the day of an Osborne bull. We saw snails, insects and flowers, and mountains in the distance, and spent some time playing with photography before we realised we'd wandered off the Camino.
We obediently headed back to the Camino, which ran alongside the motorway. A benefit of this is that we had an extra drink break at a service station. On one side we had pleasant views of rolling hills and fields of wheat and sunflowers.
The Via Augusta took us past a lagoon, which appeared to have very little water in it, a large picnic area and a church. We eventually got to our hotel...to discover there was another Feria right outside our window this evening!
It was the annual Día del Pan, reminiscent of an Australian country show. El Cuervo de Sevilla, where we are staying the night, is famous for its bread, and the festival gives a nod to this heritage. We viewed the tractors lined up, ate some cake that was offered, and admired the bread arrangement.
We sat down at a restaurant in the main street hoping for dinner, but found the people around us were eating snails... after some discussion, the waiter kindly brought us a chicken dish.
We had a last look at the Feria, soaking up the carnival atmosphere. Everyone is dressed up, especially the babies and children. Live music is blaring from the main tent... no doubt we'll be enjoying it for a few hours yet, from the comfort of our hotel room!
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| Passing the scene of last night's party, Jerez de la Frontera |
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| Party lights, Jerez de la Frontera |
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| Tree-lined avenue to take us out of Jerez de la Frontera |
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| Jerez likes its horses |
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| The yellow arrows indicate the direction of the Camino. Not sure about the meaning of all the other signs |
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| Some signs on the path today |
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| An escape-goat |
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| Second breakfast in Guadalcacín |
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| An Osborne Bull |
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| Scenes from today's walk on the Via Augusta |
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| Walking on the Via Augusta |
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| Snails (caracoles). Very popular on restaurant menus at the moment |
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| A newly-constructed rest area, approaching El Cuervo de Sevilla on the Via Augusta |
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| When we were entering El Cuervo de Sevilla, the streets were pretty empty . . . |
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| We soon discovered that the whole village was at the Día del Pan festivities |
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| Locals and Australian long-distance walkers alike enjoying the carnival atmosphere of the Día del Pan in El Cuervo de Sevilla |
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| Party time in El Cuervo |
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| The live entertainment was enjoyed by all |
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| Day 12 - Map |
Day: 12
Distance: 30.19 km
Walking time: 5 hrs 57 mins
Elevation gain: 250 metres
Cumulative distance: 196.17 km
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