Camino Via de la Plata, VdlP: May 18 Gudina to Laza (Stage 33)

We left at 0600 and started climbing. The views got more spectacular as we climbed. We pased through 4 small towns that used to be railroad towns. Now they are practically deserted with only a few people living in them. The railroad stops at only one of them. The buildings that supported the large work force necessary for the dozens of tunnels needed are in disrepair. These towns are at about 1088 meters. The inhabitance have flower and vegetable gardens. We walked for about 4 hours and finally stopped at a small village called Campobacerros. We stopped at a tiny bar with a woodstove in one corner and an armchair with a grandma reading the paper. There was a deer head on the wall and shelves covered with awards. At first we thought we were in someone's living room. We recovered quickly and had toast and cafe. We then resumed climbing for a short time and then descended for 14 k. We finally reached Laza and could not find the albergue. The police took pity on us and drove us to the check in place. We dropped our packs and then went off to find food because by then it was after 2. We had a delicious lunch of tuna salad and lamb stew. With ice cream and wine. The albergue was 5 euros each and the lunch 10 euros. We have gone over the journey forward and only 8 days remain. We will arrive on a Saturday looking forward to attending a Sunday Mass.