Another long day of walking out of Tamareita de Litera into Monzon, 23 km and almost seven hours, albeit alongside agricultural canals and without any shade. I decided that I would choose a hotel with all modern conveniences and, crossing the river, saw the Hotel Vianetto on the other side. Seeing a Canadian passport, the receptionist cheerfully greeted me in excellent French and gave me a room for 33€-- as in many provincial Spanish towns, the room was plain but very clean. Chatting with the Ecuadorian chambermaid in the corridor, she told me that she was very pleased to have a good job in Spain, and wanted to be thorough.

I was early enough for the main meal of the day, in the Spanish manner, about 2 pm. The menu de dia was 10€ and excellent value, with grilled trout and a bottle of local rosé, and melon and pomegranates for dessert. On learning that I was Canadian, the waiter fetched his colleague, a young woman whose mother was Canadian and had married a native of... more