Camino de Santiago: Sunny southern Spain!

We will meet on March 25 in beautiful Seville to start the 167 km/100 mile hike to Mérida, finishing there around April 5. Mérida,  capital of the ancient Roman province of Lusitania during the reign of Emperor Augustus, has the finest Roman ruins in Spain, with various stunning temples, theaters, arenas and bathhouses (the latter sadly no longer operating!). The path mostly follows the old Roman road known as Via de la Plata, the Silver Road, which in the Middle Ages became the major pilgrimage route from southern Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Those who want a longer trek can continue north from Mérida on their own, or easily return to either Seville or Madrid. We will be averaging about 11-12 miles a day over mostly rolling terrain, staying in small towns and villages en route. We will pool expenses for ground transportation and 11 nights' lodging en route (transport to and from the start and endpoints, food and  incidentals not included); I will make the arrangements and ask participants (including myself) to split the costs. Prerequisites: Moderate fitness and some pre-trip long-distance walk training.