It happened on a path that climbed steeply up the mountain, crossed the road, passed a spring, and then wound under old, tall, dark trees and out into light underbrush.
A miniature 35mm film camera manufactured in Switzerland was concealed in this modified tobacco pouch. A spring-wound mechanism advanced the film between exposures.
With municipal and regional elections in May 2011 expected to deepen the wound further, Mr Zapatero's exit at a general election that must be held by spring 2012 now looks confirmed.