Day 44 Mon 05 May
From Astorga at 873 meters to Rabanal del Camino at 1149 meters it is a steady climb with many pilgrims. The flat lands of the mesata are behind us now. Although snow was visible on the mountains, it was a very warm day. Rabanal was, and still is, a strategic point where pilgrims gathered to confront the mountains ahead. In the middle ages they were protected by the Knights Templar. Today Rabanal is a lovely stone village.
Murias de Rechivaldo - 18th century church
The Way after Astorga
Santa Catalina de Somoza
Santiago 249
El Ganso
Many pilgrims today
Street of Rabanal - dry stone walls
Water fountain in Rabanal de Camino
12th century Romanesque Santa María in Rabanal
Day 45 Tue 06 May
A glorious days walk across the mountains full of wildflowers with a gradual climb followed by a steep descent. 300 meters up, 300 meters down – 16 kilometers to the beautiful Bierzo stone village of El Acebo (pop 15) where we stayed at Casa Rosa del Agua a beautiful traditional Bierzo stone house. Today was cool and overcast.
Cruz de Ferro at 1500 meters - pilgrims have been putting stones here since 1530
Pam putting our stone, brought from home, at the Cross
Thomas's peculiar refugio on The Way down
Snow covered mountains
Mobile coffee shop
Wildflowers on the mountains
The path into El Acebo
El Acebo
La Rosa del Agua, traditional Bierzo house with slate roof, exposed stone walls and wooden beams
Day 46 Wed 07 May
What happened to yesterday’s hundreds? Today was tranquil on the Camino,we saw less than a dozen other Peregrino on the 16 kilometer walk to Ponferrada. Weather cool and clear, warming as we descended the 650 meters. We are now in the fruit and grape growing region of Beirzo. Ponferrada has a spectacular and well preserved Knights Templar’s Castle dating from the 12th century, but go one street back and the buildings are decaying, some abandoned and all covered with crude grafitti.
Today's wildflowers
Molinaseca
18th century, built into the cliffs outside Molinaseca
Medieval bridge at Molinaseca
Vinyaords of El Bierzo
Another pair of discarded boots
Village house
Medieval Puente Mascarón approaching Ponferrada
Castle of the Knights Templars, 12th - 14th centuries, Ponferrada
Basilica Nuestra Señora de la Encina, 16th century
Graffiti covered chapel at Ponferrada (the religious mural untouched)