Day 41 Fri 02 May
Trying to think of nice things to say about a 20 k walk to Villadango del Páramo on hard surfaces beside the busy, noisy N120. Lovely sunny day, cool breeze on our backs?
Bodegas built into a hillside outside León
Storks on church at Valverde de la Virgen
No storks at Villadango de Páramo
Day 42 Sat 03 May
Only 12 kilometers of character building today but we got to walk on the other side of the N120 on the way to Hospital de Órbigo. Shortly after leaving the highway, suddenly a magnificent 19 arch medieval bridge appears. The weather was nice – in May 2001 here the temperature was over 40C and we had to stop for water every 15 minutes with a rest every 30.
A quiet time on the N120, not so bad really
Snow on the mountains ahead, to the right Hospital de Órbigo's water tower
Stork feeding
4 stork Nuestra Señora de la Purification approaching Hospital de Órbigo
Inside Nuestra Señora de la Purificación is cool and calm
19 arch bridge (13th century) at Hospital de Órbigo
Day 43 Sun 04 May
It was a lovely walk today, cool and clear, some ups and downs, different plants and flowers – 20 kilometers to the old Roman crossroads of Astorga, although little remains of the Roman occupation. We tried the typical meal called Cocida Maragatos consisting of 7 different meats, followed by chick pea and cabbage stew followed by chicken noodle soup and finished off with custard and cake. We got through about a quarter of it.
Santibañez de Valedeiglesias
Lovely walk on a fine spring day
Cross above San Justo de la Vega, Astorga behind
Astorga
Astorga Cathedral (Gothic, began 1471, completed 18th century)
Detail on door of Cathedral
Santiago Peregrino
Bishop's Palace (1889-1913) Gaudi
A small area of remaining Roman mosaic
City hall, Astorga - 1683, remodeled 1994
Astorga is famous for chocolate - a big block of dark chocolate with almonds
Maragato, first course