Blogs from Castile & León, Spain, Europe - page 5

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Europe » Spain » Castile & León » León » Sahagun October 7th 2018

I entered the room and there was an Italian, an American, and a Norwegian woman talking on a bed. I know it sounds like the start of one of those corny jokes but this was my bedroom and these were my room mates. The Italian was having relationship problems, was borderline depressed, and had sought counseling from the others. Then I joined in. This man was pining for a woman he had been seeing for 8 months and appeared to be having a ‘ pause’ from him. The reality I learnt was, the woman was married with 2 children and a husband, and Mr Upset was in a long term relationship of 14 years; that is until she learnt of his new love. His long term partner was boring and had become like a mother and ... read more
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 The First Bar.
Bell Tower At San Nicholas

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Palencia October 6th 2018

Today was the first unserviced long walk since I began. There was a small food outlet called the Oasis, but I just put the 50+ on my face, took off my vest, put on a hat, and kept walking. There were many people on the paths and I wanted to be sure of a bed in the Albergue Jacque de Mornay. I’ve stayed before and it’s preferable to the one you see as you enter the village. Optus kindly woke me at 2.15 am with a vibrating message to tell me I had sent a message. I thought it was my alarm and jumped out of bed to start the day. Thanks Optus. Yesterday I had a long hot bath, slept with no earplugs, and organised myself this morning with the casual abandon of a man ... read more
Dawn Looking Back To Carrión
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The Meseta

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Salamanca October 6th 2018

If Carlsburg made campsites they would shied a mile away from this one. Gabby is parked on the stinkiest campsite we have ever been on. The type of campsite where you start to smell under your armpits, you check the toilet and the drains on Gabby . You wonder if it is the town drains or the river nearby. There wasn't a lot of choice in this area and campsites were few and far between. Everyone it seems had ended up on the worse campsite for miles around. So how did Gabby end up there? We started out driving along some of the worse roads we have ventured on. We have passed fields full of pigs and cows. The landscape has changed considerably now that we have moved regions. We were heading for the motorhome parking ... read more
Cuidad Rodrigo the church
around the town
Cuidad Rodrigo - typical spanish buildings

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Palencia » Carrion de los Condes October 5th 2018

Today is the last easy day before 3 solid days on the Meseta, concluding in an 18km walk into León. I’m in the Hostel Santiago, in the same room as 2 years ago, only alone. It’s bliss. I even have a bath. I walked out of the albergue today at 6.50, followed by 2 Taiwanese girls who intended on going 34kms. Goodbye and good luck. The prediction is for a hot day and the last 17 kms will have no villages and no shade. My 17kms started with an extended breakfast at a bar I knew opened at 6.30. The initially grumpy owner soon cheered up, and when he learnt I am Australian, went out the back to show me his toy koala and Australian coaster map. Very nice. He was chatty, gave me a gift ... read more
An Early Coffee And A Little Gift
My New Best Friend
Leaving Población Behind.

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Fromista October 4th 2018

It gives me the shivers walking into Población. Four years ago, Sue Tim and I were entering the village, when Sue tripped on a raised concrete road and landed on her head with the full weight of her pack behind it. I recognise the exact spot, because there is still a dent in the road. It was a problem that was eventually resolved, but clearly showed how your fortunes can change in an instant. I’ve experienced numerous examples of that since and realise that we can’t control everything and sometimes things go wrong, through no fault of your own. I’ve learnt it not what happens in life that matters, but how you react to it. Mindfulness 101. Last night was pleasantly quiet in the albergue , and after breakfast l left the village with a torchless ... read more
San Anton
Albergue Rosario, Castrojeriz
Dinner In Rosario

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Ponferrada October 3rd 2018

We are sleeping in later this holiday. There is no rush to get off to swim or to go to work. We can set the alarm, switch it off and ignore it. There is no overriding need to be anywhere. It is more a holiday of tootling about from place to place with no particular place to be. We can change plans by the day, by the hour and even by the minute. We dont worry if we miss things. It is not the end of the world. We can take our time . Astorga our destination today is just two hours away and we should be there for lunchtime . In time for a menu del dia - perhaps the first paella of the trip. Why Astorga? We are heading to see a different type ... read more
Another closed church
The castle
Sion got excited when he spied this

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Castrojeriz October 2nd 2018

What’s blacker than Burgos during a total blackout? Nothing. Within 10 minutes of returning to my room from dinner, the lights went out. A small emergency light flickered, dim light caste shadows in the foyer outside my room, but our power was gone. No TV, no chargers , no wifi , no nuthin’. As luck would have it, the entertainment began on the streets below. The well dressed Spaniards, moments earlier strolling along arm in arm enjoying the evening, went scurrying like rats to avoid being mugged, or worse, by some opportunist. That was enough to amuse me. That, and the sight across the street of the locals resuming their lives by candlelight , unaware of the bored Australian across the way, observing their equally dull lives through the prism of his own blacked out existence. ... read more
Last night’s restaurant
Late Start
Delete

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos » Pedrosa October 1st 2018

Well, I’ve been reduced to buying soap by weight. No snoring, farting or other sweet lullabies last night ( none I could hear anyway ), and I woke at the indulgent hour of 9am; this is the life. The breakfast buffet was opulent by Camino standards and I carb loaded. The fruit was too big to pocket a few pieces, so that budget plan was abandoned. The management here are on to my tricks. I shared a table with Greg from the States, who is about my age and is aiming to reduce his impatience, and go home a calmer man with more tolerance for others. He runs a construction company. Greg has just completed 2x40 kilometre days and 2x30 kilometre days. He knows it’s ridiculous; his feet have been declared a disaster zone, by him, ... read more
Breakfast.
Suburbia
Essentials

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos October 1st 2018

Well have you heard of Frias? We hadn't either . It had never been on our list of to do places. Must sees in Spain. We have been three times and never once come across the name. But then it is not a big city. It is not a Burgos or a Salamanca. Nor is it a Madrid or Santiago. I dont imagine many folks find there way to Frias as it is off the beaten track. Positioned in the Merindades region north of Burgos. The river Ebro flows by. It is the smallest city in Spain. The third smallest in the world . So why have we never heard of it? Well it only has a population of 275. The journey was tortorous but breathtakingly beautiful. Glenn had to wrestle with Gabbys steering wheel as ... read more
Frias castle
The tiny alleys
I just love these water spouts

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos » Pedrosa September 30th 2018

Where can you get an Australian adapter plug in Spain? In the Albergue in Atapuerca, 21kms back from Burgos, that’s where. Last night I left the hotel at A. at 9.45pm and casually unplugged my phone and iPad from the communal powerboard in the dorm. You know how sometimes you have those,” I must do that ...” moments but never follow through. Well I had one a few hours earlier and it went like,” I must tape those 2 sections of my adapter together to stop them coming apart”. I didn’t do it. Tomorrow I will search out the local ‘Chinese’ shops, ( the hotel receptionist’s description, not mine), and hopefully match it up. He pulled out a big bag of chargers left at the hotel and gave me a USB charger. The sticker on it ... read more
Burgos In The Distance
The Cross At The Peak Of The Mountain
An Albergue Alternative




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