Blogs from Molinaseca, Castile & León, Spain, Europe

Today was to be a fairly safe travel day, with no hurry, so we got up and on our way soon after 7am. We passed through Campo just before 8am, and then Ponferrada just after 8:30am. It was as usual a fairly long walk through town, since Ponferrada is a pretty big town. There was a roman bridge over a very scenic river, then the famous Castillo de los Templarios. Right across from the castle was a decent looking cafe/bar, so we stopped for breakfast. After breakfast, we walked through town, and reached there park. This one was like the last few, very long, but very scenic. After the park, and just as we were leaving Ponferrada, we found the only other place that you walk through a building on the Camino. The other one had ... read more

As usual, we left the albergue around 7:30, accompanied by John, Alex and Livija. Today we planned on keeping on schedule to arrive early on the 3rd of October for Raresh's birthday. He has changed his flight to leave on the 4th instead of continuing on to Finnesterra. I had a cup of coffee and some vanilla wafers before we left. Our first town was Foncebadon, about 6 kilometers down, or should I say up, the trail. Today was to be a lot of ups and downs. In Foncebadon we ate breakfast at Ponte Irago to steel ourselves for the last 2 kilometers to the famous Cruz de Fero, or iron cross, where you are supposed to leave a rock or message representing a burden or emotion you feel. I had picked up a cool ... read more

30 September 2015, Wednesday. Stage 26. The high point of the Camino almost 5,000 feet above sea level GPS: 16.87 miles, Almost 10 hours from beginning in Rabanal del Camino to end of day walking in Molinaseca with 6 hours 44 minutes actual moving time. Fitbit: 18.07 miles, 41,366 steps and 145 stairs. We left our lovely Nuestra Senior del Pilar Albergue, with a few private rooms, at 0806 this morning. We had a great salad last night for dinner after stuffing ourselves with the traditional Cocida Maragato dish with five or more meats, cabbage and garbanzo beans with soup and tapioca type pudding plus the obligatory bread. This we had hoped to eat in Astorga but found it only served for lunch because it is soooo much food. One order for two of us was ... read more

Today was the highlight of the Camino. La Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross) was the highlight of the Camino. I cannot express the feelings when approaching or touching the pole with the cross. It is a magical majestic spot about 5000 feet above sea level. A simple cross on a big weathered pole. It was erected in the early 1500's to symbolize the Camino Way struggles. The personal struggles in the world. It is very difficult to describe but you can feel the weight of all the people before you and with you and it is over whelming. To symbolize your struggle you are to bring a rock, a symbol of your Camino/Life journey and leave it at the cross. Each of us leave something. Concerns/troubles/wishes and prayer. Shortly after leaving I read several notations on ... read more

The last two days have provided many great sights on The Way, great people and lots of walking. Yesterday I walked from Astorga to Rabanal which was about 21kms of fairly flat ground. Along the way I met Dr Ruth from London, a few cheeky older guys from Majorca, Eve from Byron Bay, Bill and Claire from Coorparoo and I walked with Mariana from Luxembourg (a lovely lady on her 4th and last instalment of the Camino, this year she is finally finishing it) for most of the day. Everyone, it seems, has a story to tell about what has brought them here. Upon arriving in Rabanal, a few of us decided to try the local red wine spritzer (can't spell the word for it) at the hostel, which is basically a light red wine with ... read more