Cacabelos

The castle in Ponferrada is unfortunately closed on Mondays. Really an impressively well preserved structure that you can explore throughout… except on Mondays.

We have come down from the hills into a big wine growing valley called the Bierzo Valley. The main grapes grown here are Mencia, an offshoot of Cabernet, for reds and Godello for whites. Most of these wines are released “joven” or young. Meaning it’s from the current vintage and is released within a year to 18 mos. from creation. Some surprisingly good table wines for being so young.

Another disappointment today, we didn’t get to see the rumored alter statue of baby Jesus playing cards with St. Antony of Padua. After the day’s walk, we were just too tired to walk to the church.

Tomorrow we walk to Ambasmestas. And the following day, the dreaded pass going up into Galacia through O Cebreiro pass. It’s 2,300 ft. of vertical in the course of the day’s walk.Read more