El Bierzo

Today we decended one lot of mountains, walked through Ponferada, nice breakfast with some Americans and across the Bierzo basin towards the next lot of mountains. This area is probably no more than 50 miles across, but has its own microclimate. I'm currently sitting in a cafe with a glass of the local wine, in the sun. The mountains are all around, and covered in thick black storm clouds. You can hear thunder and I am on alert to run up to our room and bring the laundry in from the balcony.
We are staying in a place called Cacabelos, and just had a swim, very quick in my case, in a freezing river. There are small bits of snow up against the shadier buildings, so it is definitely a microclimate. It's famous for wines, cherries which I was picking earlier, and chestnuts. We walked past loads of meat procesors too, so also cecina, hams, chorizos and other dried meats. They also sellfridge magnets in the shape of serrano hams and chorizos. Fiona not impressed!Okumaya devam et