Palais de Rei

Got here in very short order, despite moderate discomfort. Should give some time to see this town and perhaps get a wax stamp from the store that offered the first Camino wax stamp, La Tienda de Ionut. This is the home of the Spanish ParaOlympic athlete Ionut Preda who has carved out his own business niche here. Dinner will have to be in town, as my lodging, La Cabaña had their main building burn down. But the log cabins were preserved! And they have a nice tented eating area for drinks and breakfast.

Met Ronin a British cyclist living in New York. He started in London in early May and biked through France to St. Jean all The Way to here he will finish tomorrow. An avid vinophile, he was lucky to have met a winemaker in Bierzo who invited him to visit, so he carved out a 25 km detour near Villafranca del Bierzo. He reports that rural France is in very tough shape after Covid, being vulnerably dependent on the one market or the one baker in town.

I went to Ionuts´ shop and got the amazing stamp (for free with a t-shirt!)Read more