Day 35. Foncebadón to Molinaseca

What a day this has been! I cannot get over it! And I made it! And so did Isabelle!

Most pleasant to begin with - going up and across to the Cuz de Ferro (rather Hierrro in Spanish?) in the rising sun, easy walking through a forest. The Cruz is a cross on a huge pole which is "planted" on a "mountan" of pebbles. It has become a sort of cult thing: people bring a pebble to leave it there symbolising leaving all their troubles, worries - some leave a photo of a loved one or a poem amongst the pebbles. Apparently it has become quite a nuisance, all this "rubbish" left by millions of people. Such that the place has to be cleared periodically...

We found a bench in the sun where we sat for a while before going on towards the dreaded difficult descent. But where was it? For ages the walk continued easily, flat or slightly up and down on a perfectly easy path. And then gradualy it became steeper and full of rocks sticking out which you had to clamber over carefully and slowly. And painfully. Had to really concentrate where to put my feet to avoid falling. No photo possible! So the worst moments are not documented here.

Half way down was a village, El Acebo de San Miguel, where we hit the first bar to sit and have not only a drink but also a bite to eat - a delicious "tostada" - this one was just a slice of toast with a thick layer of avocado and a few slices of tomato on top! Yummy!

We had hoped that the steepness and the "rockiness" of the path was over. But no, it continued all the way down to where we came to the road leading into Molinaseca. Again no photos! No, we had a siesta pause where we could leave the path. I slept solidly for half an hour I think.

So we made it late into the afternoon, found a chemist for Isabelle to at last get her Ibuprofen. Her hand is quite swollen and hurting dreadfully. Which did not help during the descent. I am lucky, no problem with my knees, or feet, or back, tired calves and thigh muscles, just tired, but not painful. And overall extremely tired - my poor brain having to concentrate so intensely for such a long time!

After a shower and a very short rest out for a delicious light meal: pimientos del Bierzo, a mixed salad and a tabla de quesos, to share between us and back "home" to bed...もっと詳しく