Astorga

Day 28 Astorga
Distance from Villa De Mazarife to Astorga
36kms

With a long day ahead we started out before the sun was up and although it was early it was a warm 11c.
Walking the dirt path the views of the mountain range stood out in the distance a reminder of where we would be walking in the next few days. We passed by an elderly gentleman watering his large vege garden by hand with a watering can he smiled and waved us on. The frogs were in full croak this morning leaping into the streams as we passed and the cotton tree (as they call it) releasing its cotton fluff falling to the ground like snow. Out of nowhere we came across a pilgrim stop attracting tired walkers to eat drink and sit in the shade and share their stories a very chilled out hippy like affair. We crossed one of the longest and best preserved medieval bridges dating from the 13th century decorated with flags in readiness for a medieval festival. Early afternoon we walked into Astorga a lovely town housing a Gaudi Museum and a reputation for being the chocolate capital the beans of which were brought over in the 1500’s from America by Christopher Columbus.
We finished the day with a shared plate of grilled baby squid and walked back to our delightful hotel eating a gelato ice cream.
It was a full day almost a marathon in terms of distance feeling slightly weary and having loved every step of the way.
Tomorrow we start a gradual climb towards the mountains.もっと詳しく