Astorga to Rabanal

We were so grateful for a good night's sleep at Hotel Gaudi. We decided to leave later, as we only had 22 km to get to Rabanal. Before leaving the hotel, we stopped in the bar for a café con leche. Once we left, we made it less than 100 feet before deciding to go into the next cafe for breakfast and more coffee.

The later exit from Astorga allowed us to visit the Iglesia de San Pedro de Rectivia, a wonderful Catholic church full of mosaic art and modern stained glass. While vastly different from the older churches and cathedrals we have visited, we were moved by this experience.

A few kilometers later, we visited another chapel, the Ermita del Ecce Homo, which, though simple, has messages of hope and healing for pilgrims. Just outside is a Pilgrim Memorial Grove, where the names of some pilgrims who have passed on the Camino are memorialized. We stopped to consider those in our lives whom we have lost to cancer before continuing on our journey.

There were well-spaced towns during today’s stage. We stopped for beverages several times due to the heat, including the infamous Cowboy Bar in El Ganso. In the afternoon, we were grateful when some cloud cover rolled in with an accompanying breeze.

We arrived at Rabanal later than we expected, but we were not worn out like yesterday. We love our guesthouse and think it will be a perfect spot for our group next year.

I’m really appreciating my processing time with Christie and Bonnie. We talk about life, about the Camino, and about next year’s breast cancer walk. I love the way it is taking shape!

We ended the evening by attending the Vespers service at the Monastery de San Salvador del Monte Irago. It is a much different church experience hearing the whole service being chanted in Latin, but it added to our experience and our discussion.

Dinner was ice cream bars. Don’t judge.

Ultreia et Suseia!Read more