Brazuelo, Spain Travel Journals & Blogs

Traveler Camino de Santiago - Frances
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- Oct 4, 2022, 5:07 PM
- ☀️ 81 °F
- Altitude: 2,927 ft
- Spain Castille and León Astorga Murias de Rechivaldo 42.460849, -6.107342°27’39” N 6°6’26” W
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Day 30
Murias de Rechivaldo
October 4, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
Variety was the reward for our day. After a week of crossing the Meseta, today led us along an ever changing path with ups and downs, quiet villages, changing crops and into Astorga; a larger town which of course was at the top of a steep hill. Today’s 16 miles went quick up until the last 5k into Murias de Rechivaldo which was a pretty hot walk at the end of the day.

This comes after an great night at our country house where we were just plain pampered by Mercedes the owner. This was a unique night with just seven people at the albergue. Most of the dinner meal came from their garden with a nice pumpkin soup, great tomatoes, walnuts from their tree, and of course that Rioja red wine.

Tonight we are having a pilgrim’s meal at our albergue owned by a German who walked the Camino and left his job as a chemical engineer to support pilgrims. We will be off tomorrow for the start of a steady climb back into the hills.Read more
Traveler Sounds wonderful! Did you know there’s a chocolate museum in Astorga?
10/4/22Reply
Traveler Yes, walked right past it 😂. Too many calories, not burning enough 😂.
10/4/22Reply
Traveler <3
10/4/22Reply
Traveler Who’s the gal with the sexy football socks? Good shot Tom!
10/6/22Reply
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Aussie Brothers’ Camino
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- Oct 11, 2022, 2:37 AM
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 892 m
- Spain Castille and León Astorga Murias de Rechivaldo 42.460945, -6.10724642°27’39” N 6°6’26” W
Villares Órbigo to Murias de Rechivaldo
October 11, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
A day to celebrate with a couple of radlers. We have now completed 500+ km of the Camino Francés and 600+ km if we include rest days and walking around destination towns.

Our host Marta provided us with all the breakfast we needed and we were walking into the dark morning by 7:45am. Sunrise was 8:30 and we walked mostly along unpaved rural tracks towards the city of Astorga.

Initially quite undulating terrain, it eventually flattened out a few km before Astorga.

Mostly cloudy and cool so good walking weather.

We chatted with a couple of pilgrims from Quebec over coffee and chocolate croissants at the morning break in San Justo de la Vega. Easy flat path for the 4km into Astorga where we had some lunch and did some needed chores. We both needed to get cash and John managed to extend his Movistar SIM until the end of the trip.

Astorga is the site of one of Antoni Gaudí’s beautiful buildings, the Bishops Palace. Looks very much like the castle in the starting credits of many Disney creations. See Kevin’s photo.

We completed the day with the final 5km to Murias de Rechivaldo and our room at Casa Flor, a quirky albergue with a relaxing back garden where we have enjoyed a few drinks in the afternoon sun.Read more
Hi John. I was wondering if you took spare walking shoes? Or, had a plan if one got damaged? [Roger]
10/11/22Reply
John Esler G’day mate. My only footware are Vasque Mantra2 walking shoes and thongs. The shoes had 400km on the clock when I started so we’re well warn in. They are very robust and I wouldn’t expect them to fail. Because of the amount of pavement we have walked on the soles will be warn out by Santiago so I will donate them to Spain. Doing it again I would choose something a bit lighter like Hoka trail runners. The thongs are Archies which have an arch support; very comfortable after 25km in the shoes.
10/12/22Reply
Have been following your trek for most of the way Kevin and John and very impressed with your perseverance and dedication to complete the walk despite all the aches, pains and mishaps that go with it. The photos are great and significantly increase my appreciation of the countryside and what you see and experience on the way. I'm very envious of what you are both doing and hope the remainder of the trip goes well. [Dinny Goonan]
10/11/22Reply
Kevin Esler Thanks Dinny. We've gained an appreciation for Spanish wine along the way.
10/12/22Reply
Traveler congrats on your accomplishment. sometimes it's almost unbelievable to look back and to think for a moment on how far we've come. ULTREIA!!
10/11/22Reply
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Traveler Camino Frances
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- Aug 20, 2022, 1:08 PM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 878 m
- Spain Castille and León Astorga Valdeviejas 42.461658, -6.09155642°27’42” N 6°5’30” W
Day 21
Mountains - 1600m high
August 20, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
The way up to the famous Cruz Ferro, where people leave a stone the brought from their homes, was ok! 17 km, the first 8 in complete darkness! At the Cruz a met an American woman who was from Key West- where we were before the pandamic! The only way is up from Otis Clay brought me safely to the top! I am at the highest point now and it’s going down from now on! Need to be careful as the path is very narrow and rocky!Read more
Traveler Good job Frank......keep it up. 👍
8/21/22Reply
Traveler Pass man fien op dassu nich den Trampelfood rünna schnallerst👊
8/21/22Reply
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Camino Frances 2024
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- May 7, 2024, 11:24 AM
- ☀️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 1,017 m
- Spain Castille and León Brazuelo El Ganso 42.462569, -6.20842642°27’45” N 6°12’30” W
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Day 30–31
Day 26 Astorga Day 27 Rabanal
May 7 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
What a beautiful city Astorga is. So much to see! 25km day. Had a wonderful meal and met new Pilgrims at our albergue that started their journey in Leon. Only their 2nd day, ha amateurs🤣
Day 28 had us starting out before 7am and it was good to check in at 1pm after only 20 km. A steady ascent through some small towns that I think wouldn't exist without the camino passing through. Tomorrow we are back climbing, now to Cruz de Ferro, an important stop for pilgrims.Read more
Traveler 😍
5/7/24Reply
Traveler You're looking good 😊
5/7/24Reply
Both of yous are unbelelievable,destination Santiago and no beach pictures. Have a nice walk [John]
5/7/24Reply
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Mikka To the End of the World
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- Aug 5, 2022, 10:37 AM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 1,024 m
- Spain Castille and León Brazuelo El Ganso 42.46283, -6.20711342°27’46” N 6°12’26” W
Day 20
The Cowboy Bar
August 5, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
A Camino staple and legend, the owner is a man of few words but a heart of gold. It has a foosball table, cold beers, and a Spaniard’s idea of what a Texan bar would look like. There’s no way I’d skip this stop.Read more
Traveler How was the bar?
8/5/22Reply
Mikka Exactly the way some guy who has never been to the US, let alone the West, would imagine a cowboy bar to be 😀
8/5/22Reply
Traveler 🤣 that is a spot on description
8/7/22Reply
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Traveler CAMINO 2023
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- Oct 24, 2023, 8:46 AM
- Altitude: 966 m
- Spain Castille and León Astorga Santa Catalina de Somoza 42.454836, -6.14448142°27’17” N 6°8’40” W
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Day 24
Back in the mountains yayy 🥰
October 24, 2023 in Spain
One of the coolest morning skies so far, photos did not do justice! Missed scrambling up rocky inclines even if you have to try not to break your angle with every step, and worth it for the AMAZE views from the albergue at the lil village at the top when the clouds cleared enough to actually see them lolRead more
Traveler Well if that photo doesn't do it justice, it must've been AMAZING
10/25/23Reply
Traveler Well that's a pretty sight
10/25/23Reply
Traveler Awww, I want that ginger kitten
10/25/23Reply
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Traveler A long walk with my son.
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- Apr 8, 2024, 11:38 PM
- ⛅ 2 °C
- Altitude: 1,027 m
- Spain Castille and León Brazuelo El Ganso 42.463922, -6.20462742°27’50” N 6°12’17” W
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Day 4
Day 3: Astorga to El Ganzo
April 8 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C
Today was a short walk. 9 miles. But out of those 9 miles it rained a lot!! Found out my new waterproof jacket is not 100% waterproof.
When we got to El Gonzo we had a choice. Keep going another 4.5 miles or stop. Patrick chose to stop here because we are sleeping in a teepee.
Mind you, it is cold and rainy all day long. Now, bed time we are sleeping in a teepee with no heat. We are fully clothed. Jackets on and 3 big blankets. I hope I will be ok. The man next to me is snoring.
We got here early so we played cards and relaxed most of the day.Read more
Traveler 💖
4/8/24Reply
Traveler So cool! The tee-pee place was closed for the season when I was there. Enjoy! I hope the rain clears up.
4/8/24Reply
Traveler They have been super nice! Mom doesn’t speak English. We muddled our way through it. Then her son came. We talked a lot. He doesn’t get too many chances to practice his English so he was happy to talk to us. 12 euros. Included dinner and breakfast.
4/8/24Reply
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Traveler Camino Francés 2022
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- Aug 14, 2022, 10:23 AM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 1,035 m
- Spain Castille and León Brazuelo El Ganso 42.465, -6.22333342°27’54” N 6°13’24” W
Day 23
The walk was great
August 14, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
I wasn't sure if I would finish at Rabanal del Camino (20k) or Foncebadon (26k) today.
I walked alone and had time to think. There's a business idea that I had in the back of my mind for a long time, and I developed it a bit more. I also thought of something else I would do if I decided to take any real steps with the first idea. It's something I always discarded for being 'too hard', but compared with starting a business seems very easy. I will keep pondering the possibilities for now.
Getting to Rabanal del Camino was easy, despite being uphill. I was in the sun but there was a cool wind that made all the difference.
I stopped at Rabanal for lunch. I had a veggie burger and it was delicious!
Jan called to say he and his German friend found an albergue and were staying there, in case I wanted to join them. But I was re-energised and ready to tackle the longer and steeper hill to Foncebadon (see mountains in the last photo), and that's what I did.Read more
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Traveler Camino de Santiago
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- Apr 18, 2024, 6:37 PM
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 982 m
- Spain Castille and León Astorga Santa Catalina de Somoza 42.455089, -6.15702842°27’18” N 6°9’25” W
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Day 27
Astorga to Foncebadon
April 18 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
I'm rarely still around late enough to know (BRAG) but I think the blasting chants after 7.30 might not just be a Roncesvalles thing? Astorga was certainly keen on it today. In what I'm sure is an innocent mistake, I left without my freezer brick because SOMEONE TOOK IT but it doesn't matter, I'm close enough to my last dose it can be at room temp.

Been a total break-slut today - coffee, orange juice and toast, coke, lunch.
I honestly don't mind though, I think taking my time on the walk is part of adjusting to the pace and routine. Getting in at 2 versus 4 makes no difference. Rolled in at 4.30pm after walking up a hill we continue to climb tomorrow to reach the highest point of the whole Camino. I can't wait to see the sunrise from here in the morning.

Some homework I've done tonight to satisfy questions raised when walking:

1. Earwax DOES hold DNA but you have to get it within 30 days.

2. The tallest cow on record is 6'3 and quite frankly I saw one a few weeks ago that could take that, I should write to them.Read more
Traveler When you point out distance to us like this….. incredible!
4/18/24Reply
Traveler UM coffee table book pic
4/19/24Reply
Traveler It’s amazing yes!
4/20/24Reply
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Traveler Camino de nuevo
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- Jun 17, 2024, 7:02 AM
- ☁️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 890 m
- Spain Castille and León Astorga Murias de Rechivaldo 42.45935, -6.10763142°27’34” N 6°6’27” W
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Day 27
Murias to Foncebadón
June 17 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
A reasonable nights sleep but woke up with a bit of snoring and someone playing music on their phone! Not loudly but enough to wake me up despite earphones. Quite a tricky bunk bed as very low headroom and a long way from the bathrooms! So would stay again if I could get a room as food was good and company was fun.
Set off at about 7.10. A long slow up through Santa Catalina de Somoza (coffee - sadly best cafe closed) and El Ganso (lovely stop for coffee and toast at the end of the village in a house with cafe and tiny supermarket). There bought lunch of gazpacho and bread too.
Then on to Rabanal. A beautiful walk of about 6k through trees with flowers and birds. Interesting birds today were Dartford Warbler, Garden Warbler, Ortolan Bunting and Greater Whitethroat. Even saw the Dartford Warbler which was exciting.
At Rabanal had a drink and went into the monastery church.
Then onwards and upwards to Foncebadón. There is still some snow on a mountain we can see from here - we are at about 1400m and that mountain is at about 2180m.
Arrived very hungry and quite tired so had beer and chips before showering.
Place we are staying in - Albergue Trasgu de Foncebadón - seems good and the shower is great (always important). Have now had an ice cream too (nothing but carbs today!) and planning an early supper.
Goats cheese salad for supper - and another very good one - followed by chamomile tea. Increasingly windy outside - the waitress said they haven’t really had any summer yet here. Again, it’s about 20c cooler than it was last year at the same time. Planning a river swim tomorrow but not sure that’s going to happen as forecast isn’t great. But I live in hope …Read more
Traveler Impressive beasts! Were you safely on the other side of a fence or did you have to walk through or at least to the side of them?
1wReply
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