Villafranca del Bierzo

For the first time we left in the rain. Very soft drizzle really but we got to use our wet weather gear. We had a few short light showers so no real problem.
We had a very chatty day somehow. Although we have had several meals with one couple, today we walked with them for a couple of hours and the conversation was very different. When walking it is amazing how people are less guarded and more open to various topics. Then, on the last section we met a couple from Florida and the ladies paired up and left us guys to do the same. A very interesting man, a specialist gastroenterologist physician who was born in the Dominican Republic and was happy to take me through their history as a nation under various colonialists and ultimately independence. Time and miles flew by. The ladies ended up walking and talking with a local who was out walking her dog!
One of the churches in the small village of Fuentes Neuvas had a beautiful “last supper” painting on the ceiling. Really unexpected in an otherwise ordinary place.
As we head west, the food is definitely getting better and better, especially the seafood. We had octopus and mussels as part of our lunch which was lovely. We saw the octopus being prepared in a large barrel a bit later - seems to be a local thing.
We went for a stroll in the evening and it started to rain so we popped into a bar and ordered a sparkling mineral water each. We were the only ones in the bar and the owner gave us all his attention. We had heard the local wine was good so we asked him for some. He was delighted and gave us the full story of the wine and how it had won awards etc- but it was in rather passionate Spanish so not sure we got it all! Anyway the wine was lovely!
All up, Cacebelos surprised us and is bigger and nicer than expected. A town with life and well presented buildings.Les mer