Scores on the doors 35 km, up 278m down 233m
The guide book had said about the Hostal Jesus, what it lacked in facilities it made up in character and it certainly did, the Walls had been graffitied by countless pilgrims, our room was basicaly a lean to shed with a 4ft double bed. But it also had a fully equiped pilgrims kitchen with an induction hob, free Internet and Wi-fi, a bar, dining room, garden and swiming pool.
However, because of the preperations for the party we decided to go to Tio Peppe's for our meal, we sat with a retired midwife from Mane in the USA and a German civil engineering student, and spent a pleasent evening. We returned to Alburgue Jesus at 10 and the party was in full swing. So we got out our ear plugs and went to bed. At 5:30 when we got up to use the bathroom it was still in full swing!!
When at 7:45 we enquired about brekfast, we were met by very bleary eyed staff, who told us they had to clean the alberge before they could get to bed.
We set off and were met with a 6 km of arrow streight Tarmac (not good for tired feet), before another 4km of streight dirt track.
Eventualy we reached the town of Hospital de Orbigo, it's claim to fame being a a 204m 20 arch bridge.
History tells of a famous jousting competition, which lasted a month, with hundreds of lances broken, and one left dead on the jousting field. Some 600 years later the lists still stand and the competition is re-enacted.
Our next stretch was cross country on rough tracks, seamingly in the middle of nowhere, far softer on the feet than Tarmac. Ahead of us we could spy the Montes de Leon, which we will cross in the next few days. Comming over a rise we then saw Astorga, and about 3/4 hour later were in the City.
It's claim to fame it's twin towered Cathedral and Gaudi bisop's palace. (both shut). We found a room in a pension near the town centre and after showering (where I discovered that the back of my legs were sunburnt) and laundry went to explore.
We looked at the Cathedral and Bishops palace from the outside! And the stunning mayor's office, and then sat in the town square and had a couple of beer's.
We then went for food and I decided to try the local speciality Cocido maragato, the first course was a heaving plate of meat served with chick peas, potatoes and cabbage, the meat including; chicken, spicy sausage, belly pork, pigs trotter, ear, and relleno (stuffing) - this was followed by soup which was a bit like chicken gravy with vermicelli in it. Finally I had ice cream and a coffee, with a glass of the local licquer, which came out of the freezer, was bright yellow, and flavour I can't quite describe.
We then returned to our room to sleep, before starting to head for the hills tommorow.
The guide book had said about the Hostal Jesus, what it lacked in facilities it made up in character and it certainly did, the Walls had been graffitied by countless pilgrims, our room was basicaly a lean to shed with a 4ft double bed. But it also had a fully equiped pilgrims kitchen with an induction hob, free Internet and Wi-fi, a bar, dining room, garden and swiming pool.
However, because of the preperations for the party we decided to go to Tio Peppe's for our meal, we sat with a retired midwife from Mane in the USA and a German civil engineering student, and spent a pleasent evening. We returned to Alburgue Jesus at 10 and the party was in full swing. So we got out our ear plugs and went to bed. At 5:30 when we got up to use the bathroom it was still in full swing!!
When at 7:45 we enquired about brekfast, we were met by very bleary eyed staff, who told us they had to clean the alberge before they could get to bed.
We set off and were met with a 6 km of arrow streight Tarmac (not good for tired feet), before another 4km of streight dirt track.
Eventualy we reached the town of Hospital de Orbigo, it's claim to fame being a a 204m 20 arch bridge.
Our next stretch was cross country on rough tracks, seamingly in the middle of nowhere, far softer on the feet than Tarmac. Ahead of us we could spy the Montes de Leon, which we will cross in the next few days. Comming over a rise we then saw Astorga, and about 3/4 hour later were in the City.
It's claim to fame it's twin towered Cathedral and Gaudi bisop's palace. (both shut). We found a room in a pension near the town centre and after showering (where I discovered that the back of my legs were sunburnt) and laundry went to explore.
We then went for food and I decided to try the local speciality Cocido maragato, the first course was a heaving plate of meat served with chick peas, potatoes and cabbage, the meat including; chicken, spicy sausage, belly pork, pigs trotter, ear, and relleno (stuffing) - this was followed by soup which was a bit like chicken gravy with vermicelli in it. Finally I had ice cream and a coffee, with a glass of the local licquer, which came out of the freezer, was bright yellow, and flavour I can't quite describe.
We then returned to our room to sleep, before starting to head for the hills tommorow.
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