Astorga

6/5/19

It was bitterly cold this morning, unusual weather for this time of year, but only a 20 km walk today. The town of Astorga is our target, this place was developing into a center of administration until Gothic and Arab invasions slowed its progress in the 9th century. However, in the 11th century Astorga became an important stopping off point for pilgrims, and later the center for the Spanish chocolate industry through the 18th and 19th century.

His bag is bigger than mine

A little rainbow, maybe good energy

The walk was rocky but pretty easy and I got to share it with a mother and daughter from South Africa, tea farmers from the Cape, lovely people

Someone built a rest stop and serves fruit to pilgrims for donation, a welcome relief today

Cool clouds and windy, but the mountains in the background start for us tomorrow

Met this guy 4 years ago, and he is singing the exact same song as he did then,,what a hoot.

Same song, same guy, four years later— we had a laugh when he realized I couldn’t sing:::::::::either

There is the Museo del Chocolate here, and I took the time to visit it with a Kaz and Bill, didn’t like the chocolate at all, but it was a fun time. Another attraction here is a home here that was designed by Gaudi, the famous designer of the La Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona. The palace was never lived in and eventually became a museum. The art was lost to me because I couldn’t see past the architectural brilliance.

Gaudy museum

Gaudy gardens

Gaudy museum