Ponferada

6/7/19
Today we woke to sub zero temperatures and light snow.
Last night was a fun night, and it was good to see john, Kaz has been ill, so she stayed in bed while we miss behaved a little

Bill, John and I at the little bar

Really,,,,you can buy wine here in a 15 liter box

Saying goodby to john at 6 this morning, I think he was sorry to see us go

We walked to the CRUZ DE FERRO in bitterly cold conditions, we really had no choice, the wind was up, the temperature was at freezing and I had everything on as far as cloths were concerned.  We didn’t expect this kind of weather in June.

We made the cross by about 7.30 and recited the pilgrim prayer as we left the stones we carried from home as a sign of respect to lost loved ones, and to leave behind in your own stone, any burden you may be carrying in life
The pilgrim prayer is  LORD, MAY THIS STONE, A SYMBOL MY EFFORTS ON THIS PILGRIMAGE THAT I LAY AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS OF THE SAVIOR, ONE DAY WEIGH THE BALANCE  IN FAVOR OF MY GOOD DEEDS WHEN THE DEEDS OF MY LIFE ARE JUDGED, LET IT BE SO.

Leaving my stones for Caroline and Dianne

I was so cold I couldn’t hold the camera steady

The cross has been I think the most important symbol of the St James Way, yet no one knows who put it there, of when, or why. But today it is the one place everyone strives to get to on the walk
After the tortuously long and punishing down hill from the cross, we came into Molinaseca which I think is one of the prettiest towns in this region, I actually sat down and had a full breakfast for lunch, of eggs, bacon, beans, etc loved it

Pilgrim

The bridge in a Molinaseca

It works for me

Ponferrada is the seat of government of the county of El Bierzo, which in turn sits in the province of Leon where we are still walking.

Approaching the bell tower in town

This is a big wine producing area, though there is also some mining here. This is the last big ish town we will see till Santiago.although it was inhabited over 2000 years ago, it did not begin to grow until the start of the pilgrim movement in the 11 th century. Around 1082, the bishop ordered a bridge built over the Rio Sif to accommodate the pilgrims crossing.
Prior to their demise,the Templar’s built the magnificent castle here, THE CASTILLO DEL

In the town square of Ponferrada

TEMPLAR, it has been rebuilt and repaired many times through the ages as it was part of the defensive wall every time someone tried to sack the town.

Part of the castle walls

Castillo del Templar at night

We went out to dinner in the square and ended up with an unexpected crowd which was fun, other walkers we met along the way from Germany, Australia and Swiss

Inside the Templar church

The Templar built church in Ponferrada