Astorga

Hospital De Órbigo – Astorga 18km

I got up and got out the door at 7am this morning to get into Astorga early – well before the Spanish all went for their siesta. I wanted to get a new pair of walking shoes for the rest of this journey.

No breakfast available at that time so I just tucked into my reserves of mixed nuts and an apple. After about 10km we came across a wee hut offering all kinds of foods for a donation. The guy that runs this is an absolute star. Chopping up pineapple and watermelon for all passers by as well as having a good selection of cereals and yoghurts. I reached into my money pouch and give him all the change I had- about £6 worth and helped myself to some delicious fruit and a bit of cake.

With carbs onboard this helped me plough on over the rest of the road to Astorga. Crossing an absoloute monstrous pedestrian bridge over a railway, and a river called River Twirto! (I wonder if the streams that lead into this river are called little twirtos or wee twirtos?? 🤔)

I got into Astorga shortly after 11am and headed straight for the pilgrims trekking shop in town. I loved the look of the backpack sitting outside. It would just about hold everything I had wanted to bring on this journey.

Anyway, I got a new pair of hiking shoes and because I had to get ol Barney chopped in three to take home, I got a cheap set of walking sticks for the big climbs ahead in Galicia. The shoes are a brand I have not really heard of but from walking around town in them, they will ace the job in hand.

I was the first to check in at my albergue for tonight, Albergue San Javier. An old building with a few floors and has all that is needed. Great shower, wee snooze, some stretches and sorting the feet out, I headed into town to get grub for tomo. Of course I had to have my daily beer in the scorching sun, then went to Rio’s ‘Irish’ bar for dinner. Whilst the food and the Guinness were excellent, I found something a little out of place in a traditional foreign ‘Irish bar’ – see if you can spot it 🤣

Back to the albergue to relax for a while, then I headed to tour the local Cathedral. Another jaw dropping cathedral which I’ll share a few photographs.

One of Gaudi’s works nearby, and every bit as amazing as La Sagrada in Barcelona is the Palacio de Gaudi Astorga. I didn’t get inside this but took a moment to admire this masterpiece. It’s like something from a Disney film.

I’m lying on my bed now looking out the balcony window at the torrential rain and listening to the roaring thunder that appears in Spain every so often. Might just hit the hay early tonight again and get an early start tomorrow. Another 20km to Rabanal Del Camino. When I get there tomorrow I will be down to 236km to go. Bang on schedule for second week of June finish. 🙏🏻 Nitey Nite!