Astorga, at the edge of the region of Castilla Y León, is where chocolate as we know it was said to be invented. Brought back from Mexico in the 1500’s by Spanish conquistadors, it was in this gorgeous little hill town that our love affair all started. What more motivation would a tired pilgrim need to get moving on this cold April day?
We had around 18km to Astorga and a weather forecast that suggested rain from early afternoon. We didn’t dawdle as we didn’t want to get wet today.
We talked about what it will be like returning back home after living as a pilgrim for 5 weeks. We made up rap songs. We talked about the need for some good food. James had a yearning for fresh orange juice. Than as we were talking to Quelia, a pilgrim from Portugal, we topped a rise and found a little donativo store in the middle of nowhere.
We met up with James and Leo who had walked about 38km yesterday to get from León to Hospital de Orbiga. The boys both enjoyed making their own juice.
The walk into Astorga was relatively easy from there, flat and then a descent and then more flat into town.
Arturo, our hospitalero at Albergue San Miguel had contacted the albergue in Astorga as he knew the people there. When we arrived we were shown to a private room with views over The Valley. We had beaten the rain. After a shower we found a bar and had some lunch and chatted with some other Australian’s.
We then caught up with Leo and went to the local outdoor store to get some gear for the days ahead.
Astorga really has a lovely feel. It is perched on a hill and the old town is quite small.
It feels affluent. It’s nice to see lots of different restaurant and cafe choices. Most Aussies we talk to have had some terrible food experiences on the Meseta. We look forward to dinner.
We join James and Leo for dinner at a local bar. The food is good and the Rioja tonight is the best of the journey.
We enjoy great conversation about all things Camino and life. We contemplate whether to walk to Foncebadon or not. Maybe we just decide tomorrow.
Tomorrow we head into the mountains. After 10 or so days on the relatively flat Meseta, our minds are relieved but our bodies need to adjust to walking up and down slopes. We are excited but also a little anxious about what the mountains may hold in terms of weather.
The Long Camino 