Day 18 and 19 in Spain - to Avila via O Cebreiro and Astorga

Saturday 6-01

June? Really? Well, you could not have guessed it in Northern Spain. Never would I have thought that we might have weather cold like this. It rained most of the day. It was comfy in the apartment but we could not really go out to do sight-seeing or go for a walk. The beach ... totally out of the question ... And there would have been so much more to investigate. Oh well.
We ventured out for lunch though. Partially to try to get some special local food (can't get enough of that) partially to get Internet at least for a short time to do some 'homework' as Ute calls it.
The "Pementos  De Padron" (peppers from the Padron area) were very nice.

James and Ute settled into reading, I played on my new Spanish pillow. I tried some of the stitches of the Hinojosa lace. That was fun and suddenly I didn't mind the weather quite as much. Ute and I were fascinated with the "kernel stitch".

The "rice stitch". I know the thread is not the most perfect for this.

And then I started a simple little edging I had found in a "Bolillos" magazine I had bought.

Sunday 6-02

Looking out of the window on Saturday it was clear ... we decided that we would return to the idea of our original departure day on Sunday. There was no reason to stay longer with this weather. We thought that it was going to be a two-day drive to Madrid anyway.

So, we packed our suitcases, packed the car, got the apartment back into order the best way we could manage, and went on our way.

For a long time we went back the way we came. We had the GPS and a map for Northern Spain. It was clear that we would pass the area where James got caught in the snow storm when he was walking the camino. He said that he had not been able to see anything then and would like to see it now. We took the short diversion to O Cebreiro. What wonderful country. I was very happy to see it too.

We drove over many, many of those bridges on our trip. We were amazed about the very good roads and bridges everywhere we had been in Spain.

The little town on top of the mountain was something special. Pieces of art everywhere too.

Church service was just over when we arrived. A lot of peregrinos all around.

 The baptism font from the 9th century in a little room to the side.

James tried to retrace his way to take pictures exactly the same as his snow picture. Kind of before and after.

This guy had snow on his head and shoulders in James' previous photo.  Can't wait to see James' blog about all this.

When we continued our drive Ute and I kept wondering where exactly we had seen those amazing purple hill sides. We saw them again but now they were brownish instead. We must have seen them at exactly the right time.

After a while we decided that we should have a lunch snack at Astorga which is a very nice town not far from the highway. Ute and I had stopped there too on our way coming. Parking was a bit of a problem because some streets seemed to be closed. When we walked the rest into the town center we knew why ... there must have been a big celebration. The Sunday after the day of Corpus Christi. There was still an altar on the big square in front of the city hall set up. 

We gound a cafe and sat down for some refreshments. It came with tapas.

I had a bocadillo with cecina (which I found on google translate means dried meat). Lots of different famous cured hams in Spain.

And as we were about to leave again ... the celebration was not over yet.

We followed the band back around the corner to the big square.
Look at James' feet!

Our original idea had been to drive to Toledo, but it was now getting late. I looked at my notes again with Lali's suggestions and we decided to go to Avila. That was an excellent decision. We liked Avila the minute we arrived. We parked the car, found a tourist info, got a suggestion about hotels ... inside the city walls.

James and I inquired right on the other side of the gate (one of the gates), liked this one and booked it for two nights.

After we had rolled the suitcases from the car to the hotel and settled a minute we walked through the narrow streets.
I really don't know why I took a picture of this shop window. We didn't have anything from this.

 I had to take a picture of this house.

The relief looked a lot like a picture of St Martin. I was wrong in a previous blog about that. May be I am right this time.

We had ventured a little outside the walls too, so now back into it, to the hotel and to bed.
Have to digest all the things we saw today.

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If you want to go to "Day 20" click here.

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Day 17 in Spain - visit Vimianzo

Friday 5-31

The final decision was for Werner to catch the bus in Finesterra. We left shortly after 7 am and were there in time just before 8 am.

People were already waiting. Oh, the good-bye after walking together for more then 30 days.

James is happy. He had left his poncho the day before at the albergue but he had called them and could retrieve it now.

On the way back I wanted to stop at the castle in Vimianzo to buy some more dyed linen thread. Can't get that often. But we were too early. Nothing opens in Spain before 10 am. So we had a coffee con leche and then did some more walking around. We were able to have a closer look at a 'horreo' (granary) were farmers stored the grains so mice and other rodents cant get to them.

 

Such marvelous constructions.

 

And we found the church open and walked inside. Wow, it was quite special. It gave you a wonderful feeling.

Pretty crochet.

Lace on the side altar too.

Yes, bobbinlace.

And look what had shown up right outside. A donkey with three dogs.

James' picture is even better. You need to look at his blog. 

 

We were back in Corme before lunch. Ute had gone down to the market which was today and had bought cheese. James and I did some shopping later (everything is closed in Spain between 2 pm and about 5:30 pm. We cooked a nice hot vegetable soup for dinner. That and some wine warmed us up. 




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If you want to go to "Day 18 + 19" click here. 

 

Day 15 and 16 in Spain - visit Finesterra and Muxia

Wednesday 5-29

Wind and rain. Weatherwise a miserable day. When we can see the other shore we can see how the surf is running against the rocks and spraying high. Sometimes the clouds are so low that we can't see the other side of the bay. Perfect to sleep in or read in my new lace book. It's written in four languages: Spanish, French, English and German. I have read all of the English and sometimes some of the German. I am very much enjoying it.

Finally we climb out of bed and get ready. Ah, this is vacation. We had breakfast late so we can have lunch late. We decide to go out for lunch. No cooking, no cleaning up. We would have loved to walk. But it is raining so I suggest to take the car down to the harbor where the parking is easy and I like the young people in that tapas place. They are so nice.

We go upstairs and ask for something hot to drink. Ha-ha, when you ask for chocolate caliente that's what you get. It was more like hot chocolate pudding but so very good.

Since we both had WiFi at the same time James and I were able to talk with Viber. They are doing fine but the weather forecast for tomorrow is not very nice. We arranged that we will meet them tomorrow morning. I am eager to see Muxia too.

Ute and I also shared a portion of 'calamares' which came with some fries but then felt like some veggies so then we ordered 'pimientos de padron (temp)'. We expected it to be like something I had ordered in Astorga but it was nothing like it. It was very good though. 

Well, finally I had my blogs done and we could go back to the apartment. Such a dreary day so Ute fixes us some red wine with hot water and some sugar. It warms us up but it is also perfect to have a siesta afterward. More reading in my new book and I decide I want to try out the stitches. Ute and I wind some bobbins. The new lace-pillow has a checkered fabric so I think that will do as guidelines. I am having fun.

Ute and I made ourselves a vegetable soup which I thought was very nice. The weather looked o.k. for a moment so I took a fast walk down the harbor and up. Most likely it will be bedtime soon. More reading.

 

Thursday 5-30

The things you do for the people you love. Ute and I had to get up very early to drive to Finisterra … again. Thanks to gadgets they make life easier. Texting, texting. The weather was still pretty miserable but good enough for James and Werner to actually walk up to the Faro Finesterra so I am driving up there to meet them.

First thing I see is what looks like hundreds of snails on the walkway.

The camino 0,00 K.M.

The END

So totally different than when Ute an I saw it first time a few blogs ago. Kind of the end of the world mood.

After Finesterra (known locally in the Galician language as Fisterra) we drive to Muxia (spoken: Mooschia). It is a small town where tradition says the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint James after traveling in a stone ship.

Information about it here!


Werner needed to do some inquiring about buses etc.

We had to drive up the hill to the nearby church dedicated to "Nosa Senora da Barca".

The church was locked and not another person was around.

 

But we could peek through the opening in the door.

 

The church from the rocks.

Finally we were chased away when it started to rain harder.

 

Camarinas was a little out of the way but I needed to go to the lace shop again. These sisters are the owners and if I understood right (no English spoken) they make all the lace to sell.

 

Look at the lace on the left … mostly leaves. Incredible.

We were lucky to park almost in front of a supermarket so we took advantage of that. Unfortunately (ha-ha, NOT!) just inside the front door was the bakery (panaderia) and I developed a sweet tooth in a jiffy. Had to have this for teatime. Chocolate filling. Everybody picked something. No arm-twisting necessary.

We had decided that tapas for dinner would be just perfect. Dinner at 9pm just is not our thing. On the way we took care of recycling. Yes, Spain seems to be good at that too. Glass goes into the light green container … and what a loud noise it makes.

 

Some ordered Calamares, I wanted to find out what Chipirones are (baby squid). All was very delicious. This is where we need to take advantage of having seafood. Just a few more days.

Bedtime soon because Werner wants to catch a bus very early tomorrow morning. James calls it: peregrino time.

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If you want to go to "Day 17" click here.