Rabanal to Riego de Ambros via the Cruz de Ferro, Iron Cross

Monday, September 30.  No wifi at our albergue tonight, no wifi in this town! Will upload at our first stop for coffee/tea tomorrow.

The day started with uphill walking to the second and then the highest points on the camino.  

The second highest point on the Camino at 1,505 meters is the Cruz de Ferro, Iron Cross.  The cross is a tall oak post with an iron cross at the top, surrounded by a pile of stones.  Pilgrims have been leaving stones here for centuries.  We picked stones along the way and tossed them on the pile.

The following prayer is traditionally prayed at the site:

Lord, may this stone, a symbol of my efforts on the pilgrimage that I lay at the foot of the cross of the Saviour, one day weigh the balance in favour of my good deeds when the deeds of my life are judged. Let it be so

(as quoted in the book, Camino de Santiago: Way of St. James from the Pyrenees to Santiago  By Cordula Rabe)

The highest point on the camino at 1,515 meters is Punto Alto. Then a steep downhill on rough trail.

Walked thru some small villages 

Awesome views

Great snacks

30 days of walking ( 356 miles ) and the shirts are still holding up

Our Albergue for tonight

Laundry done, having a beer and watching the sheep walking by

Murias de Rechivaldo to Rabanal

We walked 10 miles today, 16 kilometers. Saving the steep hills for tomorrow.

Arrived early at the albergue, so we sat our packs down at the albergue, in the queue for a bed!  Got a bed, plenty of room.

The day started out flat 

Best cafe con leche!  Coming into town an older gent told us to stop at second bar it was his bar - glad we did.

Happy backpacker after tea

Road ahead

The cowboy bar in El Ganso

Inside cowboy bar

Cowboy bar - ok coffee, other place was way better - but interesting decor 

The towns we walked through today

Albergue for tonight is donation - we gave 5 euros each, I didn't see others put in anything.  They asked a couple leave - they had had their bags delivered to town  - to stay here you are supposed to carry your backpack.

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 Albergue Gaucellmo, run by the London based Confraternity of St James. 46 beds in 2 rooms - nice place, court yard and breakfast provided.

Garden area at albergue 

Nice place, they are serving tea and biscuits in garden at 4:30, inside if too chilly

Hospital de Orbigo to Murias de Rechivaldo

Raining when we headed out - 8:00.  

Marilyn

We slept in.  We took the recommended route and it was, like the book said, one of the most beautiful  and serene paths on the camino.

Trees were  covered in mistletoe ( we think).

 

Sue 

No cafes open along the route so no tea or coffee until we got to Astorga at noon.  Toured the cathedral, lunch and tea/coffee and headed down the road about 3 miles for the night.

Astorga:

Remnants of Roman baths in Astorga

Gaudi building aka The Bishop's Palace next to cathedral  

Cathedral 

Cathedral entry way

Leaving Astorga, route was along road for a bit

Town square where are staying tonight

We're going in to our home for the night 9 euros each for bed and another 9 euros each for dinner

Having tea and waiting for dinner

Getting table ready for dinner

Wine now is now on the table, table set for 10 diners

Dinner was fab. Creamy vegetable soup, rice pilaf, chicken, and yogurt for desert, Only women at the dinner!

Today we  left the Meseta behind us and we headed toward the mountains.  Then the next day we climb to the highest point on the trek.

Tomorrow we will go to Rabanal del Camino 16.1 kilometers and make a stop in El Ganso at the Cowboy Bar.