“But the beauty is in the walking — we are betrayed by destinations.” ― Gwyn Thomas
Route: Villar de Mazarife to Astorga
Distance: 30.5 km (21.1mi)
Albergue: Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María
Notes: There was another route many other pilgrims took this day that apparently kept them on the highway most of the day. Fortunately, my walking companion, Agostine, and I were in the countryside all day. (I believe most pilgrims began at Villadangos and then, arriving at Hospital de Orbigo, took the route that stayed along the highway.)
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| We left at 0545. Beautiful morning star. |
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| The geography and temperature changed abruptly within 100 yards. We could tell we were no longer on the Meseta. |
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| We arrived here at 0750 and went into town for a coffee at an albergue where there was only one peregrino. Next Camino I will stay in the small villages more often. |
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| Villavante |
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| Villavante |
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| Hospital de Órbigo |
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| Hospital de Órbigo |
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| Old fashioned irrigation |
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| Abandoned umbrella |
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| View of Astorga from the cross on the hill |
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| Entering town |
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| Agostine and Gabriel. |
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| Astorga! |
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| Lunch on the plaza: Gabriel, Agostine, and ? |
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| Lunch: Agostine (Spain) and Christina (Korea) |
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| Cocido Maragato. Specialty of the region: basically a plate of different types of meat. I passed on this one. |
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| Lunch on the plaza: Gabriel, Christina, Agostine, and ? |
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| “Smoking gravely harms your health and the health of those around you.” I like it. |
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| Gaudi’s Episcopal Palace. I thought it looked like a Disney castle. |
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| Laundry drying at the Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María |
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| Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María |
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| Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María |
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| Public park |
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| Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María |
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| First night meeting the Mexican soccer team. Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María |
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Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María. After 5 minutes of watching the boys flirt with my German roommates, I told them to exchange information on Facebook so we could all go to bed. Hence the phones…
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| Johanna from Germany |
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Joana from German. This was the first night I met these darling girls. A day or two later, they left a message for me on a rock, which sadly I didn’t see but many of my friends did…”Did you see the message for you on a rock?”
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Video: End of the day in the albergue, 70-something Gabriel, my walking companion that afternoon, finding a humorous way to let the Mexican boys they have 10 more minutes to flirt with my young German roommates.
