Day 34

Hospital de Órbigo to Astorga - 17 kms
14 May 2019

We set off from Hospital de Órbigo in the chill of the morning, our fingers were soon numb, but it's such a lovely time to walk and we reached our destination of Astorga before the midday heat. Our walk today took us through two villages - Villares de Órbigo and Santibanez de Valdeiglesia where we stopped for hot drink and toast. From there we walked past a farm then out in open country. The walk gave us our first hills in a while - just gentle inclines and short declines - a wee introduction to what we'll encounter the next few days.
We found ourselves in the midst of a huge bustling market when we arrived in Astorga which meant we couldn't quickly sort out street names or where our accommodation was. When in doubt ask a policeman so this is what we did.
In the afternoon we visited Astorga Cathedral and Gaudi's Bishop's Palace.
Dinner in Plaza Mayor completed a perfect day, dining outside in the shade as it's 29 degrees at 7.40 pm. Liam and Ella, the young couple from Christchurch who we first met way back in Los Arcos and at various times since, walked into the plaza while we were eating. It was great to see them again.

Leaving Hospital de Órbigo

...and out into into the countryside

Pappy's house is this wee shed. He'll love living right beside a canal.

A sign in Villares de Òrbigo

Here we are

In Santibanez de Valdeiglesia

We have no idea what these were about

Wild lavender

A wayside stall - la Casa Los Dioses Cantina

This stone cross commemorates the 5th century Bishop Toribio of Astorga. It overlooks the village of San Justo de la Vega in the foreground and out to Astorga. The hills we'll be walking in are still away in the distance.

Coming into Astorga ...where we encountered the large bustling market

...and the two police who escorted us to our accommodation

A very beautiful lady we met and managed to converse with using Google translate which absolutely fascinated her. 

Gaudi's Bishop's Palace

Astorga Cathedral

Plaza Mayor in the afternoon after the market packed up and left, in the evening it was alive with people dining and others strolling about.

The figures in the clock tower struck the bell for the chimes ...we heard it all night.