Day 35

Astorga to Rabanal del Camino  - 21 kms
15 May 2019

Our walk started with the glow from the Astorga street lights and ended with the glow of our faces. It was a hot walk - too hot for these two Kiwis, we were walking in the high 20s by mid morning. Lower temperatures are forecast for the next few days, possibly even some rain.
Today we went from 900m at Astorga to 1155m at Rabanal and we passed through Murias de Rechivalda just a few kilometres into our walk, then Santa Catalina de Somoza and El Ganso - stopping at both for refreshments. At Santa Catalina we met our Kiwi friends Ella and Liam, they were walking further than us today so we may not see them again. They are such a neat young couple. At the Cowboy Bar in El Ganso we got talking to an Israeli woman who just started her walk yesterday.
Showers and washing done at our albergue in Rabanal del Camino it was fabulous to sit down in the albergue courtyard and enjoy a fresh leafy salad and copious quantities of cold water for lunch.
We went to evening Vespers in Santa Maria Church where four priests sang the prayers in Gregorian chants - it was a very special service. The church was so beautiful in it's simplicity and was even more so as it was lit only by candlelight as power had gone off in the whole village.
Jeff received an email from Phil - he returned home to the UK from Leon as he wasn't well. Update: It turns out that Phil had campylobactor and was very unwell. He warned us to drink only bottled water and not to have drinks with ice.

The plaza as we were leaving Astorga

Gaudi's Bishop's Palace

The Cathedral

Out on the path

In  Murias de Rechivalda 

At Santa Catalina de Somoza

Liam and Ella from Christchurch

Between Santa Catalina and El Ganso

There was no breeze for most of our walk. It was amazing to see that the wind turbines were actually moving albeit very slowly.

Coming to El Ganso

A home garden

Pappy's house might have not have a roof but he'll have plenty of fresh air and he can garden while he's inside.

Pappy's door.

Mesón Cowboy on the right - the bar we stopped at for a cold drink and a hard boiled egg.

Not far from Rabanal there was a man who was raising money for child cancer. This is his hawk named Julie.

Walking into Rabanal del Camino

Our albergue - run by very welcoming people 

In Rabanal del Camino

Santa Maria Church in Rabanal del Camino. It was very beautiful in its simplicity.