To Astorga

 Have I told you how to clean this country is? It is really amazing. every little town you go through, you’ll see people sweeping the sidewalks in front of their house or shop. When I got up yesterday morning before dawn, I could still hear the people in the plaza still partying. When I left just in the predawn all the tables have been moved to the sides and chairs stacked and there was a machine cleaning the whole plaza, and after it was cleaned, they sprayed it all down with water. The machine is narrow enough that it could get down all those old alleyways in the old city.

Another interesting thing is that this area was under Roman control for a long time so many of the roads I’ve been walking on, were made by the Romans. 

Today was a wonderful day! Well, it started off at the first 5 km were beside the highway again and I was feeling very disappointing, but then the path went out into the countryside again. I was so happy!

The first town we came to Hospital de Orbigo, with the Puente de Orbigo. This bridge has a romantic story and many believe that it is this story that Don Quixote was based on. 


I had my morning Tortilla in this town. This one included spinach. Yum!

Storks on the ground?!


Twice now I have seen this, where locals stuff clothes, almost like scarecrows and then put up a sign “buen camino”. I don’t know how I feel about this 🤣

Along a dry path, there was an unexpected oasis. I have seen these in different forms, but this is the nicest one yet! I had a juicy piece of watermelon. 



All my birdsong was back and all the flowers. I was so happy!! Thanks 



After arriving in Astorga, showering, and washing my clothes, I went out to explore this beautiful city. The Cathedral was the first stop. 








 

And another Gaudi designed building. It was the Bishop’s palace. It is now a museum. 


Again, my gps didn’t start when I did. It missed about 3 km of my morning walk. 

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