Stage Twenty Four –Astorga to Rabanal del Camino

20  km

November 1, 2011

Gaudi Palace

 A Sunday Stroll

It was a nice walk early this morning through 6 different plazas in Astorga. I stopped to take pictures of the Gaudi building and the outside of the palace and cathedral.



Cathedral door



I believe it was here, where I made a wrong turn, kind of following some other pilgrims who didn’t know the way. I got to the bottom of a hill with the Belgium woman, and there was a busy hi-way traffic circle. A van tooted it’s horn and the man pointed at us to go back up the hill. He was pointing the lost pilgrims back on to The Way. Not sure how far the pilgrims ahead of us walked before they discovered they were going the wrong way.

  

Astorga Cathedral



I walked most of the day alone but also with Christian (29 correction) and Pam. I walked through what always seemed to be, deserted towns, flat prairie and then started so climb the next high point on the camino. We all met up for cafe con leche stops with Nick, Brigette, and  Gabriel. It was Sunday and we were treated to the ringing of the church bells, by hand, in one of the small villages.  Finally, a few people in the streets on their way to church.

Pam and I found the Albergue del Pilar, a private albergue in Rabanal, that had over 60 beds in one large room. We enjoyed a late lunch in a small bar and had a great talk. We attended the mass at the 12^th Century Iglesias Santa Maria, possibly built by the

Templars at that time. It was a very modest old church with the mass sung by 2 Benedictine monks in Gregorian chant. There was a special pilgrims blessing as well. It was very nice but only 5 or 6 pilgrims attended.

At the albergue, the Orujo was being passed around again in the dining room with pilgrims getting warm by the fireplace. My friend Gabriel liked the stuff very much. I am feeling very tired and don’t have the energy to socialize. I notice my walking is slower and I have bites on my legs..or some kind of rash..probably from the monastery in Leon, I thought, but who knows.



Small bar along The Way



I take care of my legs and feet and try to relax on my bunk. I am thinking about the big climb the next day and how I need to get some sleep and renewed energy. My eyes have started to twitch a lot, indicating I am tired and I am starting to get annoyed by a lot of conversation, especially if it is a bunch of Spanish dudes.