Days 22 & 23 Hospital de Órbigo a Rabanal del Camino

Day 22 Órbigo a Astorga

We had a pretty eventful night that followed directly after my last post. Some very heavy rain came in. It was very pleasant at first to listen to it on the tile roof and to be a little scared at the nearby thunder and lighting, but then the poor roof couldn't keep up. It was definitely like a river outside our room and certainly raining inside too. Arwyn and I were lucky to have bottom bunks. Our friend Martin was one of the only people in the dorm on the top bunks and he kept leaping in his sleeping bag from top bunk to top bunk until he could find one not directly in the dripping. 3 am and I couldn't stop laughing it was so funny. 

The next morning we hiked into Astorga. This city is situated on a hill at a north-south and an east-west mountain pass making it in the cross roads to get anywhere. It was a big roman town and there are visible ruins around including beautiful roman mosaic floors. The history was rich in this place. We stayed in a 300 year old building. This is the view out of our attic window. 

We went inside the cathedral show there. It was massive and amazes me that humans have built such structures. The cathedral was built in the 1400's and it's just not going anywhere. A much different model than kb homes. 

There was also a Gaudi designed palace next to the cathedral. It had some really amazing architecture feature. I personally like the arch design on the entrance; I have seen no others like it yet. 

Day 22 Astorga a Rabanal del Camino

Today was a nice 20 km day and the first day back into sunshine. It was nice to pass the day without constant fear of being rained on. 

We passed through several small pueblos as usual but these all seemed to unmolested by the outside world. At the entrance of one town there was an old man who was excited to tell us that his daughter ran a bar in town and made good coffee. We appreciate the family affair and stopped for a cup. 

Tonight we are staying in an albergue run by the English confraternity. We expected it to be good as it should live up to English standards but this place is over the top amazing. The village we are in has 30 residnents, and the albergue as huge gardens and maxing views of the mountains we are to start over tomorrow. We made sandwiches and I drank beer as we soaked in the sunshine and the view from the balcony. 

At 4 pm the hospitalero (or host) came around ringing a little bell for tea time. All of the pilgrims made there way outside and we all took tea together like civilized people. 

We made a big pot of soup for everyone and then went to vespers ( or sung prayers in Latin) at the church situated 30' outside our window. 

Arwyn took a sneak shot during the service. We then came back to our place where the lit a fire in the fireplace. I played a game of chess and lost within 4 moves which I am told is the least amount of moves one can be beat. Oh well... 

It has been a great last two days. We are really having a good time. Arwyn is very happy. Tomorrow starts our ten day count down to Santiago. It looks like we might actually make it.