Day 5: April 30 th "Villa Franca del Bierzo"
On the way we stop at the wine festival at Cacebelos which is in the heart of the fruit and wine growing region of el Bierzo. Excellent wines but hardly known outside of Cacabellos. We stop here to enjoy the spectacle. You buy a glass and go from tent to tent sampling the wine. We sat and rested for awhile and then walked on through the wine fields to Villafranca but later found out many of the peregrinos we had met, stayed the night at Cacabellos, after sampling the many varieties of wine. On the way out of town we passed many groups with their horses, many with fancy saddles. This is also a big tradition here. We stayed at the Hotel San Francisco in the main square of Villa Franca. A small room but good with private bath. Walking into town down a steep hill we met a woman and asked her directions to the hotel. She spoke to us in spanish and thinking we did not understand her, she walked down the hill with us and pointed out the hotel. She then had to walk back up the steep hill. We had some time to explore the town with its many old buildings but did not take any pictures.
Another stop along the trail. Can't remember exactly where or which day it was, but interesting display of all kinds of souvenirs and stuff.
Day 6: May 1st, "Vega de Valcarce"
Leaving Villa Franca we decided to take the high route on the right side of the NV1 via Pardella to Vega del Valcarce. We got confused a bit as the instructions were a bit ambiguous. We knew it would be more difficult but the shorter route was along the very busy highway. It was a very steep descent into Vega De Valcarce. Met Bill Hall going into the town. He had walked along the road.
We stayed at Pension Fernandez. We had stopped at Meson Los Rocas ( a nice restaurant) on the way into town and the owner took us up to the hotel through the barnyard. The hotel was quite nice and situated on the main square of the town. Had to share a bath but only a few people at hotel so not a problem. Tim the Englishman we had met on the trail was staying there also. We arranged with the man at Meson Los Rocas to take one of our backpacks with some heavy stuff, ahead to O'Cebreiro for us the next morning. We knew it would be climbing all day and difficult to carry any more then we had to.
Day 7: May 2nd, "O'Cebreiro"
As we climbed higher toward O'Ceberiro it started to rain then turned to snow. We had sent some of our heavier belongings by taxi with Carlos from Las Rocas and had also made a room reservation at the Hospederia Casa Valina. 39.00 euro.cashWe were walking with another pilgrim most of the way. We decided to stay on the road rather then take a shortcut through the fields. In retrospect we wished we had gone that way. There was no place to stop and get warm or dry on the road. As we got near to the top, who appeared out of the snow but Bill Hall, the man from Renfrew, On., whom we had met earlier. When we walked into the yard of the hotel we were surprised to see many tourist buses parked there. We visited with Bill at the pub and had something to eat. The room at the hotel was nice and warm. It snowed all night. The picture is a view from O Cebrerio. It is a picture I found on the internet as I had not taken any that day. Also it was snowing when we were there.
Day 8: May 3rd, "Triacastela"
It had snowed 6 to 7 inches during the night. We debated whether to start out or not in the bad weather. Some of the guests were not going to. However we are Canadian and a little snow should not bother us.
Dressed warm and away we went. A hard day with a lot of climbing and steep descents. I am still coughing and not feeling very well. Had gotten a sore throat the first day out and had been coughing quite a bit.
We stayed at the Hospedaje O'Novo. 35 euro.(A nice room with tres camas con bano) in Tricastella.
Next stop Saria.
Back | ....Next Page: Saria to Santaigo and back to Madrid
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Bicycling in Bordeaux, France
Ecuador and Peru adventures
Trekking in Nepal