Day 27 – 02.07.2023 – Ponferrada

Buen Camino – 27 km – Ponferrada

Early at 06:20 I was leaving the Albergue. It was not a very relaxing night. Snoring and not enough ventilation in a packed room with 20 or more people. Always a busy time in the morning, people are packing their backpacks, having breakfast, brushing their teeth… Happy to be on the road again, it’s still dark before sunrise 🌅

Some more meters up, there will be a big cross where you can leave symbolically all your burdens, I left mine. 1500 meters above sea level, even higher than the first day in the Pyrenees.

The view in the mountains reminds at Coimbra, Portugal, not much difference. I am walking alone today. I didn’t see many people today on the Camino, all behind or ahead.

In Riego de Ambros were a lot of properties to sell, nothing is going here, not even a café. No people to see but a really beautiful village.

It was difficult to walk, a lot of rocks and roots, carefully. Long way down, many kilometres. In the end from 1500 meters down to 500.

Seems to be very touristic here, Spanish tourists. The town has a beautiful Center and here I met my new friends from Taiwan. From here it would be just 5 km to Ponferrada. I decided not to stay in the public Albergue tonight. I need a better rest than last night. We walked together until Ponferrada and then checked in Albergue Alea. A big family house with a very welcoming older couple. The man is from Montreal, Canada, his wife from Spain. And we are the only guests today here. All three of us are staying in one room. They have a nice lounge here and a shady garden.

I was just in town after having a nap. I had a coffee with an ice cream. Don’t feel very comfortable in this town and it’s very hot today, 31 degrees. So I found an open supermarket, they are usually closed on Sunday in Spain. And back to the Albergue sitting in the garden and eating a little.

My right foot hurts a bit today, guess one step on the path created it. I will put some more muscle cream later.