DAY 32 : SPAIN : TRICASTELA to SARRIA - 18.7 kms - 4 hours

Distance walked in France and Spain so far : 1402.6 kms (66 days)

Weather : clear, sunny with icy wind ; 6o

111 kms and 5 more walking days until we reach Santiago.

 

Beautiful views of the valleys as we climbed and ascended
Alto Riocabo

 

Clear, cool morning as we set out from Tricastela

 

Up close and personal with farms - that is not mud we
are walking in - its our preferred walking surface -
cow manure (and lots of it!!)

 

A magic moment..

 

 

Inspiring views - one of our best scenic days - up there
with the Yorkshire Dales, Aubrac and walking towards the
Pyrenees in France.

 

My trusty guide and companion

 

Shaded paths - shelter from the wind

 

Entering Sarria. Population : 13,000
A bustling,modern town with a medieval centre.

 

A monument to Alfonso 1X. (1171-1230)
King of Leon and Galicia
Known as Baboso or Slobber because he
was subject to fits of rage and foamed at
the mouth.
  

 

We are staying in a private albergue, O
Durminento (10 euros each) on the main
street in the old town.

 

It is very comfortable and heated.
There is a small restaurant where we can have our evening
meal, which is a godsend as it is quite cold and the town
seems to have closed down for the season.

 

 

Out our window is the Church of Santa Marina.
We look forward to the bells chiming every
quarter of an hour, albeit quietly.

 

A wholesome meal provided by our hosts, which we
enjoyed with a Brazilian couple, with whom we are
sharing a room tonight.

 

I have my Kindle with me and have downloaded 3 medieval novels you might be interested in, which relate to the historical background to our English, French and Spanish experiences.

 

Pillars of the Earth / Ken Follet

The Night's Dark Shade : a novel of the Cathars / Elena Maria Vidal 

In the Name of the Rose / Umberto Eco

 

Happy birthday, Bertrande!!

 

M&M

7/11/12

Our email : mm_smith@bigpond.net.au