Hospital de Orbigo to Astorga

Total distance today = 10.6 miles

Total ascent = 820 feet

Cumulative distance = 325.1 miles

Today started with a decision. Do we follow the N-120 into Astorga, or do we hoof it over the hills and through the fields?

No contest! After two days on a busy road, we were ready for the peace and quiet of the fields. 

Even if we're back into the ups and downs of the rolling landscape. 

In the small village of Villares de Orbigo we stopped to admire a rose garden. The owner was outside, and gave me one her beautiful red roses.  I proudly placed it on my backpack. 

We stopped in Santibanez de Valdeiglesias to pick up a picnic lunch. Too early to eat here but there  is no food available for the next 5 miles. 

A little  way out, we notice a peregrino at the top of a hill just looking back over the path. 

And looking back...he didn't move for a long time. We found out why when we got to the top. 

There is quite a collection of items in this spot. Peregrinos have a strange sense of humor.

The scenery alternated with well irrigated fields and trees as we walked on farm roads. 

Our back country trek ended at the Crucerio de Santo Toribio. A stone cross that overlooks San Justo de la Vega, and Astorga in the distance. 

Beyond Astorga are the Montes de Leon. We begin to cross those the day after tomorrow. 

We noticed a St James rose bush near the picnic tables. 

We finished our picnic lunch on benches provided just beyond the cross, and then tramped down the hill, through San Justo and into Astorga.

Just outside Astorga we crossed a couple of bridges. An old one over a stream, and a newer one over railroad tracks. 

After dropping our backpacks at our hotel, Ciudad de Astorga (very nice and AC worked), a few minutes to rest and have a cold drink, then we headed out to see the Cathedral and the Palacios Episcopal (Bishops Palace) built by Gaudi. 

The Bishops Palace was built in the early 1900s by Gaudi. The bishop never lived in it. It now houses a museum of roman artifacts, art exhibits, and church artifacts. 

Fully equipped with private chapel and even a throne. 

There were numerous statues on display, but this one caught our attention. Is that what we think it us? Yep. This is a statue commemorating St. Agnes. She is the patron saint of breast cancer. Before she was sainted, she was tortured and her breasts cut off as punishment. Her story is here:

http://www.romancatholicidentity.com/2010/02/st-agatha-patron-saint-of-breast-cancer.html

Next was the Cathedral and the Cathedral Museum. Work began on the building in 1471 but was not completed until the 18th century. Thus parts of the building are baroque, neoclassical, and renaissance.

The southern facade is a Carmel colored sandstone which is not matched in the other tower. 

This is the first monument to a more "modern" pilgrim. I don't think we want to hike the Camino carrying a suitcase. 

There are a lot of roman ruins in Astorga because several roman roads converged on this city. It's hard to see, but the above photo is a tile floor from a roman home. 

This is part of the thermal baths for the home.

The bell tower atop city hall. It is a man and woman dressed in traditional costume of the area. 

A monument to the memory of the siege of Astorga during the Peninsular War.

Sorry this post was delayed, but as you can see there was a lot to see after we arrived in Astorga. 

In addition, we had to watch the Portugal/Ghana game to see if the US would advance in the World Cup.  So let's get this straight, US lost to Germany, but since Portugal's win wasn't big enough, the loser (US) gets to move on?  That's just screwed up!