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[QUOTE="SantiagoCruzB, post: 1193957, member: 98657"] Oct 27 Molinaseca – Cacabelos – Villafranca del Briezo Today we had a really slow but enjoyable walk despite the rain. We knew that it was going to rain but when we peeped out our hostal window the street was dry. However, just as we were about to step out the door it began pouring. We (Tess, Arlene, and I) rushed to put on our raincoats. It was still dark (0720) but we started anyway. Molinaseca is a pretty town even in the rainy darkness. Outside the town center, all the buildings were modern and the streets were well-lighted so finding the way to the trail was relatively easy. At the trailhead, we found Cathy (from Canada whom we last met at about the same time at the hermitage in Valdeviejas outside Astorga on Oct 25) undecided on whether to take the trail or stick to the road. Because of the rain, we were earlier advised by Señor Raymond to stick to the road instead of using the trail, so we invited Kathy to join us. It turned out to be good advice because the road was well-lighted, had wide shoulders/sidewalks, and light traffic. In fact, for the rest of the day, we would be walking on pavement instead of the trail. The rain continued until we reached Ponferrada where we were forced to seek shelter at a modern roadside coffee shop with a supermarket. The coffee shop was quite busy with local customers but it had outside seating that was close off from the rain with glass doors. Most of the other customers were inside we had this area mostly to ourselves allowing us to take off our raingear. Since we were cold and wet, the coffee warmed us up so we stayed here a while. After some time a young peregrina showed up, looked inside the coffee shop, but hesitated to come in until we beckoned to her. It turns out she and Kathy stayed within the same albergue the night before. By this time, the rain had eased up allowing us to continue our walk. If Molinaseca was pretty, Ponferrada was prettier. We spent a lot of time taking photos and videos of various points of interest as we walked along. The most interesting landmark is the castle of the Knights Templars, which jumps at you suddenly as you turn the corner. Unlike most castles of the era, it is well-preserved and presents a magnificent sight in the early morning light even on rainy days. We wanted to explore it but it opens at 1000, too late for us. Another important landmark we visited is the Basilica of Our Lady of La Encina.[ATTACH type="full" alt="IMG_6246_A.JPG"]159265[/ATTACH][ATTACH type="full" alt="IMG_6255_A.JPG"]159266[/ATTACH][ATTACH type="full" alt="IMG_6263_A.JPG"]159267[/ATTACH] Ponferrada is also a huge town, and the Camino detours through posh residential areas and a sprawling park similar to that in Pamplona and Logroño, so getting out of the town took a while. At some point, the girls had to use the bathroom but there were no coffee shops amidst the mansions with their elegant gardens. We were saved by a public clinic at the corner. The staff graciously allowed us to use their bathroom. We continued walking, finally leaving the outskirts of Ponferrada through wide open park-like surroundings that went up gradually as well as along a quiet highway lined with industrial establishments including a power plant. By this time the rain had stopped, and the sun had come out briefly, but it was still cold and windy. Then the rain threatened again so we had to put our raincoats (which we took off at the clinic) back on. About halfway through the walk, we stopped at a café (Bar La Ermita in Fuentes Nuevas) where we had a chat with a lovely couple who were visiting the husband’s parents (who live in the area) to show them their two-year-old baby for the first time. They talked about plans to build a hotel with a swimming in the area. We wished them success in their future endeavors as we left. We walked through the vineyards which are currently in autumn colors and quite pretty despite the wet conditions. By this time, the weather had improved. The sun was out but it was still cool enough to keep our raincoats on. It was the perfect walking weather. At this point, there were a number of peregrinos ahead of us and behind us. As I was walking alone at this point (the girls were a couple of hundred meters behind me chatting) a tall young woman, walking briskly, said Hola and chatted for a few minutes as we walked along. She was originally from Switzerland but now lives in Spain (I was unable to get her name). She mentioned that she had lived in the Philippines with her husband a few years back and was really looking forward to living there again. A Spanish couple with the guy pushing an empty wheelchair also said Hola and zoomed by. I saw them earlier in Ponferrada. Another middle-aged Spanish couple kept chatting noisily as they walked along with the woman giggling like a schoolgirl all the time. At Camponaraya, we hesitated before crossing the highway looking out for speeding cars that fortunately were few and far between. We finally reached Cacabelos, where Arlene and Cathy will stay for the night, at about 1400. The Albergue La Gallega served very good paella which we had been craving since Astorga so we had a great lunch after a long and tiring walk. Since we were sleepy after lunch, Tess and I decided to end our walk here for today and taxi to Villafranca del Bierzo where we have our lodgings. By now it was 1500. Overall it’s another beautiful day on the Camino. My takeaway for today is that the Camino is a really pretty place in any weather condition. Thanks for reading this far. Buen Camino and God bless! [/QUOTE]
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