We started the day with a delightful 5 mile walk through the vineyards of the Bierzo.

Legend has it that a pilgrim from France brought Cabernet Franc to the Bierzo and the rest is history.

We then came to Villafranca del Bierzo and immediately came upon Iglesia de Santiago. The main door is known as the Puerta del Perdón. Pilgrims who were too sick to continue were treated here and often could go on.

I haven’t photographed capitals yet on this trip so here we go with the magi meeting Herod and animals.

We then looked over at the Iglesia de San Francisco (yes he did the pilgrimage in the 13th century and is said to have founded this church) and saw a rainbow.

We went past the Castillo and into town.

We went into Villafranca and had lunch and decided to jump slightly ahead to Trabadelo where we are staying Albergue Crispeta. Again we have done laundry and had menu del día. Off to bed. I am caught up.

¡Tomorrow in Galicia!

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We ate a quick breakfast at the Albergue and headed out of Pontferrada, after a quick telebanco hit to provide us more euros. It was raining but we were better prepared. Just a few shots on the road due to rain.

I love the stork nest beside this little ermita.

This couple of statues was cute.

When we stayed in the Albergue Verde, we were given an ad for the Albergue El Serbal y la Luna in Pieros. We were tired in Camponaraya and stopped for wine tasting of the wines if the Bierzo, the region between the mountains where we are hiking. The wines were lovely and we decided to taxi to Pieros. A lovely hospitalera from Bulgaria with a British accent, due to years in Ireland, checked us in and cooked a wonderful vegetarian dinner.

The fellow perigrinos included men from Denmark, Czech Republic, and Spain (via Venezuela and Portugal). There were also two young Americanas, one if whom worked in Maine with puffins. Somehow, the name Franco came up at dinner and the barefoot pilgrim from Argentina had been there the previous night. Another great albergue experience.

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Updating is getting a little weird. When we left off we were at the Templar Castle. After the castle we stopped for hamburguesas and then went to the Iglesia de la Virgen de lA Encina. What follows are pictures of the statues at the entry including an amazing Pieta.

We returned to the Albergue, checked in, did laundry and read. The went to a bar for vino tinto y queso y wifi and then went to bed.

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