Day 28 May 29 Sunday

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Day 28 May 29 Villafranca del Bierzo

Hard to believe tomorrow we will be starting week five of our Camino adventure with under 190 kms to complete 

As mentioned I am revisiting my 2017 Camino memories since Leon

As we were sitting having an amazing pizza last evening wondering what our route out of Ponferrada would be in the morning Daniel looked up from our patio table and noticed the all to familiar Camino emblem - which we have followed from day one in various forms. Our hotel was behind this booth. Easy start for us this morning. No one wants to get lost right out of the gate

The roses on this Camino never get old. Interesting fact I learned over a grande raddler ( 1/2 beer 1/2 lemon juice - 2% alcohol) as I noticed several vineyards had single rose bushes / trees - the same plague that would devastate the vines is more infectious to the roses - so the roses warn the land owner of the disease being present so he can protect his vineyard. I liked my explanation for the single roses being in the vineyard- rose’ wine

The Camino signs vary however I thought this one of a hand was unique and very affective

There must have been a local weight lifting athlete in this town for this Olympic monument to have been commissioned- not in my memory of five years ago

How about this flower pot art - there were two side by side - cute

Vintage Wine press - in my memory of last time walking through this rich vineyard country

Vineyards as far as the eye can see - some more groomed than others however all quite striking

As we were about to turn the corner and cross the bridge before our hotel I remembered this pilgrim statue from before - nice to see some of my memory is still in check

The next three pictures capture other Camino signage - one has to be carefully watching all the time as to not take wrong turns especially in the towns or cities. 

The last is the bridge out of town - single lane and our hotel is on the left 500 m from this bridge. Our start is turn left and continue out of town

Today was 25 km basically level - good walking - getting hot after mid morning - 30+ deg

Lots of our pilgrim friends in town 

Monday we start week five and head up the mountain after 20 km walk to reach the base - the climb will be 600 m - 2 hrs 

All is good 

Till then

Buen Camino

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