Our hotel was in the midst of an upscale residential area of Ponferrada, so we needed to walk a few blocks to join the Camino.The Camino has two routes through Ponferrada. We chose the one which is a straight line from our hotel to Camponaraya. The other route takes a less direct route north of the city, through a rather run-down area with little or no services and not very interesting scenery. We have chosen the more direct route since 2019 including today.Upscale houses and modern office buildings and residences.Less modern housing and buildings as we walked away from the city center.We stopped after two miles for breakfast.A nice breakfast for 6.40€.Sidewalks were not as nice as we got further from Ponferrada.An interesting front yard as we moved into the Bierzo region.A major hospital serving the Bierzo region.The sidewalks got kinda narrow as we walked into Companaraya.Jim’s favorite hardware store on the Camino with beautiful wall mural.Tribute to Lydia Valentin, Olympic Gold medal, Women’s Heavyweight Weightlifting, 2012 Summer Olympics, from Companaraya, Spain.Leaving Companaraya, looking back at Lydia Valintin statue.Crossing the Auto Via into Ponferrada and heading into the Bierzo region. Back on the dirt path of the Camino and heading into the vineyards.The vineyards of Bierzo, and the home of Mencía and Godello grapes.Healthy looking vineyards, with only tiny beginnings of grapes forming on very old plants.Grapes normally mature in August for harvesting.
The walk from Camponaraya to Cacabelos is normally a challenge in the summer heat. Today, however, was overcast and cool and we walked and talked with a group of Canadians (Montreal) and Cristina, from Estonia, which made the time pass much faster and the walk much easier.
We arrived in Cacabelos a half-hour before checkin. We waited in s nearby eatery and improved our hydration with OJ, Sangria and gazpacho.
After checkin, we had lunch in a familiar nearby restaurant and spent the rest of the day washing/drying clothes, blogging, reading and napping.
Jimandi 