Succumbed to bus transport today as I am still suffering from this #%! chest infection and if I want to have any chance at all of walking the remainder, another day of rest was sorely needed. Disappointing, there is no doubt, but I also don’t want to be sick for the rest of the trip either, so had to make the hard decision. It is meant to be a holiday, after all.

There were several other ‘pilgrims’ taking the bus too, so we were not the only ones opting out. We met a young girl from Italy, who had injured her ankle quite badly, coming down the aforementioned ‘Highway from Hell’ mountain descent, so she was very solidly strapped. Kate had also seen several that had sprained or broken wrists, sustained on the same pathway. How lucky were we, to have come out almost unscathed?

The bus transport here is astoundingly cheap. A single ticket from Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo was €1.65 (approx $3.30) for a 30 minute trip. If I used public transport to get to work 10klms away from in Brisbane, it would cost about 3 times that amount. So, Brisbane City Council, I think you just might be ripping us all off…

We are staying at another country inn here, the ‘Puerto del Perdon’ and it is just lovely. Stone walls, little balcony overlooking a pretty little courtyard and, one of my all time favourite things, I can hear the sound of hens clucking in someone’s garden nearby.

 

And, directly across the road, the Castillo Palacio de Los Marqueses. As you do…

 

We’ve taken a walk around the town and it’s a photographer’s delight. Lots of little gorgeous townhouses for sale, ( very run down, but oh, how stunning they would be when renovated. Perhaps a cheeky offer? I think there could be a bargain to be had!) But there are also areas where money obviously has and is being spent. It’s a lovely little gem of a town, nestled in the mountains.

Tomorrow there will be no bus for us, it’s on with the walking shoes again. I’m well and truly tired of blisters and sickness now, I want to get into it and just enjoy the view!

 

xx