I feel so horrible that you guys have been waiting for this (and my next) post to be put up. Obviously we've made it safely, but you will read more about that in the next post.
We came upon this in a plaza in Leon on our way to meet friends for dinner. We thought this was pretty interesting considering the band had a sign saying "we are all Greece." There was a lot of talk along the Camino about the economic crisis in Europe.
We felt good enough to do a little shopping. I felt a little sad to finally throw out my holey green dress in Leon after finding myself a cute blue romper.
A garden along the way. The man was almost 90 and he told us that he stayed young by tending to his garden and talking to Peregrinos who walked by. He was also very happy to tell us everything that he was growing.
The first signs of Hospital
Hailstorm in a small albergue that we stayed at in Hospital. We made it into the town with our friends Nick and Jenna just before it started raining (and later hailing). I never thought the second time I saw hail would be in warm Spain. My mom's tendons were really acting up so she opted for the 10$ massage in the middle of the albergue. The woman said that she had an accupuncture treatment that she promised would cure her tendon pains in her legs. She took a toothbrush sized hammer with 7 half inch needles and hammered up and down her calves like when you tenderize meat. I wish we had a picture because you would never believe what the back of mom's legs looked like when she was done! Mom said that it was a miracle and she never felt pain in her legs again, but she was worried about dying from some kind of infection due to the lack of sanitation.
Friendly cows and calfs on a small farm we walked through. They came right up to the fence to nudge my hands for attention. (walking into Astorga)
David, a man who has been living in a garage for a while, giving free food and drinks to the pilgrims. Whenever anyone would leave he would call out GOOD LIFE! But instead of yelling it, he said it kind of like he was singing. Mom and I agreed that that is how we would say goodbye to people from then on.
Going down the extremely steep and slick descent to Astorga.
Tea shop and palace (another Gaudi) in Astorga, we found the teashop walking around town because everything was closed because it was monday. We were sad we missed the palace, but we found a few great teas to send ahead home. Normally people can go into the palace and see the chocolate (and other) museums.
After we left Astorga in the dark (of morning) we ran into two groups of our friends. We stopped and had breakfast at a cute cafe where we learned a stray dog was served gourmet tasting french toast by the owner, every day for breakfast.
A friendly mini pony on the the road who came straight up to us.
Cowboy bar haha :D
Heading out again, and another friendly dog entering Rabanal. After we checked into our albergue in this VERY small town (like five houses no doctor, no pharmacy) mom's fever started to climb again. We had also just passed the horses (seen above) and she was feeling asthmatic......
Mom with her IV drip.
Mom kinda had a huge freak out at the idea of possibly dying in Rabanal ;) and had to go to the hospital to be checked out. Our neigbor (and good friend) from Sanxenxo is an ER doctor. She first considered getting someone to drive us the three hours to Sanxenxo, but I didnt let her end her camino so close to finishing. Instead we called our doctor friend. Turns out his best friend is the head ER doctor in a town 20k from where we were staying that night!! (Ponferrada). Within a half hour the doctor picked us up and took us to the hospital. Within an hour mom had had multiple tests done and was pronounced healthy, but dehydrated.
The next day we cabbed back to the town where mom got sick and walked about 25k!
Although it did help that we didn't have our packs to back track ;)
The Cruz de Ferro- This is a place where pilgrims have left a rock from home, depositing all of their sorrows into the rock, and by leaving the rock behind, they leave behind their sorrow. Luckily i'm only 14, I dont have many sorrows. My rock was a rare form of crystal from our family quarry in PA. I colored one side blue (for my past at baldwin) and one side red (for my future at Exeter). I hope it works for good luck and nervousness haha.
Funny signs at a village with a population of 1 person. We actually met the guy as we passed through because mom really had to pee. He told us the bathroom was across the road and a little into the woods, and "It has a door and everything!" She decided she could hold it for a few more kilometers.
more pictures from our day walk
A house in the middle of a vinyard in the Bierzo, on the way to Villafranca del Bierzo.
Running into friends for a healthy breakfast of a sandwich, chips, and a coke
In O'cebreiro a dog waiting for hot dogs at the counter and a shot of leaving in the rain. This was definitely the hardest climb, imagine climbing 5,000 feet in the cold rain, sweating under a HUGE poncho, slipping on the mud and rocks. We were so desperate that we went out looking to buy sweatpants, but since there was only one gift shop, we didn't have any luck. We settled for going back for a warm shower and enjoyed our canned ravioli dinner under the covers.
At this point we are officially in Galicia! There is only once short section left, which I promise to get up in the next couple of days. :)
We came upon this in a plaza in Leon on our way to meet friends for dinner. We thought this was pretty interesting considering the band had a sign saying "we are all Greece." There was a lot of talk along the Camino about the economic crisis in Europe.
Resting at the pilgrim statue in front of the hotel in Leon. We stayed in the Parador because the night before mom had a 102.5 fever and a baad stomach, and it was definitely a nice place to rest for the next day's walk to Hospital del Obrigo.
Hailstorm in a small albergue that we stayed at in Hospital. We made it into the town with our friends Nick and Jenna just before it started raining (and later hailing). I never thought the second time I saw hail would be in warm Spain. My mom's tendons were really acting up so she opted for the 10$ massage in the middle of the albergue. The woman said that she had an accupuncture treatment that she promised would cure her tendon pains in her legs. She took a toothbrush sized hammer with 7 half inch needles and hammered up and down her calves like when you tenderize meat. I wish we had a picture because you would never believe what the back of mom's legs looked like when she was done! Mom said that it was a miracle and she never felt pain in her legs again, but she was worried about dying from some kind of infection due to the lack of sanitation.
David, a man who has been living in a garage for a while, giving free food and drinks to the pilgrims. Whenever anyone would leave he would call out GOOD LIFE! But instead of yelling it, he said it kind of like he was singing. Mom and I agreed that that is how we would say goodbye to people from then on.
After we left Astorga in the dark (of morning) we ran into two groups of our friends. We stopped and had breakfast at a cute cafe where we learned a stray dog was served gourmet tasting french toast by the owner, every day for breakfast.
Mom kinda had a huge freak out at the idea of possibly dying in Rabanal ;) and had to go to the hospital to be checked out. Our neigbor (and good friend) from Sanxenxo is an ER doctor. She first considered getting someone to drive us the three hours to Sanxenxo, but I didnt let her end her camino so close to finishing. Instead we called our doctor friend. Turns out his best friend is the head ER doctor in a town 20k from where we were staying that night!! (Ponferrada). Within a half hour the doctor picked us up and took us to the hospital. Within an hour mom had had multiple tests done and was pronounced healthy, but dehydrated.
The next day we cabbed back to the town where mom got sick and walked about 25k!
Although it did help that we didn't have our packs to back track ;)
The Cruz de Ferro- This is a place where pilgrims have left a rock from home, depositing all of their sorrows into the rock, and by leaving the rock behind, they leave behind their sorrow. Luckily i'm only 14, I dont have many sorrows. My rock was a rare form of crystal from our family quarry in PA. I colored one side blue (for my past at baldwin) and one side red (for my future at Exeter). I hope it works for good luck and nervousness haha.
Trying to lure out kittens in Molinaseca.
The Knights Templer Castle in Ponferrada with our friends June and Miriam.
Running into friends for a healthy breakfast of a sandwich, chips, and a coke
In O'cebreiro a dog waiting for hot dogs at the counter and a shot of leaving in the rain. This was definitely the hardest climb, imagine climbing 5,000 feet in the cold rain, sweating under a HUGE poncho, slipping on the mud and rocks. We were so desperate that we went out looking to buy sweatpants, but since there was only one gift shop, we didn't have any luck. We settled for going back for a warm shower and enjoyed our canned ravioli dinner under the covers.
At this point we are officially in Galicia! There is only once short section left, which I promise to get up in the next couple of days. :)
