The photo is of a palace or govt. building designed by Gaudi. I walked through Astorga and am in a small village on a mountainside. Besides the hostal there's not much here besides crumbling old homes and structures. Tomorrow's hike takes me to the highest point on the Camino. Last night I stayed in a most wonderful lodging in another small village. It is a restored 100 year old home where a young couple lives and runs a private hostel. It was more like a countr...

Yesterday was my rest day, and though I needed to be off my feet, I was really bored and raring to get going. I can only check my e-mail and read my Kindle book on my iPhone so long before I fall into a catatonic state. The top of one of my feet has been hurting, but not while I'm walking, only after when I'm resting. After doing some research (thank you iPhone) it can be one of 3 possibilities - nerves, tendons, or bones. I think it's the nerves, but what do I k...

Pushed on today to Leon. Will stay in a hotel, sight see without lugging my backpack, which will be a major treat. Today was a great day for walking. It was cool and sunny, with a clear view of the ridge of the Pyrennes to the north. This will be my first night in a city. Leon is the last big city, I think, before Santiago. I plan to make tomorrow a shorter walk as a way to recuperate. I just arrived in Leon, so there is a time lapse since I wrote the entry abo...

As of today I've gone well beyond the halfway point. Only 224.1 miles left according to my guidebook. I did the math and found that I've been averaging 20 miles per day. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too old to beat my body up this way, but when the hearty younger people in their 20's stumble into the hostels with the same physical complaints I can tell that I'm doing fine. I had an enjoyable afternoon alone today after walking in the rain all morning. I traipsed a...

I don't really know which village I'm staying in tonight. I left my guide with a map in the hostel. My first spotting of a burro on the Camino. Not a good idea since it moves at a snail's pace. All it wanted to do was eat the weeds. I wonder if it stays on hostel grounds at night, or how it traverses the cities. Long hike today. Felt like it stretched to eternity. Ubiquitous features of the Camino landscape are wind turbines, scarlet poppies, and the sound of cu...