Today we got up at 7:00 AM when the hosts at the alburgue started blaring Spanish music over the loud speakers and walking up and down the halls screaming Buenos Dias! They really wanted everyone out of the alburgue by 8:00 AM and they spent the hour from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM herding us like cattle out of the sleeping rooms, into the kitchen/eating area and out the front door. I went to the grocery store last night and got food for breakfast. We had chocolate croissants, yogurt, soft boiled eggs, bananas and apples. Yum! The kitchen/eating area was a madhouse this morning with everyone trying to cook their breakfast, clean up and get out by 8:00 AM when the alburgue hosts threw everyone out of the alburgue and locked the doors so they can clean the place before the next herd of pilgrims descends on the alburgue like a plague of locusts.
After we left the alburgue we found a cafe and killed some time eating our second breakfast until the Templar Castle and Museum opened at 10:00 AM.
This is a shot of the Templar Castle.
It was very foggy this morning in Ponferrada. This is a church next to the Templar Castle.
This is a shot of one of the interior walls in the Castle.
Two views of Ponferrada from the Castle walls.
This is a church steeple highlighted by the sun shining through the fog.
This is the river that runs through Ponferrada.
They have a modern conference center on the grounds of the Castle.
This is another shot of the river from the castle walls.
After touring the Castle ruins we spent some time in the very well done museum devoted to life in and around the castle during the Middle Ages.
Views of the mountains surrounding Ponferrada.
As we were walking out of Ponferrada I saw this interesting street sign.
Another shot of the river running through Ponferrada.
As we were walking out of Ponferrada I spotted this sign. I guess pot is illegal in Spain unless you are a member of a pot co-op. That makes no sense to me but nobody’s asking my opinion on this issue.
It look us a couple of hours to get out of Ponferrada, but once we did we were rewarded by some very beautiful scenery.
We walked until 5:00 PM and hit Cacabelos. That was enough for the day. We found an alburgue that is almost empty and we are making it our home for the night.
I hope everyone had a great Thursday.
Good evening from Cacabelos, Spain.
AbeAndMarkontheCamino 