Day 10
Slept in this morning, and was a long way to the first coffee.
Time went by fairly quickly, as I happened upon a talkative pilgrim that morning…
The breakfast place, just before the bridge of Obrigon, was perfect, with backyard patio and extra large coffee servings. They also had some pet pidgeons that helped themselves to the left over breakfast.
After breakfast I walked across the bridge of the Paso Honroso – http://www.galiciaguide.com/Stage-23.html, which was one of the inspirations for Cervantes’ Don Quijote, and perhaps also echoed by the little bridge defending dog in the movie Labrynth.
On the way out of Hospital del Orbigo I met Jeremy from the U.K., who recently finds himself in a welcome employment transition after some m&a at the company where he spent 31 years.
His daughter did the camino 7 years prior, and she came back a different person. He and she are sharing pictures as he retraces her steps from seven years earlier.
Jeremy said he’s never been a particularly religious person, but after being here on te camino, and seeing the persons snd moments of faith, and then also spending some contemplative time in the various church buildings he’s visited, his heart is more open to the things of God.
Jeremy pressed forward as I climbed the little mountain range between Orbigo and Astorga, where the sun was beating down and my water had ran out.
Just as I was feeling a bit fainted, I discovered a little donativo oasis where a gentleman gives out free/donation fruit, juice, water, and places to rest under the hot sun.
I heard him explain to some cyclists that he does it as his life’s ministry, to help others as they make their way along the camino. Needless to say, he helped me out, and I sat in one of his Egyptian style resting tents and put down some watermelon and peaches while letting my feet recover as well.
After this, I headed down the mountain and then up through Astorga, exhausted from the bright sun and warm weather, but impressed with the medieval architecture and beauty of the town.
On the way to the albergue I passed by Gaudi’s castle as well as the Cathedral, both with such splendor, as if out of a fairytale.
I finished that evening in the Plaza Mayor, taking advantage of the local pilgrim menu’s and greeting fellow pilgrims that I’ve ran into since Burgos.