Thursday, September 20, 2018

Day 5: Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo

Back in wine country! How refreshing. It was a relatively flat hike today through beautiful landscape. We are getting smarter about our hikes each day. Today we began at 6:30 am to finish before the afternoon sizzle...and so we are not the last to stumble into town. There was time to check in, shower and thoroughly enjoy the local daily menu. Whew.

 
We often see tiny, old churches. They mark the entrance to each town. They are thick-walled, tiny-windowed, just another old, unassuming local church, serving the small nearby community. Some have sculptures on the doorframe or small statues nearby. Today we ventured inside...

Can't judge a church by its cover.

Here is an artifact: an old wine press.
More local sights...
This region specializes in mencia grapes.

Here is what 11€, $13, per person gets you: gazpacho (not pictured because I was too hungry), fried fish, salad, bread, wine, slab of tiramisu, and all the time you want to hang out at the plaza. Tax and tip included.