From Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo

Last night I decide to stay in instead of joining the pilgrim mass and diner - I am simply too exhausted from this past day. After a good night sleep I head out of my hotel towards the main road of Ponferrada out of the city: 2 lanes in each direction with an never ending caravan of cars entering and leaving the city. I follow this road for 9 km until it gets much smaller and bends up the hill towards the right crossing the freeway - and all in a sudden into a wonderful vine country: the Bierzo region.

I enjoy strolling along this beautiful sight and reach Cacabelos; I try making sense of this village name: does it mean holy shit or beautiful shit? When I later ask the locals nobody can really explain to me the meaning but of course they all laugh about my initial interpretation. It does not do the village justice though: it’s really beautiful here. Up to the 5th century this village was main Roman administration of the surrounding gold mines. That explains maybe the wealth of this village. I guess they turned gold into vine later on:))

At the end of Cacabelos I cross the river Rio Cuva and walk up the hill and out of the village.Again the way Leads through numerous vineyards until I finally reach Villafranca del Bierzo.

By accident I enter a church where a mid day mass is just about to begin; it’s only 8 nuns, the priest and me - no other pilgrims around. The lady’s of this order were super friendly and shook hand with me at the peace wish as well as waved me good bye at the end of the mass.