Another sunrise in paradise.

Entering the medieval town of Diego de Ambrós. Roofs of dark slate have replaces the red tile roofs of Navarra, Rioja, and Castilla y León.

Yesterday’s uphill climb now offers today’s downhill slide over a steep descent and sharp, loose shale.

Memorial to P. Joseph Carty, who,died in this spot on the Camino. It is impossible to know why these people died or whether or not they died? All we know is that they died walking to Santiago. We honor them as we pass.

No land in Spain seems wasted. These lots had multiple plots of vegetable gardens, each being tended by elderly gardeners. Lettuce, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, . . .

A coffee and tea shop in Ponferrada. Took this especially for MGR and the daughters. Go Divaahhhhh.

Entrance to the huge Templar castle in Ponferrada. That’s a working drawbridge in front of you. Enter that gate, and you face yet another wall with ramparts and archer ports. Don’t mess with the Templars. Hey MGR, we need to add “working drawbridge” to the punch list.

The clock tower in the historic section of Ponferrada.

A bit of religious art along the way. A mosaic dedicated to Santa Maria de Campostella.

C’mon, Frank. Take a chance.

Vineyard appeared again today. These are tended differently than those in Navarra or Rioja. According to my compañero Andy Byers, “This is the base of the Bierzo wine region. Reds come from the Mencia grape and whites primarily from Godello.”

In a poppel grove (quaking aspen) where the ground is white with a two-inch blanket of pollen down. I began to get a headache just standing there.

Bagpipe lessons. Must be getting close to Galicia.

While enjoying a paella at this cafe, a crowd gathered next door to greet painter José Carralero. His exposition opened this week at the museum.