Foncebadon to Molinaseca

Day 7

Today was a combination of stunning views and difficult terrain. It was mostly downhill, much of it on rocks. This requires a lot of concentration and balance. It can be grueling.

However, there were special moments along the way. So, extra pictures today. Our first stop was Cruz Ferro. Always a special stop. This point was originally set up as a place of significance by the Celts. Later the Romans dedicated it to Mercury, their god of travelers. Later on, I’m not sure when, it was taken over by Christians and the cross was added. The tradition is that pilgrims bring with them a stone or some small memento to leave behind as a symbol of a burden they’ve carried. The goal is to leave ‘lighter’, figuratively and literally.

Several weeks ago I was in my home town of Glen Ellyn, walking home from church, and I saw in front of another church’s outdoor service a pile of bulletins being held down by small, smooth stones. I asked if I could have one of the stones. They gladly obliged. I drew on it two words of things I’m hoping to work on. This I carried with me in a little shell box and, this morning, I dropped the stone on the huge pile of others at the foot of the cross.

We were high in the mountains and the heather and sage were in full bloom and beautiful to cheer us along the way.

The clouds were low in the valley.

At one point I saw we were about to be enveloped by cloud ahead in the path ahead and took this photo. Soon after we were walking through it.

We walked for four hours before we found a place open for coffee. In a new albergue on the outskirts of the town, for only 5€ we got a buffet breakfast with all the coffee we wanted.

I was grateful that Michael had called ahead and got a group room in a gorgeous albergue right on the river in Molinaseca.

This town is one of my favorites on the Camino. They have a main street that is for pedestrians only. The old buildings are close together and the lane enjoys a welcome bit of shade from the midday sun.

As I was relishing a leisurely stroll along this lane this afternoon, I was just thinking to myself, “I do remember this town has a lot of cats.” Just then this little head popped out of a small opening in the stone wall.

I wonder if this space was originally designed as a cat door or if that’s just a happy coincidence.

Dinner this evening, then I suspect another early night.

More later..

PS. Later in the evening I treated myself to a purchased souvenir from a local shop. It’s a small original watercolor painting by a local artist who paints local scenery. It’s a picture of a backpacker on a local street. Beautifully done. I’d seen the artist’s work last time thru this town and regretted later not getting one. I’d rather support a local artist than get something plastic made in a factory in China.