Ponferrada Day Off

Ponferrada is a beautiful town.  This is the famous Templar Castle.

The Templars were at their most powerful during the crusades in the 12th and 13th century.  They were defenders of Christianity.  The knights spent their life in service and were not allowed to marry. Surprisingly, not all of them were warriors, some were in charge of finances and other mundane task to keep the kingdoms going.

The castle is huge and encompasses what would be several large city blocks.

A statue in honor of the Knights Templar.

This is Martin and George, a father and son from Switzerland that I have talked to along the way.  It was Dad's dream to walk the Camino and son is going at Dad's pace.  What a wonderful way to have some family time.  They started in Leon.

The government building in the square.  I peeped inside because the door was ajar and the police department was inside.

Cute mural next to my hotel.

I held out for lunch until 1:00, even though I was starving and ordered champinon (mushroom) croquettas.  If you like wild mushrooms these were full of that wonderful, musky flavor.  Not so good for you but ever so good going down.  

I held out until 8:00 because I wanted to order the Botillo de Bierzo, a local specialty.  The restaurant didn't open until 8:00 and I was waiting at the door, stomach growling.

The meal traditionally starts with either cabbage or kale soup.  Mine was a combination and ever so delicious.  They gave me a kettle full.  It is the rich Spanish broth, flavored with ham  that makes the soups so good.

The Botillo was scrumptious.  Has any one ever exploded?  I know there have been reports of spontaneous combustion but has any one ever actually exploded from overeating.  If you do not get a blog tomorrow, you will know what happened. I ate every bit of the cabbage and potatoes (too many years as a vegetarian).   I hardley had room for the sausage but I did make a small dent in it. Not because it wasn't good but it was a huge meal. All of it was lip smacking good. And then they gave me dessert which was advertised as warm cheesecake but it was a chilled sort of cheese pie with strawberry syrup on top.  Addictive!  All of these courses for fifteen euros (about 17 dollars) and the wine was included.  I may be the only peregrina that comes home having gained weight.