Good morning from overcast Spain. I have the day off. I told my contact at Camino Ways that I wanted three days off, thinking they would be spaced out better, but they are all here towards the end. What did I learn? Check my itinerary more carefully. I have no complaints about Camino Ways on this trip; they have done an excellent job.
One of the Spanish staples at breakfast (or for tapas) is pan con tomate (bread with tomato), also known as pan tumaca. It is better with a hearty toast, such as a part of a baguette, sliced lengthwise. Toasted light bread gets soggy. Pan con tomate is drizzled with olive oil and topped with finely chopped or pulverized tomato. The best is fresh, but on all the breakfast buffets, there are small sealed cups of tomato. They are slightly bigger than the individual jelly cups. They make for an excellent breakfast addition.
In the town square, I saw this violinist performing with a pigeon on his head. His audience was paying rapt attention.
Dead Tree Art?
Santa María la Mayor Basilica is an example of Spanish Elizabethan Gothic architecture. Built in the sixteenth century, at the order of the Guild of fishermen. It was granted the status of minor basilica in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. It is a church that honors the Christ of Safe Journeys, to which the Pilgrims flock in the hope that they may be granted protection during their journeys.
The main entrance.
The high altar.
Santiago or Saint James
Bernadette Praying to Our Lady of Lourdes. Evidently, there
is no single "prayer of St. Bernadette to Our Lady of Lourdes in Ponferrada.” Still, there are common prayers to St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes that can be prayed by anyone. A prayer to St. Bernadette asks for her intercession, while a prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes seeks her comfort and healing grace
. There was a box asking for money, assuming that the church sponsors individuals to go to Lourdes, in hopes of healing.
In June 1803, Pontevedra was not yet a focal point of the larger conflict that would become the Peninsular War; however, the city was situated within the broader Spanish political landscape under King Charles IV and influenced by the shifting alliances with France under Napoleon. This period was marked by growing tension that would ultimately erupt into war, with French troops establishing a presence in Spain and setting the stage for the 1808 invasion that sparked widespread resistance.
I couldn’t resist one of these. They were similar to a macaroon but with almonds. Yum!
I spent part of the day window shopping and wandering the town of Ponferrada. I was hoping for an art museum, but it wasn't to be. Unfortunately, the museum I wanted to see, the Knights Templar and the Castle, is closed on Mondays. It is okay, I have been there once before - a long time ago.
I worked on the two blogs for a good part of the day, but when I post this, I will be caught up. You are all so kind to tell me how much you enjoy following along, but it is I who should thank each and every one of you. I go and see more things and learn about local history so I can post it. I seek out more unusual foods to try, when I might otherwise get lazy and eat pizza more often. And I now have a diary of my hiking travels. So thank you.
I am going to be boring tonight about dinner. I wandered around looking for a restaurant. I had a lovely walk, and the town comes to life after dark. However, most restaurants don’t open until 8:30, so that is to be expected. I finally decided that I wasn’t hungry, so I came back to my hotel. I have leftover spaghetti, my last tangerine, cheese and crackers, protein bars, cookies, and a chocolate bar, so I will not starve. Oh, my goodness, the tangerines here are fabulous.
So I will bid you goodnight and God bless!
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