Saturday 21st January 2017
It was very frosty this morning at A Rua and the lake was steaming as it was much warmer than the air above it, We set off west heading for the city of Ponferrada. Instead of going along the main road we asked our sat nav for an alternative route but lived to regret this request! Tomasina (the Tom Tom) took us along a very narrow winding and precipitous route on the south side of the river Sil - this view of the river was taken along the way. At one point we very very nearly got stuck in a very very narrow village street with literally 3 or 4 centimetres to spare on each side of our van!
Eventually we escaped onto a wider road and enjoyed some good scenery along the way. We crossed from Galicia region into Castile and Leon.
On our approach to Ponferrada we passed through woodlands where the trees were covered in wild clematis. It looked like snow.
After a relatively short journey (which seemed as if it had lasted forever due to the scary nature of our route) we arrived in Ponferrada and parked at the aire. Nearby is this also rather scary mural. I hope my cousin in law Anne-Marie will be able to shed some light on its' significance.
The city is on the pilgrim route from Leon to Santiago de Compostela. These symbols mark the way. The scallop shell is apparently Santiago's (St James's) symbol.
When we arrived the Templars' Castle was closed for lunch so we decided to have lunch ourselves in a very nice restaurant just opposite. The castle was built to try to protect pilgrims from the very real threat from nearby areas controlled by the Moors.
After lunch we visited the interior of the castle. It is a very impressive structure.
On one side there is a precipitous drop to the river Sil.
On the other side there are high walls.
The castle has a marvelous display of fine reproductions of ancient illuminated documents.
There are a vast number of these on display.
I have some idea as to what this one might be about.
We returned to our van to find what we took to be a dancing class going on at the aire.
We were amazed at this!
They had a really large loud sound system. However they fairly soon packed up and left.
To day we traveled 40 miles (64 kilometres). We are at N42.54295 W6.58664
2 comments:
I agree that the images of the black robed and hooded figures are rather scary and call to mind the Inquisition and the Klu Klux Klan but in fact the explanation is more benign. Throughout Spain, in many towns and cities during Holy Week (the week preceding Easter Sunday)there are large religious processions where many people participate and recall the passion of Christ. Many dress in the robes of penitents , in this case black, but sometimes scarlet, white, purple, yellow, some carrying wooden crosses to do public penance for their sins (but anonymously, which explains the hoods) and to identify with the suffering of Christ. If you google Holy Week penitents Spain under images you will find lots of colourful examples.
Hi Anne-Marie,
Many thanks for the explanation.
Best wishes, Roger and Ann.
P.S. How did Richard get on in Australia?
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