A tad chilly as I rode east from Ponferrada. Dropped as low as 4degC, which is not good on the highways. Chilly enough to make me ride below the 120kph speed limit.
Thankfully my first stop, Astorga cathedral was less than an hour away.
Rode in and found a primo parking spot.
TomTom’s DDD were useless again. But you can see the spires, so I rode that last bit, “old school”.
Toured the cathedral.
Front door is outstanding. And the place is well organized.
Once out I checked a few places for paella. Struck out 🙁
Picked up some chocolate, just in case.
All as good an excuse as any, to go walkabout 🙂
Rode out.
Had divested myself of some layers in Astorga. Did not put them back on. Felt warmer. And in fact the temperature had gone up to 12degC 🙂
Another short ride put me in Leon.
But what is that white stuff on top of the distant mountains? No! Snow? Yikes. Maybe I should change plans and head south.
Found my hotel right by the cathedral. This is the view from my balcony……
Could not leave my bike out on the street 🙁
Had to pay for parking 🙁
But it was indoors, secured and only 80m away 🙂
Checked with Barry. Survived his birthday, and is now in rainy Dorset. And loving it.
Headed out to Leon’s cathedral (nice windows) and a restaurant (closed to tourists, but held half a dozen locals).
Checked out the “theatre”. Was on the tourist map. But is only a closed-down cinema. Boo! Hoo!
Found a scarf. It is chilly. Need a neckwarmer on the bike as well as on walkabout.
Then went in search of food.
First cafe provided brandy (good for the cold) and an espresso. But no food.
Places don’t seem to open before 9pm. I could end up slender and trim again. Yikes!
So back to the hotel. And plan the weekend.
That done, back to the local’s local. Open, but only tapas. Pity. An authentic spot. Really liked it.
And unlike England, watched Spain beat Iceland.
Wandered on to places I had spotted earlier. Went for potato&spicy-sauce. Nice.
Back to the hotel and bed.
Up on a sunny Friday. 10degC. Beats the minus seven in Toronto!
Jus naranja, and cafe con leche for breakfast.
Lazily pack, whilst listening to “How the Hippies Saved Physics”.
Am not sure the book made a case, other than change takes time. Even in the world of Quantum Physics.