Ponferrada - Rest day

3 October 2023

Today has been a day of housekeeping: finding a lavandería (laundrette) and getting everything washed and dried; making sure we have cash to go forward with; contacting various accommodation places for the next few days on the Camino Invierno; sorting out what supplies we'll have to carry with us until we're in the next town with a supermarket; going to Albergue de Peregrinos San Nicholás de Flue to get new creditentials, and sussing out the start of the Invierno for when we set off on Thursday. 

It's been yet another hot day and it looks as though the temperatures will be the same or higher for the next few days at least.

Some photos taken while walking around Ponferrada:

The Basilica de la Encina. The word Encina translate as Holm Oak - they used to cover the whole area. The 16th century Basilica was given the name of Encina as a vision of the Virgen Mary appeared in one of the oaks.

A Knights Templar cross, with the Alpha and Omega, on the Basílica wall.

The entrance 

The alter in the Basílica.

The detail throughout the church was incredible. 

In contrast to the Basílica, these buildings are next-door to it.

La Torre del Reloj, the 16th century clock tower.

The Ponferrada town hall.

A few snaps of different streets. 

And the Templar Castle again. 

Saint James on the albergue wall.

The cafés spill out onto the plazas and streets.