The Virgin and the Pilgrimage

 I have affection for the N-120. It is the road from Astorga to Leon and I have travelled downs bits of it more than a few times. This bit, however, is the N-120 all togged up for a days hard work, not the happily plodding N-120 of later. It is, here, in classic ‘off to the airport’ mode. The road has roads running parallel so the traffic visiting the increasing number of enterprises crowding in does not interfere with cars whose aim is to speed out of the urban hub with as much speed as possible. Not only is the revamped airport attracting traffic but we are also heading to the junction with the A-66, where the traveller to the North will part company with us.





First stop is the Hostal Soto. It has 2 stars and has clearly grown. https://hostalsoto.com/ You can have a single or a married room - and even a superior single and a superior married. This being Spain, triple rooms are available as well as family units of two rooms. Chris Scott’s review gets a mention because he mentions a lot of good things - then only gives 3 stars, which sounds a little tight.
‘Stopped to eat here perfect timing food just ready (paella) with Ribera del Dueño tinto to a company and fresh bread. Enjoyable.’




Leon airport goes back to 1924. It served the Fasc during the Civil War and still has a military component. In 1964 commercial flights began. In 2007 the Leonese PM, Zapatero, pressed for an extension. Alas it only flies internal services.


Back on the road we are entering La Virgen del Camino. In 1505 a shepherd was gathering his beats when the Virgin Mary appeared to him amid great lights in a hermitage. The hermitage became a church and around the church grew a town. About 5000 people live here today. https://www.lavirgendelcamino.info/wordpress/ It has a facebook page, which, of course, I have liked. https://www.facebook.com/ayuntamientovalverdedelavirgen
I think we better push on, this is much to much excitement for one day.



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