Enroute to Villacarriedo

IMG_0989.JPG
Originally uploaded by Chilekids2004

Another long day with so many ascents but the downhill usually makes it all worth it. This, and the fact that after 63 kilometers of negotiating hills on a muggy, East coast kind of day, we arrived at our lodging for the night: Palacio de Sonanes, a stone palace dating back to the 1700s. Make no mistake, we are not slumming it on this trip, nor are we breaking the bank. Rooms in many of the posadas run around 45 Euros per night, far cheaper than the cost of a Motel 6 in some states.

Spain is surprisingly affordable once you get away from Barcelona and Madrid, especially up here. We've been told that tourism is down by 30 percent in some places, no surprise given the country's 19 percent unemployment rate (though some say this figure is exaggerated). We usually chow down on the included breakfast (especially Casey), have a light lunch of bread, jamon serrano (also Casey), and dried fruit on the road, and then hit a bar or "cafeteria" for supper. Cannot seem to take in enough calories, which is exacerbated by the fact that the locals eat their supper late, and by 10pm we are fried from being on the road and in the sun. Had a banana and apricots with lunch yesterday that were nearly absorbed by osmosis. Casey tells me it will be impossible to gain weight here, so the challenge is now on!

Incidentally, the Engineer is an incredibly strong cyclist. I knocked on his quad muscle after our arrival and could swear it sounded like oak. More later - thanks to all of you for tuning in.