14 June - Opera Teatro Real

Booked opera ticket from home. To see Fidelio by Beethoven. Did tour in English of opera house and then in the evening attended the performance. Wonderful!

 Huge seating area

 Almost straight up in order to be near the stage

 One of the rooms - note carpeting

 View of the palace from the balcony

 Beautiful view

 Saw model of the opera house - how the different scenes move in and away

 Getting ready for the evening performance

 A private dining room

 Beautiful dining room

 Dark, brooding

 Stairwell

 Fidelio!

 Drinks time

 The well-heeled. Prices of tickets were high, in euros.

Daaarling!

16 June - Toledo

  Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca

  Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca

Remains of festival

Centre of bladed weapons, swords, knives, blades - Armour and weapons used to be made here

Fine metal work

Narrow streets

Different breads

View from the city of the river which almost circles it

   

 Leaving Toledo

Leaving Toledo 

Looking back at Toledo

29 May - Stage 4 - Bodenaya to Campiello

Started off in the thick mist. Flat for a while, then uphill to Tineo. Through long stretches of mud. In forest. Narrow footpaths. Cows of 2 breeds, brown, and black and white. Many foals suckling their mothers. Chickens look so much healthier than the miserable creatures I saw in Portugal, all animals look healthier. Spring flowers everywhere.

Passed interesting wall feature.

Saw many old churches, such as this one, San Roque.

Walked above Tineo and saw this sundial.

Scared would not get a bed at the next albergue as Bodenaya was full, I was the last person! Arrived at Campiello, a wonderful restaurant, albergue and hotel. The flat rate included Clara and lunch (soup, salad and wine) on arrival or dinner, and breakfast. I paid extra because I had lunch and supper.

  

28 May - Stage 3 - Cornellana to Bodenaya

Left monastery and started on first climb of the day. Beautiful country side. Walked past hazel nut, walnut and cherry trees. Old towns.

Had my first meeting with mud - was difficult to get up as I was back-heavy. Thank goodness my clothes were in plastic bags. Bloody arm from the brambles.

Stopped for lunch at Salas. Had a most strange experience. When I was paying for my beer and roll, a packet of a banana and another roll was forced on me as a gift. People are so friendly on this trip.

I have started doing something I do in my road at home and that is picking up litter. Wonder how people can drop their tissues or Alcan foil as they walk.

After lunch at Salas started long never ending walk to Bodenaya, the private albergue. Thank goodness I had booked a bed on Facebook last night as the guy with me got the last bed!

 

Interesting albergue, 19 people 13 nationalities. Dinner was a salad with pasta, followed by lentil stew, and yoghurt. Squashed into sleeping accommodation. Hospitalero was very special.

We took a vote re waking time. We were woken by Maria Callas singing something. Then downstairs for bread, jam and coffee, then off into the mist.