Day 12 - Verin to Ourense

The weather was starting to get decidedly worse now. The 75 kms and 1000 metres of ascent were accomplished in steadily deteriorating rain. The last hour was really bad, and in spite of a very efficient waterproof jacket, my shoes filled with water, my trousers were sodden, water ran off my glasses in torrents and I could scarcely see. On top of that modern bikes have no mudguards and I was plastered in mud from head to foot.

Ended up the day at Pazo Bentraces an extraordinary restored palace. The odd thing about it was that the owners were away every day, and let two savage Alsatian dogs roam the grounds behind locked gates, arriving at 3 meant that it was impossible to get in. It needed a phone call to the owner, who in turn called a member of staff, who in turn arrived 20 minutes later. Once installed, I can say the service was impeccable, but one did feel that one was taking ones life in ones hands if you ventured outside the front door.

In the evening there is a one Michelin star restaurant 100 yards away A Rexidora where, naturally, a first class dinner was consumed.

Pazo Bentraces	Bedroom at Pazo Bentraces
Breakfast room at Pazo Bentraces	Breakfast room at Pazo Bentraces
Exterior Pazo Bentraces	Archeological Museum at Ourense
Ourense Plaza Major	Ourense's modern bridge

Camino de Santiago - Via de la Plata Map of my route

Day 13 Day 13 of my route