A Day in Astorga: Beauty, Chocolate, and a Battle with the Common Cold
Astorga is a town that feels like it was plucked straight out of a storybook, and our hotel couldn’t have been more perfectly situated. Right across the road stood two of Astorga’s most iconic landmarks: the Palacio de Gaudí and the Cathedral of Santa María de Astorga. With such a prime location, we barely needed to walk far to soak in the town’s charm and history.
The day began with a visit to the Palacio de Gaudí, a whimsical, fairytale-like building designed by the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí. Its unique blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles left me in awe, and exploring its halls felt like stepping into another world. However, as much as I wanted to fully immerse myself in the experience, my body had other plans.
After the palace visit, I retreated to the hotel for some much-needed rest. A recent fall had left my hand throbbing, and my body ached all over. To make matters worse, a cold was starting to take hold—it felt like my immune system was so focused on healing my hand that it forgot about my lungs entirely.
While I napped, Kim and Alison set off to explore the Museo del Chocolate, lured by the promise of a chocolate factory. To their surprise (and slight disappointment), it turned out to be a museum instead. Still, they returned with some delicious chocolate treats and lunch for me, which was a much-appreciated gesture.
I’ll admit, it felt a little ironic to be sleeping in such an incredible city, but sometimes your body just demands a timeout.
Here’s a fun fact we picked up along the way: all Spanish churches feature a wind cock on their tower and typically have two towers. The exception in Toledo, where the second tower kept collapsing—apparently, even architecture has its limits!
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