I spent the day in Leon yesterday, arriving at the Albergue around 10.30am after a very short 18.6km walk from my last stop. I think it was one of the shortest days yet on the Camino, almost felt like a day off. The Albergue was one of the least desirable yet from my perspective, cheap but not very pleasant. I contemplated staying in a hotel but opted to invest the cost difference in food and drink!
In Leon a key site to see is the cathedral and it is another magnificent building, mainly constructed in the thirteenth century. One of the things that sets this cathedral apart from others is the extensive use of stained glass, there is much more stained glass surrounding all walls of the cathedral than in any I have seen and in my various travels both here and in other areas in Europe I am now privileged to have seen quite a number of Cathedrals. I toured another Bassillica, much simpler but equally beautiful as well.
A good part of my later afternoon was spent sitting at a sidewalk cafe, glass of wine in hand and watching the world go by. I met some new Camino travellers, saw many that I had not seen for some time and got news of others that I had lost contact with, it was a fascinating afternoon and an interesting example of how news travels through the Camino family. I was fortunate to catch up with some folks I had seen a few times for one of my most pleasant dinners to date, great food, good company and my view was of the Leon Cathedral at night!
Today was another short walk, into the Albergue before noon which gives lots of time for laundry, showers, of course a Cerveza mas grande, and perhaps a Vino Tinto. Life on the Camino is really very simple.
I did want to share an example of life in the small villages. Often we pilgrims will be walking through a village or be near one and you will hear the honking of a horn, a few minutes will go by and then there will be another honking, this goes on in every small village. When you are in the villages you see at this is the mobile delivery truck, depending on the size of the village, it may be the fish man making his rounds, the bread man or even the butcher. In the little villages where there is not enough of a population to support a shop, this is the way that trade works, the vendors will stop in squares and honk, or in selected parts of villages, or in front of certain properties, it is the same in every tiny village and when you are in the countryside and hear the horn honking, for me it brings a smile to my face.
Until next time.
A Gaudi designed building in Leon
The Cathedral at night
Some moorish influence can be seen from the cloisters
I'm well past envious Eric. Sounds like you settling in nicely. I wonder if you will begin to do shorter walks each day to extend the new lifestyle? : )
ReplyDelete~ Brad