Monday, 27 May 2013

Leon

Day 20 (Monday 27 May) 318 kilometres to Santiago. Today is a rest day and I revert to being a tourist in Leon. My intent is to therefore keep this particular blog posting very short and provide mainly a few pictures. The Camino is a unique experience, but being a tourist and a semi-convalescent in Leon is not.

When I went out for supper last night there was a light rain falling. A perfect time for it, even if it did break a cycle of several days of sunshine.

I'm a tourist for about 3 hours in the old city of Leon and take all the usual pictures. The weather is once again ideal. The hotel had provided me with a tourist plan of the town, but the scale was too small to be of any use to my eyes. I was therefore looking for a better one when I noticed the local tourist information office, right across from the cathedral. Imagine that.

With my improved map at hand, I explore the Roman walls (apparently the Seventh Legion was garrisoned here) and some of the other historic buildings, but only from the outside. While on my walkabout near the cathedral I encounter Deutschland Irmhild. We sat at the same dinner table at the end of Day 1 back in Roncesvalles. This is the very nature of the Camino. I'm reminded of a saying that was on the kitchen wall of a neighbour many years ago: Make new friends but keep the old; these are silver those are gold.

Walking down one of the main streets amongst all the shoppers and stores is quite a contrast to walking the Camino. I treat myself to a large ice cream (Diane keeps asking about it) before retreating to my hotel for some "feet up" time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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3 comments:

  1. Unknown27 May 2013 at 11:23

    Reminds me of the ice cream that we found that time hiking in the Alps. Best 5 Swiss Francs I ever spent :)

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  2. dlq27 May 2013 at 12:51

    is that you reading the room supplied bible? wondering if you have been converted yet? nice to see you had a day off. Leon pics are lovely

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  3. Mark28 May 2013 at 04:19

    Hello Brother, glad to hear you're having some rest time. Leon is a great city in which to do so too!! Still loving the pix. Amazing that you've had so much rain this year, last year I think it rained maybe a handful of times. Another city I liked a lot was Astorga, hope you get to spend some time there as well. Sounds like some of your other travel mates are on a different walking schedule and seemed to have moved ahead of you. I think walking the Camino is better on your own anyway but I always hoped to meet some familiar faces when I checked in after the day's hike. Enjoy your time in Leon, Peregrino!! Buen Camino Skipper :)

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