Camino Francis, Rest Day Leon

 Hello everyone from Leon Spain. Today has been a very restful and relaxing day to say the least. I had a few chores to take care of today, the first getting my laundry washed. I found a coin laundromat about 10 minutes from where I am currently staying gathered all my dirty clothes and headed over there. After 18 minute wash and 18 minute drying my laundry was all done. I did speak to a pilgrim from Australia. His name was Raymond. He is currently doing the Camino Francis like I am. He started on April 16 whereas I started on April 18. 

Second order of business for the day, coffee and something to eat. I first returned to my hostel to hang up all my clothes and put away the other clothes that did not need hanging. Then I searched on my phone for something close by to go have something to eat. I found a place by the name of Pangea. It was also only a 10 minute walk from where I’m currently staying. This was a cute coffee shop with a cool vibe feeling about it. I was going to sit outside, but it was still pretty chilly. I think it was 47° so I decided to sit inside. I was lucky there were no tables when I first arrived, but a couple just got up and I went and grabbed that table. The service at Pangea was excellent. My waitress, I think her name was, Marcia. She was very friendly and spoke good English. I ordered my typical café con Leche double shot. I ordered the Apple Crunch French Toast w/ mascarpone cream, Oh my gosh, it was absolutely delicious. I paid for my breakfast and I walked out and sitting at one of the outside tables was the mother and daughter from Pittsburgh. I have not seen them in 4 or 5 days. I spoke with him briefly, asking how their Camino is going, and the daughter said that she thinks she got a little bit of food poisoning a couple days ago,  but she’s just starting to feel better.

After I partied ways with the mother and daughter from Pittsburgh, I headed over to the Leon Cathedral. Went and paid my 8 euros, got my ticket, and on the back of the ticket was a UPC code that I took a picture of and it opened the audio tour, if you chose to do that. I had my headphones with me so I plugged those in and began listening to the audio tour of the Cathedral. It was a great audio tour. It told the complete history of the Cathedral and construction, It is actually the first cathedral built that used the X ceiling system. Basically what that means there are no cross beams. Everything is supported by the X system of the ceiling. It’s hard to describe. You would have to actually look at a picture,  then you can kind of see what I’m talking about. This new system of building was used on every cathedral from that time on built in Europe. Another fact that was pointed out to me by using this new system of building, They were able to open up the walls and put in all the beautiful stained glass that you see nowadays in these cathedrals. Up to that point, they could not do it because of the cross beams had to support all of the weight of the ceiling, but this new system allows the weight to be distributed throughout the whole cathedral and intern, this allowed them to put in the stained glass windows that we now see. This particular cathedral, has over 17 thousands of pieces of stained glass, its absolutely beautiful. Once again, my mother would’ve spent all day walking through this cathedral. I would suggest you reading about the Cathedral at Leon. It’s very interesting. Lotta good stuff there.

After about a good two hour tour of the cathedral and the attached museum. I headed out to find other hidden gems in Leon. I came across the Basilica, but I did not go into that one. I also walked along the old city wall, which they do have portions of it still remaining. I went into the central tourist office to get my stamp, and I also got a stamp as I left the Cathedral. I then went into a  little gift store, bought a couple more pins for my backpack. After that, I decided to go get something to drink and I went to the pizza parlor place that I ate at last night. Got a nice cold drink and went out to one of the tables outside, and I was looking directly at the Cathedral, man does this place have a great spot. 

I am sitting there and I look over and who do I see,  yep, it’s Lawrence with his donkey. I don’t know what people were more enthralled with the cathedral or seeing a donkey in the middle of the plaza.🤣🤣. I went over to say hi and then I pointed to the table that I was sitting at and I said come on over when you’re done settling your donkey. Then two more pilgrims that I’ve seen on the trail also came over to join me at my table. A group of school kids, who were touring the Cathedral, came by and oh my goodness you should’ve heard them when they saw that donkey, it was hilarious. 

We all sat and talked and chatted about our Camino adventures so far. The group that I was sitting with,  they all just came in today that including Lawrence. So they were going to stay here in Leon another day, whereas I’m leaving tomorrow morning. 

I forgot to mention that I met the husband and wife, from the Netherlands, inside the cathedral, when I was doing my tour.  I had met them way back like on day 4 up at the big metal pilgrim sculptures, and we have been running into each other periodically on the walk. The last time I saw them was in Burgos. When I saw him today he was walking w/ the use of a cane. Long story short, something happened to his left knee. He didn’t fall but definitely there’s something going on there and so they went to the Red Cross hospital her in Leon. No x-rays were done, but they gave him a pain shot along w/ some pain meds and was told to rest the knee for 1 week, which will be this upcoming Saturday. He had to go back got a check up, then if it doesn’t improve then a MRI might be needed, but if better he can continue on but at a limited pace. That’s too bad he is a really nice guy, I truly feel really bad for him. 

After he had given me all the bad news then he proceeded to tell me that a bunch of pilgrims mostly, people who I have started out with, are here in Leon and are getting together for dinner at 6 PM tonight and I was invited if I wanted to go. I said sure that would be nice. 

I said goodby to Lawrence, and the other pilgrims at my table. I headed back to my room for a bit. I spoke w/ Maryann, she and her friend, Gail, are heading to Porto Portugal tomorrow. We will actually be on the same continent for the week & 1/2. The original plan was for her to meet me in Santiago when I arrive then fly home together. But the time frame when I arrive, would mean she would be in Santiago, by herself, up to 4-5 days. So we decided the best thing would be for her to go back home. 

So I go down to the meeting site for the group dinner tonight. By now the size of the group had grew to 11. Well if you are familiar with the eating times in Europe,  99% of all restaurants are closed for food serving but they’re open for drinks @ 6 pm. Restaurants don’t start serving food until usually @ 8pm, a few maybe @ 7:30. So here this big group of hungry pilgrims are trying to figure where we can go and eat..You will never in a million yrs guess.. no it’s not McDonald’s, but close. If you guessed TACO BELL, well you would be right. So here we are, 11 pilgrims, from different parts of Europe & America, all pile through the doors of a Taco Bell and sit down to have a pilgrim dinner together.🤣🤣🤣. The Camino Provides!!!!! Ten of course when we all leave it starts pouring down rain, and I am in my fleece jacket and sandals.. fun times!!!

Sorry guys, no striking up the band for stats tonight😥. Okay, I did walk 6.91 miles today, so there is that. I promise tomorrow I will have stats of worthiness.

Speaking of tomorrow, back to the Camino I go. I plan on going to Villar de Mazarife, about 18 miles down the trail. I have a split in the route tomorrow, the regular route or the alternate route. The regular route just follows the freeway, but the alternate is the more scenic route, but it does add a bit more mileage to my day. I am pick the alternate route. But, there is alway a but, the weather forecast is not looking all that good tomorrow. So rain is a very high probability☔️☔️. No wearing my Teva’s tomorrow. Actually the next 3 days show rain at some point. Hopefully that point is in the middle of the night.

So I think I will end the day on that note, hope all is well with everyone, and thanks for reading. 

FYI, if you ever come to Spain, Leon is a must stop. Lots to do and see, with so many restaurants to pick and choose from. Trust me when I say you will never go hungry in Leon.✌🏻🤟🏻

Oh, song of the day🤔🤔, how about, Three Dog Night,  “Never been to Spain”