Day 24 - Mansillas de las Mulas to León (Wed 29th May)
We'd made the decision not to walk this section as it's largely through the suburbs and industrial parks that surround León. So it felt really very strange not having to get up early and be walking. It was also kind of sad, that in reality we had virtually come to the end of our walking.
By 11.30 we'd been whisked by bus into León by the local bus. Incidentally, the buses are really coaches, and the charges are incredibly cheap €1.70 for a 40 minute journey! Make a note please "rip off Britain".
Back to so-called civilisation; one of the first things we saw in León were the obscene twin arches of obesity central. This was off-set by going right past the local football stadium with its distinctive floodlights. Can't beat a bit of floodlight porn!
Our backpacks were dumped at the bus station left-luggage facility, and we then set about doing our final section of the Camino for this trip. It was only a 2 mile section from the old entrance through the city walls, across past the cathedral and out to the Puente Rio Bernesga.
Like all ancient cities, it had lots of lovely plaza's, old churches, narrow characterful streets, and of course a big cathedral. This time the Cathedral really was a "proper Cathedral" - a big church, as opposed to several smaller chapels. The truly stunning thing about this cathedral was the sheer number of amazing stained glass windows - 125 in total!
I have to say that León is a very likable place - a lovely old heart to the city; and with a nice feel after dark. Plenty of buzzing bars and restaurants in the Barrio Humedo (Wet quarter!!). By chance we bumped into 4 people we'd met a couple of days earlier - so another social evening; and probably too much to drink. A very eclectic mix, including a very straight talking woman from London (of Libyan heritage), an Irish couple who'd run 4 car dealerships; and Robert, a pilot for DHL who was on "Parental leave" - but his son went down with Glandular fever shortly before coming out. He was eternally grateful to Cate as she had taken a good look at, and helped with, his nasty blisters the night before. A more detailed update on the in the next edition of "Blister World". Angel of the Camino etc etc....
So from a Camino perspective that was it for this trip. We'll go back and finish it at some point in the next couple of years
I'll do a quick update about our short time, on the way back, in Madrid a bit later. After that we'll collect our thoughts and do a summary of the journey in a few days time.
We'd made the decision not to walk this section as it's largely through the suburbs and industrial parks that surround León. So it felt really very strange not having to get up early and be walking. It was also kind of sad, that in reality we had virtually come to the end of our walking.
The walk to Mansilla bus station
By 11.30 we'd been whisked by bus into León by the local bus. Incidentally, the buses are really coaches, and the charges are incredibly cheap €1.70 for a 40 minute journey! Make a note please "rip off Britain".
Back to so-called civilisation; one of the first things we saw in León were the obscene twin arches of obesity central. This was off-set by going right past the local football stadium with its distinctive floodlights. Can't beat a bit of floodlight porn!
Our backpacks were dumped at the bus station left-luggage facility, and we then set about doing our final section of the Camino for this trip. It was only a 2 mile section from the old entrance through the city walls, across past the cathedral and out to the Puente Rio Bernesga.
The old city walls of León
Like all ancient cities, it had lots of lovely plaza's, old churches, narrow characterful streets, and of course a big cathedral. This time the Cathedral really was a "proper Cathedral" - a big church, as opposed to several smaller chapels. The truly stunning thing about this cathedral was the sheer number of amazing stained glass windows - 125 in total!
It is strange how, being back in a faster moving environment affects you almost immediately All that peace and karma from out in the middle of nowhere is so quickly lost, and we quickly return to being stress bunnies; becoming impatient and getting irritated by stuff. Many would say that's my natural state - especially those who've been in a car with me!
I have to say that León is a very likable place - a lovely old heart to the city; and with a nice feel after dark. Plenty of buzzing bars and restaurants in the Barrio Humedo (Wet quarter!!). By chance we bumped into 4 people we'd met a couple of days earlier - so another social evening; and probably too much to drink. A very eclectic mix, including a very straight talking woman from London (of Libyan heritage), an Irish couple who'd run 4 car dealerships; and Robert, a pilot for DHL who was on "Parental leave" - but his son went down with Glandular fever shortly before coming out. He was eternally grateful to Cate as she had taken a good look at, and helped with, his nasty blisters the night before. A more detailed update on the in the next edition of "Blister World". Angel of the Camino etc etc....
So from a Camino perspective that was it for this trip. We'll go back and finish it at some point in the next couple of years
I'll do a quick update about our short time, on the way back, in Madrid a bit later. After that we'll collect our thoughts and do a summary of the journey in a few days time.
Well Nodge I feel sad that you have finished the first half of the Camino as I have thoroughly enjoyed the daily blog. What an achievement ,well done to both of you.
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