Up and out of Hostal and 0.3mile dash to centre of town for breakfast. Then hit the Camino for our third day on the Meseta, closely following the walking route. Tony O gave a cheerful "Buen Camino" to a hobbling pilgrim with bandaged legs, not realising that he probably wasn´t having a Good Camino at that point! After John´s puncture yesterday, today he hit a drainage channel that went across the road and got a ´snake bite´ puncture (cycling term for a double nick in the inner tube). With only the quiet whirr of tyres on tarmac we came up silently behind a stationery walker who looked in to be trouble. Surprised to see us as he was relieving himself, he wet his walking stick. DIY lunch with food from a couple of shops eaten in the town square for 12Euros for 4 of us. Saw a Brasilian couple we met before - they bought their mountain bikes in Madrid.
Rolled into Leon and found it to be a very pleasant city and booked into the 5 star Parador behind a guy with a Porsche. Went through front door and up to Reception and asked where can we put 4 bikes. Concierge helped us wheel them through the marbled foyer with huge glass doors and found space in the locker room. As we had a frugal lunch we decided to eat in the Parador and Dan asked what time dinner was served, only to be told Restaurant opened at 9pm. Seeing Dan´s jaw drop the Receptionist held her hands up and said "... but you´re in Spain!" So we went for a stroll around town and a drink, and took the option to go to the Pilgrim Mass followed by the blessing of Pilgrims. One of the priests had dusty boots on under his vestments - he was Argentinian and doing the Camino - he also provided the English translation for the many English speakers at the Mass. Then invited into Sacristy for another stamp on our passports.
37miles - total 397
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Outside San Marcos Monastery
now Parador de Leon
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| Reception Area and Staircase |
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| Staircase leading down to Reception |
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| Blessing of Pilgrims after the Pilgrim Mass |
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