Day 8
After being first out the door, I tried to call home but the wind would not cooperate with me.
Ran into a nice breakfast place with food wifi, for once, and was able to FaceTime everyone, including Momo, my youngest daughter, who I hadn’t talked to in a couple of days. She’s been texting me pictures that she draws, and I’ve been providing my artistic critique.
The walk into Leon was long, passing through lots of industrial and then commercial before entering the old walled city, which was magnificent.
It is a truly medieval city with palaces, cathedrals, and even castles… my eldest son Cristian would have loved to see Leon in person…
I got to the convent run albergue a bit early, and so hung out in the pub across the walkway, which was in a cobblestone plaza next to a really old Romanesque chapel.
The pub had that beer cured wood smell and they were playing Spanish folk music, so I had a Caña and a tapa while waiting…
This albergue was ran by nuns and was one of the largest in Leon. The line to check in and get our pilgrim stamp barely moved, it seemed, and I when I finally got to the two hospitaleras checking folks in I could see why… both of them working against and around each other.
The gentleman who took me to my bunk was from southern Brazil and was surprised that I recognized and could speak his “portoñol.” He seemed to look out for me from that point forward.
After my routine I toured the city, both by bus and via museums, and walked down the main strip, making stops at the farmacy, the chocolate shop, and a seamstress shop where I got my backpack repaired. I know look like a seasoned pilgrim with a patched backpack… only cost me $8 euros instead of a new one for $120 euros or more.
Later I met up with Antonio and Ignacio, from Spain, to work the tapas scene, but having not been eating enough the last couple of days, my energy plummeted after the first glass of wine, so I made my way back to the albergue early.