Leon - Villar de Mazarife (pop 400) 22.2 km October 17

Last evening we walked about Leon and met many of our caminio community.  We hear about a woman we met from Chicago in Navarette who was hoping to be in Fisterra on her 70th birthday.  She had the misfortune of a bank machine consuming her debit card and after many phone calls was told she had to stay in that town until the bank opened on the following Monday .  The pilgrim take away from that is to try to plan cash withdrawals when the bank is open.  She later had an injury and could not continue so ended up flying home.  Poor girl.

We were joined for dinner by two German girls, one of which is travelling with her dog Juno.  For dinner we have a Russian salad ( potatoe I think) Sid has roast chicken and I have calamari.  It is only about a 4 out of ten.  Some of the pilgrims are heading out to hear the vespers.  I am so tired, I think from our spa afternoon, we head back to our hotel.  Sid later goes back to the cathedral for some night time photos.

In the morning I feel much better and we begin our walk out of Leon.  We do stop at the Parador, thinking we would say a cheerful good morning to Ann & Liam

They are nowhere to be found

A pilgrim statue in front of the Parador

It takes us two hours to be out of Leon which runs into la Virgen del Camino.  We marvel at this building

It is about 15 degrees, very still and very quiet once we get to the country.  And humid

It is a very pleasant walk

We stop for a quick break at Chozas de Abajo and enjoy the final 5.5 km

This looks like a vacation home

We are staying in the small village of Villar de Mazarife

We check into the albergue San Antonio de Padna

We have a private room with a shared bathroom (30 Euros) and have our credentials stamped

The village is pilgrim friendly and even the store is called Frutas de Camino de Santiago

When we come out of the store we walk right into the midst of this flock of sheep being herded down main street on to somewhere else!

Very cool.

When we get back to the albergue I put my head down for a quick siesta.  When I wake Sid says I have been purring quite loudly.  Judging by how sore my throat is I think he is telling the truth - I must have needed it - I feel amazing!