Leon to Villar de Mazarife

Today's a reasonably short walk - 20 kms to find my rhythm. 

Hobbit houses on the outskirts of Leon

A "donate what you think's fair" stand at today's halfway point.

Off in the distance, other peregrinos. I walked for about an hour with a guy from Montreal - he started in France and was on day 23 of his Camino.

I hobbled in around 12:30 - that's it for me today.

Prices are hard to beat.

Time for a hot shower, wash and hang out some clothes and enjoy a siesta before re-emerging at 7:00 for paella.

Dinner by Pepe was delicious (and plentiful) - salad, gazpacho, vegetarian paella, crepes and plenty of bread, water and decent Rioja - all for €8. Six of us (a German, an Argentinian and three Americans) enjoyed a pretty raucous meal together. Apparently there are lots of Americans out there - thanks in large part to the movie by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

Leon

Just arrived in Leon, in time for the Brazil-Chile 2nd half.

The hotel was formerly a cloister (and on two occasions a prison) - connected to a church - I got to watch this wedding from an interior balcony!

The Cloister - the right place to mentally prepare for tomorrow's journey.

And so it begins ...

Salamanca

The view from the hotel. I've really lucked out.

Crossing the ancient Roman bridge

Plaza Mayor - totally enclosed with colonnades and cafés. Just a few decades ago, Friday evenings were a little different. The young women of Salamanca would dress up in their white dresses and circle the square with their girlfriends in one direction - the young men would look sharp and circle the other way with their friends. No words - just glances - while the elders looked on. 

Bocadillos Jamon!!!

The Old Cathedral

Interpretive dance at the public library.

First sign of the Camino

Goodnight Salamanca.

Second sign of the Camino - I'm now heading off to Leon - the real walking begins on Monday.

Toledo

After navigating the Madrid Metro, I took the RENFE to Toledo. 

The hotel is on a hill outside town - with an amazing view of the old city. The roughing-it part of the trip is still a few days away ... 

 

As the sun sinks slowly in the west - what a way to start a trip!

Toledo at 4:00 am - jet lag sometimes has it's benefits.

6:30 - A beautiful old city wakes up to the sound of church bells.

Home of Cervantes 

And El Greco - it's fun seeing paintings from the textbook in real life.

And the happiest Virgin Mary and Child I've ever seen.

Madrid Metro

First cortado of the trip - this should keep me awake til I get to Toledo.

Heading out

I'm not sure why, but this feels quite surreal.

Getting Ready

Flying out in 2 days - my first night is in Toledo. I must have re-weighed and re-packed my pack 20 times! I haven't travelled this light since I was eighteen.