Day 28

Wow, what a day!

I head out about 7:30am, I am soon joined by a lady I met the first night in St Jean, she has been crook and so has had to take days off and go slow. We walk together almost to Leon. Thank goodness it’s a loooong road to Leon from Reliegos. There are sculptures and turkeys and conversation to distract us thankfully.

Once I am on my own and am really walking into Leon, first factories then car yards and I feel like I am on Paramatta Road. I stop for late lunch and chat to Ron while I eat and watch the trucks go past.

Then I push on and the clouds darken. I decide it’s pretending rain and don’t stop, as I finally enter the old/original part of Leon it’s bucketing down. So wet weather poncho on, a kind Spanish man stops and helps me with the back as it takes two to manage this contraption.

Somehow I miss an arrow and am lost, the phone is wet I’m wet and I am in fear of another “fall” so walking very carefully. I find the Cathedral, now to find my apartment which of course I miss and try two other places which are a similar name then back to the first place I thought was it and of course it’s the one. I have an email with codes for entry which I don’t understand because it’s in Spanish it’s bucketing down at this stage and a another kind Spanish man who is going in to the same place helps me. It’s so easy when you can understand the instructions. There is no lift so it’s 3 floors up. I can’t believe it it’s a loft apartment my bed is thankfully not up the steep stairs, I have a bathroom a coffee machine and I can even make tea! I have a view of the Cathedral there is shampoo and towels and apples!

After an almost religious experience in the shower which is actually hot and has pressure I have a rest then go out for a look around and see the town.

I am not two steps out the front door when I meet two pilgrims I met the first night in St Jean. A couple from LA. “ We are going for a craft beer do you want to come” A very cool bar and two great craft beers and a grand catchup later, we say farewell and see you on the Way!

I have a walk around the plaza, not really sure what I want for dinner, but perhaps not a pilgrim meal tonight. I go into a restaurant opposite the Cathedral and that’s it, I’m not a pilgrim anymore, this is a seriously foodie restaurant. I read and re read the menu it all sounds amazing.

In the end it’s Croquettes with cured meat and vichyssoise to start followed by a Salmon steak with the Romanesque sauce and veg, ok I did try a dessert a brownie with roasted hazelnut and honey and ice cream. Oh and I have really wanted to try Orujo, which of course they had.

The rain has stopped when I walk the 100mtr back to my apparent. The Cathedral is stunning and I am looking forward to a late start and a tour of the cathedral tomorrow.

Distance walked 26km

Elevation 850m

Total Distance walked so far 462.6.

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