A valuable learning opportunity

Today I was reminded why it isn’t just the mileage and elevation that matter here on the Camino. Back when we decided we had to make reservations all the way to Santiago, I mostly looked at the elevation and route maps. Thirteen mostly-flat miles from Leon to Villadango del Paramo? Sold. We’ll see you in Villadango on Sept. 23.

Had I read the guidebook’s assessment of my chosen route, I might have reconsidered. “Monotonous path.” “Industrial stretches.” “Much less scenic.”

Oops.

Guess it was a valuable learning opportunity.

Lunch in Leon

We thoroughly enjoyed Leon yesterday. I’d read that the city was a great foodie town, and it didn’t disappoint. We had a late lunch of meats from the Leon region which was simply the best meal I’ve had since we got to Spain. For dinner, we ordered salads. My salad had tuna, as such salads always do here in Spain, but I think they cooked the fish on site instead of dumping it out of a can. Plus the salad also had anchovies, olives, walnuts, avocado, melon, thinly sliced ham, tomatoes and leaf lettuce. Yum!

Sanctuary of the Basilica of St. Isidoro

Many of the towns we’ve passed through offer an evening “Pilgrim Mass.” Most are held in churches that are more than 500 years old: some simple, some elegant. None of the settings was more breathtaking than last night’s Mass at the Basilica of St. Isidoro. Plus, the retired priest who did the pilgrim blessing at the end was having so much fun that we all left smiling. I have no idea how old he was, but I hope that I can have that much fun when I’m his age.