Day 18 & 19: León

As mentioned, Jimmy and I pivoted to León skipping one night in Mansilla de los Mulas for an extra day in León. The rest was needed and León is a beautiful city. Health has returned and Jimmy and I are now ready to depart in the morning. The cathedral here is León is amazing, however, the change in the old city from 10 years ago is dramatic with many of the bars gone exchanged for more tourists based shops. That said, the area is still vibrant and full of pilgrims, many of whom I haven’t seen in a days or weeks. It was nice to reconnect with them and meet new

Pilgrims as well.

León ends Spain’s Meseta and as we move forward we will enter Galacia in a few days with the promise of mountains and wet weather and green terrain. It is my favorite part of the Camino as we begin to understand the end of our journey is nearer and it is time to release the burdens we carry with us. It’s a time of sadness but also the understanding that happiness and joy is to follow. It is difficult to explain to those who have not experienced it but it is like an explosion that erases the old wound that one carries with life without realizing its presence.

Please enjoy the pictures of León:

Entering León

Entering the old quarter of León, a Guadi creation housing a Gaudi museum.

The architect himself, Gaudi, immortalized sitting in front of his own creation

León’s Cathedral

Entrance to the Cathedral

Inside the León Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral

Painting on the backside of the Alter inside the Cathedral

The inner courtyard within the Cathedral

A burial chamber with a fresco painting

A street within the old quarter of León looking back at the cathedral and on the right the old castle walls of León.