After a bit of a siesta last night we ventured out to sample the local nightlife. This resulted in two great finds. The first, a gin bar, where tonic with your gin appeared optional. The second, a small bar in a back alley that did the most amazing food. We could not pick a winner between my scollops and mikes lamb.
We also found a laundrette, which means i am sat here in clean, fresh clothes. For the moment at least.
The breakfast this morning was lovely. We stuck out like a sore thumb amoung the continental european contingent as we wolfed down as much as we could while they ate their bread and jam.
Leon is a lovely place. Very quaint and warm with small streets and plazas down back alleys providing a great and welcoming atmosphere. When the sun is down and the wind up it does however get a little chilly, not helpful when all your warm clothes are in for the wash!
This morning we TFT'd it up with camera around neck we toddled (or hobbled in my case) off round the local churches and monuments. Mike was starting to worry that he was yet to see a monument covered in scaffolding (a regular tradition which includes not seeing cathedrals in paris, vienna, sienna and quito). Thankfully the main cathedral saved the day and normal service for mikes trips has been resumed.
The churches and historic buildings, both in leon and across spain, are a hodge-podge of styles as rather than adding an extension in keeping with the structure a modern block is merely added on. This can make for some beautiful, and less successful, buildings.
Lunch was a homemade bocadillios with ham and cheese from a local butchers. I have never seen so many hams and salamis in one town in my life!
We shall be returning to our local church tonight for a pilgrims mass that is held daily.
Tomorrow is going to be an early start as we start the final push through the mountains to santiago. With a good wind (behind us) and my body holding together (in other words a miracle) we hope to travel the final 319km in five days. Thankfully with the high peaks comes some 30kms of free miles as we roll down the hill the other side.
Other information that mike failed to mention yesterday, he once again lost the post box game. To draw level on this trip he will need to win every day going forward.
After yesterdays near miss in the pilgrim peleton i have another dobber of a bruise to add to my collection.
James quote of the day.
"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
We have learnt that you can spend a lot of time on this trip thinking about tomorrow and forget to live in today and take pride in yesterday.
Mike has also discovered that in Santiago we get to head butt a saint! Apparently it is supposed to instil some artistic talent! Well from a low starting point for the pair of us (aside from sewing and fly tying) anything is a bonus!
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