scruffy1
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Holy Year from Pamplona 2010, SJPP 2011, Lisbon 2012, Le Puy 2013, Vezelay (partial watch this space!) 2014; 2015 Toulouse-Puenta la Reina (Arles)
Leon is far too large and bustling for my taste, especially after several weeks of hamlets, villages, and towns. I like the cathedral, I love San Isodoro, the old guys playing pentanque (a form of boules for the uninitiated-no I don't want to begin an argument here-boules may indeed be a form of pentanque!), and the mozarabic ceiling in the parador which should not be missed! Saying that, this parador is a favorite stopover for important guests, politicians and diplomats. State security seems to have great difficulties in discerning between anarchists, Basque separatists, Catalunyian nationalists, and pilgrims– you may be give the evil eye when approaching.
Leon is the only place I have witnessed theft from a pilgrim and that within the walls of Santa Maria de Carbajalas albergue-a warm welcome always but the inside is horrific-far too many pilgrims stacked like cordwood! Leon has been a place of separation for me, often friends turning back, others warping forward by way of bus, others simply disappearing into the crowds. Disappearing but after our good bye celebration. Part of my dislike for Leon may be tempered by the state of my head that following morning. The walkout from Leon is not a Camino scenic route, perhaps there is a pilgrim who enjoys passing by countless hairdressers, petrol stations, new and used furniture emporiums, hardware and ironmongers, garages and used car dealers-I haven't met them. Twice I have jump started this stage with a city bus to Virgen del Camino somehow arriving in Mazarife by early afternoon despite throbbing head and a slowdown strike by my feet! I was twice warmly welcomed at Tio Pepe and survived. The Tio Pepe albergue is good enough but nothing to write home about, the food there, the same.
I would welcome to hear any experience concerning the other two albergues in Mazarife, my October "assault" on the Camino is in planning!
Leon is the only place I have witnessed theft from a pilgrim and that within the walls of Santa Maria de Carbajalas albergue-a warm welcome always but the inside is horrific-far too many pilgrims stacked like cordwood! Leon has been a place of separation for me, often friends turning back, others warping forward by way of bus, others simply disappearing into the crowds. Disappearing but after our good bye celebration. Part of my dislike for Leon may be tempered by the state of my head that following morning. The walkout from Leon is not a Camino scenic route, perhaps there is a pilgrim who enjoys passing by countless hairdressers, petrol stations, new and used furniture emporiums, hardware and ironmongers, garages and used car dealers-I haven't met them. Twice I have jump started this stage with a city bus to Virgen del Camino somehow arriving in Mazarife by early afternoon despite throbbing head and a slowdown strike by my feet! I was twice warmly welcomed at Tio Pepe and survived. The Tio Pepe albergue is good enough but nothing to write home about, the food there, the same.
I would welcome to hear any experience concerning the other two albergues in Mazarife, my October "assault" on the Camino is in planning!