It seems that my posts have been very bipolar recently. I’m sorry I left off on a bad note and haven’t posted for a few days. I took a short day into Leon, which is the last city for awhile. I was going to take a short day yesterday, leaving Leon, but I got to the albergue, it was still in the suburbs, it was a beautiful sunny day, and I decided to change my attitude right then and there. Even though it was already 1:00 in the afternoon I decided to do what would make me happy and believe there would be a place for me when I got there. It was 13 k through isolated scrubland. Not a person in sight, perfectly sunny weather, I turned on my ipod and was dancing down the path all afternoon.

I’ve had a few very good conversations the past couple of evenings. About making the Camino your own, about how important personal defenses are especially where so many people are constantly interacting and in each others spaces. It seems a good number of people have hit an emotional cliff in the last few days. Mine was 3 days ago after the robbery. But since then I have been reaffirmed with many good friends who will always ‘have my back’ and with very satisfying conversations. I am happy again, and starting to feel like this is the point where the real learning begins. The body is accustomed, and now it is the mental and emotional endurance that are being stretched.

Here are a few photos of Leon and the area:

Cathedral
Another Gaudi building, Casa Botines
Old pilgrim hospital/monastery
Leon is a great place to eat and drink! It seemed like most places give you free tapas every time you order a drink! We sat outside one bar for like 6 hours enjoying cold beers, olives, garlic chips, bread, cheese and chorizo. Then we went to this place that gives a plate of fried potatoes smothered with a blue cheese sauce. Delicious! Lots of underground wine cellars still in this region Very long roman bridge