I am in the grand city of Leon. It’s a bit of a shock to be somewhere slightly cosmopolitan along the Camino. It’s making a refreshing change from the one donkey towns.
I started early today as I knew that bed spaces would be tight. Leon has been booked out for days, but luckily most pilgrim beds cannot be pre booked. I spotted quite a few other pilgrims wandering around looking distressed, no doubt searching for a bed.
My place was complete by 1pm. I probably looked a little smug just carrying my day-pack e.g. I have somewhere to sleep and you don’t, sucker!
The guy above me in my bunk bed has requested I don’t move around too much tonight. His English wasn’t great (he will be Spanish or Italian) and I attempted to explain that what I do when asleep is generally out of my control.
Some of these bunks are so wobbly and squeaky. Sometimes I’d rather have slept on the floor. These rich pilgrims, whose bags are transported from hotel to hotel, don’t know how lucky they are.
After days of the same boring food I dined at a respectable looking American restaurant. I managed to avoid the specialty of the house, called french fries, and enjoyed a ‘relatively healthy meal. Not sure what it’s relative too, but it tasted good after days of blandness.
I can’t quite figure out why Leon is so busy this weekend. There are lots of Romans walking around and random street music too. Big groups of Spanish hen and stag parties are roaming the city streets, yelling and generally being uncouth.
I know the UK has a bad reputation for binge drinking, but I witnessed drunken acts that wouldn’t look out of place in Blackpool, and that was in the afternoon!
The place I am staying is part pilgrim alburgue and part hostel, which means there is no 10pm curfew.
England are playing Russia in the Euro football later, so I will brave the drunken yobs and perhaps enjoy a rare night out.
Check out time tomorrow is later at 10am, which is nice.
Feet: Fine! Shoes are looking more ragged, grr. Have tweeted a picture @salomon. Realized they are a French brand. This has very slightly added to my annoyance.
Food: Coffee x2, toast, burger con ensalada, ice cream, apple and banana. Some beers and tapas (a tub of mayo with some token pasta thrown in as an after thought, sold as ensalada pasta). Something to eat on way back to alburgue later.
Feeling: Cosmic.