Saturday, September 28, 2013

Leon to Villarreal de Mazarife (Fr 27 Sep)

Jan and I awoke in separate dorms this morning, Jan in the "polite" dorm (her term for the women's dorm) and me in the snoring dorm.  They asked our ages and it seems that 60 and overs were given a bottom bunk.  Age has privilege.

When I awoke about midnight, the dorm was unbelievably hot and stuffy, with all windows and doors sealed shut.  I practiced tolerance for a few seconds, but noticed that almost everyone was sprawled outside their sleeping bags, tongues hanging out, so I decided to practice assertiveness and opened all the windows, the door, the door to the bathroom, the window in the bathroom and the door to the outside, first hopping over the person who was sleeping on their mattress out the hallway (presumably to escape the heat or snoring).  

Back in the dorm, the cool night air cut through the fug and it felt so good.... Until the man laying beside the window nearest me closed the window.  Having another go at assertiveness, I closed the window again and happy to report it stayed that way all night!  

Heading out of Leon, we paid homage to the Parada hotel, that was featured in The Way movie, walked into the lobby and took some photos.  The staff was very nice -- even turned on lights in one room so we could take a pic -- and wished us a Buen Camino.

Lobby of Parada:

Fellow in our dorm a couple towns back told us excitedly he'd be staying at the Parada ("only 100 Euros, regular 130 Euros.  You can use my phone and book now").  First time I'd ever heard of Parada...

Walked out of town for an hour or so with a young Australian nurse living in London, named Taff (nickname for Catherine).  

Thanks to an injection of money into the Spanish economy by the European Union, Spain has some of the best roads in Europe, with almost no cars on them... 

Rain forecast (for next 6 or 7 days), a bit of a shock, after 3 dry weeks:

... a rainbow brightened the day:

Precision plowing, avoiding the green things:

Mural in front of medical centre, both unexpected In the 400 person town:

Local opening one of those doors that you wonder if they still work into a building that you wonder if it actually gets used:

Who knows what's inside this house:


Our albergue.  Nice place, 

with a wood stove to add some warmth and glow to the dining room:

Dinner time, reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones:

Salad, then gazpacho, then Vegetable paella...

Then a crepe with chocolate and fruit.  One of our best meals.  We gave the chefs a hearty round of applause.



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