Day #17. La Virgen del Camino. 9/26/2013

In Leon at Plaza San Marcos, there is a bronze statue of a medieval pilgrim resting and reflecting on the Camino. 

We left Leon at 8:45 am and started our 5.5 mile walk. We slept in because we had a very nice hotel and not far to travel. Usually pilgrim don't sleep in at  Hostels because the dormitories sound like a beehive at 6:00am.  Everyone wants to start their walk while it's cool weather.  Also you want to arrive at your next hostel by noon-1:00 to make sure you get a bunk. Last night we stayed at Hotel Alfonso V (www.hotelalfonsov.com).  

Today's walk was through an industrial and commercial area. We were next to roads and walking on pavement tiles the entire time. It wasn't very nice. 

This hostel is private & called D. Antonino y Dia Cinia. Its the only pilgrim hostel in town. The next one is 8.5 miles away. There are 20 beds in our dormitory, two dormitories,  4 showers and 3 toilets in two bathrooms with separate guys/girls bathrooms. ( I really hate coed bathrooms.)  It's very clean. There is a large community room and kitchen. I would rate this a 3 out of 5 star hostel. It would earn a better Force Rating except for the 20 beds in a room. 

Yesterday in Leon we happened upon a group of Spaniards playing guitar, tambourine and the 'bones' in the main city square.

Woman playing 'Bones'. She had a heavy pick that she dragged over the bones to make a drumming sound for a base beat

They must have been playing folk songs because all the Spanish locals were singing along with the musicians.  It was very lively and happy music. Robin Nott would have jumped right in to join the band!  'Taily-Bones' with real bones!  

Hotel Parador:  this building was converted from an old pilgrim hospital of the 12th century, then later turned into a Monastery, now a fancy hotel.  The pilgrim statue sits in front of this building and he is staring at this hotel probably wishing he was staying there tonight. 

Hostel dorm

Community room at this hostel.