Leon to Villar de Mazarife

Venturing out of Leon toward Villar de Mazarife, Diana and I met at La Virgen del Camino having both taxied from our hotels the 8 km to the outskirts of Leon, avoiding walking through the industrial section of Leon.

La Virgen del Camino is the sight where a shepherdess saw a vision of Santa Maria del Camino who told the shepherdess to travel to Leon and tell city magistrates to erect a monument to Mary and her son after He had been taken from the cross.

If you look at the difference between the two pietas, this one today shows Jesus looking down toward the ground and appears as if one leg is ready to walk. The pieta in the cathedral, because Jesus is looking to the sky, welcomes people to Leon and connects people to heaven while this one today grounds people to the earth as they exit the city.

A wonderful day for walking, blue sky, quiet, no major roadways, we walked first to Oncina de la Valdoncina where we stopped for coffee and juice, and met many pilgrims whom we knew from near the beginning of the trip. Definitely, at this point, there is a colliding of pilgrims as we enter these last 300 km.

We finished this quiet day after a total of 13 km at the town of Villar de Mazarife. Some pilgrims who were lucky enough to get a reservation in this town, stayed. Others like myself and Diana were transferred to locations outside of Mazarife. I am back for my final night in Leon.

Love the photo of the lion emerging from the sewer. The lion is Leon's symbol. I also attached a photo of a sign saying the cafe is closed Wednesday. I still marvel at the Spanish and their time management skills. In this region it is actually becoming increasingly common for a shop or cafe to be closed on a Wednesday.

In the picture of 5 of us travelling, it is interesting that all but one are solo travellers. We were discussing today how it is not uncommon to meet a female solo traveller, but that there are fewer men. I have met men travelling, but the only solo men I have met are German. Otherwise the few men I have met and walked with are travelling with a men group, or their wives. I suppose it just goes to show that they can't live without us!

Tomorrow, I will taxi past Villar de Mazarife to a town called Villavante. The itinerary has tomorrow as a 30 km day but by taxiing through to Villavante, I will be able to take 10 km off the day, and keep the walk to a comfortable 20 kms.

What is surprising, and surprising to most pilgrims, is how that after 400 km of walking, we are still fixated on our feet, and lately our shins. A couple of pilgrims with taped shins, other pilgrims with new shoes purchased in Leon, pilgrims applying more bandaids and blister packs. I don't think there is a pilgrim on this trail whom doesn't have a renewed respect for how fragile our bodies are and how much conscientious effort goes into making sure that we can make the next 20 or 30 km.Read more