Day 19 – Leon to Villar de Mazarife

Yesterday walking around Leon was nice. I had several four star meals in Leon, which completely erased the memory of the awful meal in Mansillas de los Mulas.

My two nights in the Parador San Marcos were absolutely decadent.  I would stay there again in a New York minute.

Today I trekked from Leon to Villar de Mazarife,  which by the way is a three stork town. My total distance was 12.10 miles/19.2 kms, walked in 5 hours with stops.

The first 3.5 miles were on hard pavement through the city and its outskirts. It is festival time in Spain and there was a huge festival in Virgen del Camino, which proved quite tricky to maneuver through.

Then the trail opened up to quiet lonely roads without much to see. I had booked myself into a private room in an albergue because there were no casas rurale or hotels in this town. Quite a difference from last night!

There is a Peregrino Catholic Priest from Italy who is staying at this albergue. He said a mass and gave those in attendance God’s blessings for the Camino. This was the very first time I’ve received a blessing while on Camino.

I will be having dinner here in the albergue this evening. I have been eating a menu del dia at about 2 in the afternoon and then a piece of fruit in the evening. I’m finding myself ravenous and still have a few hours till dinner.