Day 17 El Burgo Ranero to Leon

Today left el Burgo Ranero around 6.40am, slept in as the proposed departure time was going to be 6.15 am. Heard the alarm in the iPhone at 6am and as I had a single room, turned over in bed and went back to sleep.

Today's stage is 37kms or which we will walk some 22kms and then take a local bus to avoid the industrial area coming into Leon. 

We walked to a town caked Mansillas de Mulas and arrived rhere around 1.20 am then waited for the bus to Leon - which according to our guide book would come every 30 minutes - after 50 minutes we decided to ask as the main bus station and we found that the next bus was not till 2 pm. We had missed the 11 am bus. Decided to have lunch at this town.  Bus arrived on time and it took only 20 minutes to get to Leon.  Got to the hostal  where we had a reservation to be told that there was a mistake and they were full today.  They helped us to be booked into another hostal around corner called Orejas - ears in Spanish.  Great place and very central.

Had light dinner and drinks with other Peregrinos around the Cathedral.

Went to bed later today as tomorrow is a rest day in Leon .   Lots to see tomorrow.

Bye for now. Jose

Leon is a relative large city of some 150.000 people with very interesting history and architecture.  One of Gaudi's best work the palacio de Botines is here. 

Also Leon was the first city in Europe where a king gave power to the people, so UNESCO has awarded Leon a special title to this city as a result of this social and political event.

The Cathedral is something special as is the Basilica de San Isidoro from the 11C.

Both have extreme significance in the Catholic tradition in Europe and more particularly in Spain.