The universe stays in balance

    So this morning Maria from England and I are waiting for the 7:50 bus to Leon.  We have made the decision to walk so we can enjoy Leon since we are not staying an extra day.  And we are talking about how we are working on the inner voices that say we should feel guilty.  The hospitalero told us we did not have to go to the bus station, the bus would stop for us at this plaza.  We saw the 7:50AM bus coming into the plaza, the driver saw us, and the bus continued over the bridge toward Leon.  So we walked to the bus station (plan B) and took the 9:05 bus (kind of 9:25).   Only 1,30€for the lovely 25 minute ride to Leon.
    When I got out at the bus station, my feet thanked me and all was well again.  So I started walking towards the old part of the city where I would find the Monastery Alberque.  All was great until I got into the old city - think Boston with even narrower streets, going in all directions.  I wandered for 45 minutes.  I asked an older man how to get to the Plaza Santa Maria and he helped me walk part way where another older man helped me to walk the rest of the way.  Only thing is they helped me to get to Plaza Santa Isadora on the other side of the old town.  But all was well again when Barbara and Carl for Germany called my name.  They were on the way to get a replacement battery for her watch so I stopped and ate breakfast at the plaza and when they returned they walked me to the alberque.  Wonderful people on the Camino!
    But then... I waited for almost an hour as the line crept very slowly to check into the alberque.  While there Joyce from Virginia arrived - I haven´t seen her in a week.  We visited for a while.  I found myself praying for patience as I could not understand how it could take so long to check in each person (write their name, country, age and where they started the camino).  Perhaps this was pennace for taking the bus?  Or just the universe staying in balance?
    But finally, I left my boots in the hall, put my sleeping bag on the upper bunk (they told me they´re saving the lower bunks for the older women - how could I argue with that?), and headed into Leon.  We had a thunderstorm last night and the air today is absolutely wonderful - sunny, little breeze, not the hot afternoon that we´ve been having this past week.

Plaza Mayor market

    First I walked by the Plaza Mayor where they were having a Saturday market.  There were loads of vendors with fruits, vegetables, garlic, you name it.  Also many apparel vendors: boots hanging up, clothing, tons of underwear, scarves and more.  I wish I could have videotaped the plaza as it was packed with people, lots of sounds, smells, movement.
   Later, as I sat at a square Joyce walked up and we got started talking.  She helped a couple of Canadians find their hostal on the map, then we helped another English speaking person with a question, then we headed down the street.  First stop, Gelato.  Mine was Trufa (even I knew it was truffle) and it was delicious.  We continued to walk, made it to a grocery store and picked up food supplies for the walk tomorrow.  Mostly we just enjoyed walking in this beautiful city with plazas, fountains, trees, parks.  It was lovely.
   It was also interesting to be in a large city on a Saturday.  People were out from about 10AM on this morning... markets in other plazas also, bars and cafes open, people everywhere.  Then about 2PM things started to slow down, shops closed, people disappeared and the siesta time began.  Around 6PM tonight people will start coming out again.

The main road into the old part of town

   I went to the Cathedral for only a short time as it closed at 1PM for a wedding.  But the windows were absolutely incredible.  I think I read there are 125 stained glass windows and I believe it.  In fact there are so many that it has collapse twice, once in the 17th century and once in the 19th.  I will return this evening - I want to drink in the light still more.  I believe the designer did bring a little bit of heaven right into the cathedral and it was such a delight after the darkness of most of the romanesque cathedrals along the way.

    I´m taking today as my sabbath and will go to the pilgrim mass at this monastery at 7PM tonight before dinner.  Tomorrow I must walk.  May your sabbath, however you take it, renew your spirit.  Bueno Camino!

One of the many plazas and fountains