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Into the big smoke..Leon.
Entry 23 of 40 | show all | print this entry |
Leaving Mansilla we were expecting a bad stage, but nothing could have prepared us for what was to come.
The books said the 18km from Mansilla to Leon was not kind to the pilgrim and they werent wrong. Each province seem to have differing opinions on how important the Camino is and Castilla Y Leon couldnt give a rats ass!
For long stetches there was no path, giving us no option but to walk along a 4 lane highway in the face of oncoming trucks and 3 times having to cross this. The waymarks were lacking and its surely only a matter of time before a pilgrim loses their life and only then maybe something will be done about providing a path.
This is something that has gotten to be a little while walking the Camino, the lack of respect the Spanish government has for the Camino. Buildings are bulit in the way, housing estates plonked in the path causing the Camino to be re-directed, and today, making pilgrims risk their lives walking along the equivilant of the A1(m) back home.
Considering the Camino was an ancient pilgrimage that follows the milky way from east to west, large parts of the path are far from their original route.
Its like them moving Stonehenge 1 km away in order to put a road through the site...its just not right.
Arriving into Leon, its like any big city, crowded and dirty. Tonight we stay in a monastery, a haven away from all the noise but the original plan of taking our first rest day since the start, could be altered to allow us a rest day somewhere further on....somewhere more restful!
Just 282km to go now, expected finish date is 13th August.
Latest Comments (2)
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hello (reply)
Jul 31, 2007 05:23 EST by sarah79
Greg well done for getting so far. We are thinking of you. U take care of yourselve and see you when you get back home.
Love Sarah (work) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Hi son (reply)
Jul 30, 2007 13:43 EST by chalkdown
Great to hear that you are on the homeward stretch, without too many aches and pains, have you met up with the lad from Italy ? if so say hello to him and Anthony for me. Like the beard, do you remember when I had one and long hair, those were the days. Take care, thinking of you. dad xxxxx
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| 23. | Into the big smoke..Leon. - León, Spain Jul 30, 2007 (  2 ) |
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