Playing Paper Aeroplanes

at the Basílica de San Isidoro


We had a little panic last night when we struggled to find any reasonable way to get to Madrid for our flight home on Monday. All the trains seemed to be booked solid. The Renfe website also proved a nightmare. Basically, it doesn't work ... like so many major websites these days. How is it even possible that they make it so difficult to book a ticket? It drives me nuts. Anyway, we got there in the end, finding a seat on the 6.40am from León (ouch!). We had to get a taxi back to Pola de Lena in order to get a bus connection, a little frustrating when it passes by about 100m from where we are staying! There's only one bus a week that actually stops here. 

It was all good. We spent a lovely hour exploring the village of Calda de Lunas in bright sunshine before the taxi arrived. After taking us under the hills we walked through yesterday, we emerged out of the tunnel on the other side in rain and thick fog. This is apparently common. We stayed in drizzle and murk until the bus took us back through the tunnel, when we re-emerged into bright sunshine again. The scenery was spectacular.

León is a beautiful city, my favourite of the four we've visited on this trip. The whole centre, with its many cathedrals, churches, and historic buildings, has been pedestrianised, allowing one to walk and wander at will, randomly coming across any number of squares and plazas, all dotted with restaurants and cafes and bars. It felt like the whole city was out on a Sunday, eating and drinking. The atmosphere throughout was friendly and inviting.

It was brilliant for street photography. Again, I took loads of pictures. It wasn't so hard to choose this one as my favourite. No one seemed to have a problem with my camera.