May 24 – Sunday
This is my official rest day and I am west of León, Spain at Virgen del Camino, León. It is 11am and I slept reasonably well. Earlier, I went to a bar for my café y leche and a tiny piece of cake. I returned to my room briefly then went downstairs to Paul’s Tabern. I’ve sat there relaxing, reading and such. I the process I had dos café y leches, a churro and a small bread and jamon. It was good and took up some time. It appears that to pass my day, I may need to wonder from bar to bar. Please remember this is Spain and the bars are a main source for café or espresso. My favorite has become café y leche, espresso and milk. The café is good but the milk adds volume so it’s more than one or two swallows. The bar also offers fresh pastries. The croissant is wonderful but chocolate is wonderfuller 😉 So I order the napoliatano when they have them.
I don’t like eating when I first awake but have endured one of these pastries and café at 6:30. After walking about 3 hours, it’s time for second breakfast. First breakfast might give you energy for about 5km. Second breakfast needs to finish your day at about 25km.
The bars also provide apertivo or small snacks like olives and white anchovy. The white anchovy is a milder and delicious version of the anchovy that is offered in the US. I found one bar yesterday with tiny fried fish. These could be eaten whole. And every bar will offer potatoes in some fashion. Mostly tortillas. In Spain, that refers to a potato omelette. It almost seems like a nation dish; it is creamy and contains egg and potatoes. Some places offer several options having one topping or another. Mushrooms, peppers (red or green), meat or sausage bits, etc.
The weather has gone from a cold wet extreme to a hot and sunny extreme. From 30° F lows to 87°F highs. Overnight a few days ago. The weather extremes challenges us older hikers. Thankful, however, for no more rain which may hold out for 10 days or so.
I only have a few pictures to offer for now.
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