Mon, May 29 - Driving to León

It rained through the night, but as we were eating breakfast it started to clear and we thought we could see snow on the tops of the mountains, but on closer inspection it was the sun on the brilliantly white limestone.  We walked along an exercise track through the woods and birded a bit as there seemed to be a little more activity after the rain, but we didn't see the pretty Eurasian Bullfinch which was featured on a hotel sign and which Bob needs!

Clearing Skies from our Room

It was raining when we checked out at 11, and the weather cleared and rained the rest of the day.  We took  back roads to León, our next destination, by driving west on the CL-626 through Guardo, Cistierna to La Robla, seeing many pretty towns, scenic overlooks, and finally reaching the N-630, a large highway leading into León.

Limestone Crags

Clutching the GPS and my maps, I did manage to guide us into León, a bustling city, through several roundabouts, suddenly entering into a large plaza on the other side of which stood the massive Convento de San Marcos.  This building which contains our Parador, was built in 1513 as a refuge for weary pilgrims on El Camino de Santiago and now is a very sumptuous hotel. 

Wall of the Parador

Our Living Room

Our room wasn't ready so we sat in the bar and had our Welcome drinks of beer, wine and a dish of olives and eventually were taken up to the fifth floor.  Bob had booked us into a junior suite which has a large living room, hallway and bedroom and a balcony.  The entire hotel is to be closed in October for a complete renovation as some aspects are a little rundown, so he got our suite at a good price, but it is still pretty plush!

Walking in León

We walked a mile to the walled old city where all the major historic sites are located (except our hotel), wandered around a bit, and return to rest for dinner.  The dining room opens at 8:30 and when we arrived was filling up quickly as the hotel caters to large bus tours of Brits and Americans. The food was excellent!  We split a starter platter of huge grilled forest mushrooms and artichoke hearts. 

Amazing Mushrooms and  Artichokes

Then I had a Leonese dish of sweetbreads in a delicious picante tomato sauce.  Bob had roast lamb which arrived as a slab of ribs with wonderfully flavored skin of which he ate every bit!  It came with a salad of slivered onions, carrots, tomatoes and lettuce - very difficult to find a simple salad in Spain that doesn't contain tuna, eggs and other such ingredients, so he was very pleased.  After dinner we stepped outside to see the Convento illuminated which was pretty spectacular !

Historic Part of the Parador

Front of the Parador at night!