Trip to León

Our language teacher Alfredo takes us on a trip to León. León is the capital of the autonomous community of Castilias y León and is located on the Camino de Santiago. From the small village of La Peral in the mountains of Asturias, we drive to the large city about 1 1/2 hours away.

First, we visit the magnificent Cathedral of León. The tall building with its many colored stained glass windows is filled with a mysterious light. Impressed and touched, not only pilgrims but also many other visitors are here. A guided tour (in German!) tells the story of the creation, significance, and preservation of 'La Pulchra'. 'The Beauty', as it is called in León.

Afterwards, we stroll through many narrow streets. There are bars and small shops everywhere. The Spanish flag flies at the Plaza Mayor and many windows. The fact that Catalonia unilaterally declared independence from Spain is occupying people's minds, and they show that Spanish unity is important to them.

Then it's time for a glass of red wine, chorizo, and bread in a bar.

The typical Spanish lunch is served around 3 p.m.

Finally, we visit San Isidoro, an old, well-preserved Romanesque church with a museum. Here, we enjoy a guided tour in Spanish - and understand almost nothing - nada! So we can't tell you anything about the treasures shown there.

On the way back to La Peral, we are once again impressed by the landscape, the great dryness, and the almost empty reservoirs.

Elsbeth