Day 21 - Leon to Vilar de Mazarife

We leave behind the opulence of the San Marcos Parador after an excellent meal in the hotel restaurant. We met up with 3 very nice English couples that were touring the north in their cars.
We spent time chatting and trying to convince Andy (one of the guys) to go for the Camino on foot next year. We wish them a safe onward journey.

We rejoin the Camino feeling fully refreshed and raring to go. We pass through Cruce and La Virgen del Camino then our Camino its back to the remote dirt tracks that we have become used to. Peace and quiet is a welcome return after the hustle and bustle of Leon City.

We descend into Oncina de la Valdocina a small village with no church (the only one so far). I wonder what they do on a Sunday.

We have met these two guys repeatedly on the Camino. Mick & Tom from America, they had not met each other before the Camino and got together via a mutual friend. They call themselves “The old Guys” and are really nice, but Mick is really struggling with bad feet. Good luck and Bon Camino to you both.

We both feel great today and are walking at a very fast pace. The weather is perfect.

We stop for a snack and join 3 ladies and a gentleman from South Africa that were great fun. One of which has a birthday tomorrow, Happy Birthday.!!!

Oh and apologies to Tony, he is 64 today not 65.

We arrive at our Albergue (a true pilgrim commune) in Vilar de Mazarife, The Tio Pepe.

The big heavy duty knickers on the line are Tonys.

It is very basic but very friendly, clean and tidy.

It's a decidedly pilgrim friendly village, probably totally dependent on the Camino and its pilgrim stop overs.

Its church is dedicated to St James.

A cool beer for a cool guy at Pep's Bar to wash down a mixed salad.

The church is said to be decorated with images of St James and the battle at Clavijo in 844 between Ramiro I de Asturias and Abderraman II, the Emir of Cordoba. It is at this battle that Santiago in his guise as Santiago Matamoros is reputed to have helped the vastly outnumbered Christian army.

Again the old houses are constructed from the clay and straw block principal. Which amazingly seems to weather well over time.

Our destination tomorrow is Astorga, a Cathederal City, another relatively moderate day before our climb into the mountains. Can't wait.