Thursday, October 13, 2016

Day 18: Moratinos to El Burgo Ranero

I'm laying in a rocky, hay cover field, in the middle of who knows where.  The sun is shining and all day, I have walked alone.


The thinking and lonelier thoughts come when there are people around, but not the people you crave.  Today I felt antisocial and lonely all at once.  My pace is slower, my enthusiasm waning.

The messeta gives you time to think. My thoughts eventually led me down one path:
I work hard, earn well, give give a lot. At what point will I admit that is ok to treat myself like a princess a little? When is it ok? How about now?! And as I walked along the path that probably 200,000 Pilgrims had shared with me this year, I opened the Booking.com app on my phone.  Where to stay... where to stay... where to stay in León in a couple of days...?

I did what few pilgrims dare to. And fewer will share in a blog! I booked a night at the Parador. Hahaha.

What is a parador you ask? It's a building of grandeur and historical significance.  Once a monastery, now a 5 star hotel offering the best you'll find in a Spanish city.  Decorated with taste and completely photo-worthy, the parador in León is where this Pilgrim is taking about night off on Thursday and soaking up LUXURY!

And from that point on, I walked a little faster.  Yes, I have found the secret to putting a spring back in my step after more than 400km!







Oh yeah, and it's autumn here now. Smells like it. Looks like it. Feels like it. Beautiful, with cooler mornings.

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1 comment:

Mark said...

Can't wait to read about the Paramor, you SO deserve a night of luxury.