Author: Thom

We got off the bus in the town of Hospital de Órbigo, just as we had in 2013. The town, named for a pilgrim hostal once maintained by the Knights Hospitaller, exists primarily because of this strategic bridge. This bridge was the site of an amazing and romantic tale. For a month during the summer of 1434, the Leonese knight […]

The city of León is not named, as is commonly supposed, for the lion that graces its flag and arms. That lion is applied to the city after the fact. No, León was originally a Roman town called Legio, after the Roman legion stationed there from AD 74 to the end of the 4th century: Legio VII Gemina. There are […]

The rain continued into the next day, when we left the lovely city of León. We headed for the bus terminal rather than the Camino route, however, as we still had some kilometers to make up from battling flood and injury. I literally have no idea what this thing is. A Tardis perhaps? Date: 20 April 2016 Place: León (Castilla […]

This is the plaza of the Basílica de San Isidoro in León. Unlike where I live, it’s the locals who have the umbrellas and the visitors who don’t. As I type this, almost two years later, I can hear the rain on my window. Date: 19 April 2016 Place: León (Castilla y León, Spain)

This is the magnificent high altar of the Basílica de San Isidoro in León. You can see the casket of the saint beneath the tabernacle and the stunning three-story-high reredos. That brilliant light in the center is the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament – Christ Himself – exposed to the faithful for adoration. Date: 19 April 2016 Place: León (Castilla […]

The Basílica de San Isidoro in León is the resting place of Saint Isidore of Seville. This great saint was the most celebrated academic and theologian of Visigothic Spain. After the Moslem invasions, the saint’s body was taken north to safety in León. Due to the continuing Islamic attacks, the church had to be rebuilt a number of times. It […]

Just across the very narrow street from Peggy Sue’s is this piece of… art? advertising? craziness? It’s been there for at least three years because I saw it in 2013 as well. I’ve no idea what it is or what it’s for, and nobody I talked to seemed to know, either. León definitely has its wacky side. Date: 19 April […]

This kitschy American diner in León is down a particularly busy side street narrower than the alley behind my house in Tacoma. It’s about halfway between the cathedral and the Benedictine Convent which is the most popular albergue in the city. We wanted to try this place, to see what passed for American food in Spain, but the continuing call […]

For the last of my photos of the beautiful León Cathedral, a long shot down one side of the Cathedral cloister. I love cloisters, with their garden of Eden symbolism and their typically formal layout and design. I rather wish our parish church had one. A thought just hit me – I wonder if the statues set up here are […]