Exploring León: Day 05

Exploring León: Day 05

Meaningful Moment

Today, Deb and I did not really do a major activity, but we took three or four individual walks around the city just to accomplish minor things, for example, buy a pastry, find a statue, get some medicine, enjoy a park or just get out for a tinto verano and an agua con gas.

Date27 Jul 2026 (Monday)
WeatherSun all day. Temperatures in the '80s
Total All Caminos: 2450 miles
Lodging (Deb & I): Apartamentos MK77 Zuloaga @ € 361 day 4
Total Lodging: € 361
Airplane(s):
Total Airplane(s) / Trvl Insrnc: $ 1000 / $ 199
Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides (Deb & I):
Total Transportation: $ 125
Food (Deb & I): € 12 churros @ Valor
€ 8 drinks
Total Food: $ 288

Random Thought of the Day

Tomorrow we wake up at 4:30 to catch the 6:00 a m. bus to A Coruña. Our time in León is coming to an end.

While having a late afternoon drink at a street side Cafe across the plaza from the cathedral of Leon, Deb met some American pilgrims and so we chatted for a while. They are doing the Camino Francés and started in St. Jean Pierre du Port, and finishing in Finnesterre.

On the Road / Notable memories

9:00 a.m. Deb and I starting the day with Cafe Con leche, churros and chocolate at Valor, right around the corner on Calle Ancha.

10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Morning walk
Jardín de San Francisco

San Francisco

The Roman sea god Neptune holding a tridente, sitting atop a rock surrounded by dolphins and tritons. Commissioned in 1789.








Bernesga River Walk

Dam in the distance. 
Kayakers downstream of the dam.

Symbols of the city of León. Bridge over the Rio Bernesga 

Eurasian magpies are as common here as pigeons in Rochester

Bernesga River pathway

1:30 - 3:30 p.m. walk while in search of alfajero con leche de dulce. ( Statue descriptions are AI-generated. )


Some of the statues in León
La Negrilla
The Estatua La Negrilla is a sculpture that pays tribute to the magnificent elm trees that once adorned the streets of Spain. It represents the artist's nostalgia for these beautiful trees, which were referred to as "negrillas" in the local dialect. The statute depicts the man, like the list elm trees, struggling to establish themselves on a firm footing and arise once again. Unfortunately, these trees have disappeared from the urban landscape in many areas. Blight was a leading cause.

Plaza de la Immaculada Concepción
In León, the Plaza de la Inmaculada serves as a small urban hub connecting some of the city's busiest areas. Travelers often describe it as a strategic link between the Plaza de Santo Domingo and the Plaza de San Marcos—home to the Parador and the convent-museum—making it an almost essential stop for anyone exploring the historic center. Designed with pedestrians in mind, this circular square features benches for resting and flowerbeds that add a splash of color amidst the urban traffic. This blend of practicality and visual respite leads many to view it as a small prelude to nearby monuments, yet one that possesses a distinct character of its own.

Las Tres Infantas
The *Las Tres Infantas* (The Three Infantas) statue in León is a bronze monument depicting Queen Doña Sancha and her daughters Urraca and Elvira

Parque del Cid
The bronze hand honoring veterinarians now stands in the Jardín del Cid. This monument, donated to the city by the College of Veterinarians highlights the bond between the city of León and its people. "Animal health and public health: the only way to ensure the health of humanity."


El León de la Alcantrilla
The image of a 300-kilogram bronze lion emerging from a manhole sparked hundreds of reactions on social media and dozens of interpretations. 









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