It’s time to shake the dust off this blog and start writing again.

I’m thrilled to be back in España, back in León and back on the Camino.

My new Camino adventure is off to an exciting start, at least accommodation-wise.

My one true gift in life is the ability to rationalize pretty much anything I decide I want to do. And so I decided to stay at the Hostal de San Marcos, the Parador de León, for my first official night back in España.

After all, it’s a long way from Seattle, involving planes, trains and automobiles to get here. And haven’t I been awake for twenty-four hours? And I probably won’t be back here anytime soon.

I’ve never stayed in one of Spain’s paradores which were described by my Iberian Airlines seat mate as the crown jewels of Spain’s hotels. And the one in León is considered one of the finest. 

Besides, this is the hotel that was festured in the movie “The Way” – the one in which Martin Sheen’s character treats his Camino gang to a luxury night’s stay. 

And so I stayed, soaking in the history of this 16th century building and exploring its halls and (often creepy) art.

I’m guessing Martin Sheen didn’t stay in a budget single as my room wasn’t anything like the one in the movie. But it did come with a bathtub, my true measure of a luxury room.