To date Leon is the city that is the farthest away - 2 hours.
And really it seems like quite a trip when you think that we are only in the city for just over 3 hours but the feel of the city was quite different. In part this may be due to the fact that the city is half the population of Valladolid or possibly because it is one of the cities on St. Jame's Way (a pilgrimage with one route that goes through the North of Spain) and sees more travelers. Regardless the city is truly a beauty.
And really it seems like quite a trip when you think that we are only in the city for just over 3 hours but the feel of the city was quite different. In part this may be due to the fact that the city is half the population of Valladolid or possibly because it is one of the cities on St. Jame's Way (a pilgrimage with one route that goes through the North of Spain) and sees more travelers. Regardless the city is truly a beauty.
Leon itself started out as a Roman camp and the remains can even be seen under the Cathedral which once housed the baths. The Cathedral is another example of a gothic church with huge stained glass windows.
We walked the pedestrian part of the city - a rather large section that included the area surrounding the Cathedral and the older part of the city.
Along the way we ran across the Casa de Botines which is a building designed by Gaudi (and is currently the headquarters for a local bank). If you are unfamiliar with Gaudi he is a very famous architect and is well known for his buildings in Barcelona. This building is in a different type of style and apparently Gaudi was influenced by the style of the local Cathedral. Quite interesting!
I think that most of the students were very impressed by this little city. We loved the vibe that the city gave off, seeing all the ladies out in the street to have their evening coffee and chatting with streets, young girls walking around in packs giggling, people out for their evening jog. Also, noticed that the style was a bit different here. Amanda and I have talked about not holding up to the standards of dress that exist in Valladolid and there was a palpable difference in Leon. Another reason that these afternoon trips are of such interest and utility.
Finally, we returned to the bus and marveled at the mountains that could be seen in the distance - los Montes de Leon. Although it really felt like a long day I think it was an afternoon well spent.