Festive Fall dates on the Meseta

[rappahannock_rev]

I went off to walk the Camino Ingles this year with a brooding sense that something bad was about to happen to me. Well, nothing did! I flew home on June 8 ---- and one week later I fell and broke multiple vertebrae in my back. Excruciating, debilitating pain. I lived on hydrocodone for weeks thereafter. My flock prayed for me, the Bishop visited me in mid-August and anointed me, I finally had back surgery on August 31.... and the pain was gone before I got off the gurney! Immediate and complete recovery! TBTG! Do miracles happen? Well, based on my life's experience, yes. I feel like I got my 28 year-old body back!

Which means (of course) that I'm already contemplating next year's walk.

Probably in the Fall, probably from Logrono to Leon or Astorga. (I am passionate about the Meseta.) So please, veterans or locals : are there special dates I should try and plan my easy-paced Fall 2023 walk around? I enjoyed the Logrono San Mateo in 2012, and would like to enjoy it again. The Feast of the Holy Cross in Burgos in 2015 was memorable! ….. Special events? Market days in otherwise unremarkable towns? Bullfights or horse shows? Historical re-enactments? Your suggestions will very much appreciated.

And I urge you ---- treat your every walk in Spain as if it were your last. Pax.

 

[J Willhaus]

San Froilan festival is in early October in and around Leon

 

[LavanyaLea]

I was in Logroño for the San Mateo festival this year (last week?!), it was really good fun. Stayed in Logroño for 3 nights to fully enjoy the experience… the apartment we rented happened to be in a residential block near the bullring.

On the first night, we saw a procession going from the bullring to town centre… each group was sponsored by a bodega, each had their distinctive T-shirts, and would play music and sing… and then behind them was another group! All the music, singing, and dancing totally clashed with each other, but nobody cared! Some also followed us to Calle Laurel.

The next day there was a procession of giants and they did a little traditional dance in front of the ayuntamiento, pretty cool! Then we watched the offering of the first must to the Virgen. Went to a bodega outside Logroño for wine tasting… oh and there were fireworks for 2 nights…

On the 3rd day we drove to Leon to start Camino San Salvador, and randomly, there was a “Semana Santa” procession! At the end of September! Apparently the brotherhoods that do it during Holy Week have a regular meeting in Sep, and this year was the 30th annual meeting. Not sure if they do a procession every year. Wasn’t expecting to see Semana Santa on 25 Sept but there you go.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

fiesta season for Castilla y Leon's many little towns in August.