The drive from Santander to Leon took about 3 hours, and it was lovely to sit back in the passenger seat armed with snacks and beverages, without having to worry about missing my stop as I would do usually on a bus. Choosing to take the car, despite my initial concerns about the driving (!), really was a good idea. In particular it has meant more time for geocaches, and just being able to stop whenever and wherever without relying on a timetable is a complete luxury ;).

We arrived into Leon just as the sun was setting, so after checking into our rather studenty accommodation on the outskirts of the city, we ventured into town to check out the sights in the dark .  

My immediate impression was that this city was really quite lovely, but it was dark, as often is the case, and therefore in daylight it could be very different. However the next morning it turned out just a lovely as I had first thought, in fact, we were both wishing we had time for another night here. 

Unfortunately we had only planned a stop over here so were limited on time. Despite that we still managed to tick off all the key sights on foot during the following morning, including the cathedral tour, which I highly recommend if you have an hour to spare.  

Inside the cathedral it is dark and cold, which I would expect would be greatly received during the summer months and the heat. I was still wearing my hat, scarf and gloves following the drive here through snowy mountains, so it wasn't a problem. The audio guide which is included in the very reasonable entrance fee of €5 (includes cathedral and cloisters, not the museum which is extra) is extremely informative and added the finishing touch to viewing what has to be one of the most pristine cathedrals I have ever seen .

After a quick Bocadillo lunch stop, I braved my first stint of the driving, which turned out easier than I had thought.  

We headed off to the border town of Puebla de Sanabria which houses apparently one of the best preserved castles in the province of Zamora. This little town is just so cute, with its cobbled alleys and beautiful views as you climb up to the castle. This would probably be a good overnight stopping point if you're not in a rush, as it seems very authentic, despite the flurry of souvenir shops scattered around the main street.

I'm just getting used to the Northern Spain pronouciation and brushing up on my rather rusty Spanish, which is typical given we are heading over the border into Portugal next.