A Soviet Style Graveyard Of Statues

Technically, the cloister is out of the Leon Cathedral, so this post is NOT about the cathedral, and non-stained glass photos are allowed.

You step into the cloister, and it is like walking into one of those graveyards of Commie "heroes" places in Eastern Europe/Russia.  Like the one in the first post-Cold War Bond movie, Goldeneye.  Statues that had been on display either outside or inside the Cathedral were banished to the cloisters. 

It's not just statues, as there are turret tops and other discarded Baroque elements.  Apparently the leaders of the church didn't know what to do with these extras and placed them where they could be admired by visitors (or, at least in my case, unnerved by the whole vibe).

It has a bit of a "Mad Max Goes To A European Cathedral" dystopian feel to it.  Cloisters are supposed to be a place of calmness and for mediation.  Not this one.  

(By the way, at the risk of repeating myself from earlier in the trip, Portugal did better cloisters than Spain.  Yes, it's hard for me to admit Portugal -- great country to visit, btw -- did something better.)

The cloister does provide excellent views of the many flying buttresses, which are needed to make the stained glass structurally possible.  The flying buttresses remove weight from the walls by taking it on themselves, allowing larger stained glass windows.

A view of the cloisters.

Another "Happy Mary"

-- not something you

see very often.

"Saint Peter don't you call me

'cause I can't go, I owe my

soul to the company store.

You'd have a smug look on

your face too if you were

this young and a royal dude.

She's out for blood.

An unemployed turret is

the saddest type of turret.

Cool shot of the front of the 

cathedral, taken from an alley.