Day 26 - Puente de la Reina to Villatuerte - August 10

Day 26 - Puente de la Reina to Villatuerte - August 10

Well there was lots of snoring last night some bizarre reason. It didn't bother my sleep. I just noticed it when I got up to go to the bathroom. It wasn't the loud irregular rafters shaking snoring, it was more of a chorus. I thought of it as vespers as I drifted back to sleep. 

Again this morning everyone slept until six. About then people began quietly getting up and doing what they need to do to get ready for the day. I got up around seven, stretched, packed up, and got ready to go. David, the guy on the bunk above me came by and said, "You are a really nice woman" and gave me a kiss on each cheek, and I gave him two also, European style. Now isn't that a nice way to start the day? 

Yesterday David was telling that the Italians love American TV. he said they all watch Baywatch! I said that was sad. Imagine what they must think of us. All of us in red bathing suits. I thought he was going to say they all watch our cop shows with the shooting and car chases. That would be equally sad, but probably a truer image. 

I had kind of a slow day today. There are days on the Camino that I'm just real energetic and a few days when I feel slow. This morning I left the albergue at about eight or eight thirty. I was hoping to stay at La Casa Magica, in Villatuerte where I stayed last year because it has a cool kind of zen wah. Very tranquil. A dog and a cat live there. But I decided I would end up where I was supposed to be, either Villatuerta or Estella. Well I guess I'm supposed to be at La Casa Magica, because that is where am. I also learned that there is a five day drinking festa in Estella which started yesterday. So I really believe I am in the right place. 

I plan to take the road less traveled tomorrow anyway and it by passes Estella. I did that with Clara last year and it was really a lovely hike. I was a little concerned about doing it by myself, because as I recall Clara and I only saw other people once in the whole day. But one of my roommates at La Casa Magica is Michael from Newport Beach and be wants to do that alternative route also. Solution handed to me on a platter. Also La Casa Magica serves the yummiest vegetarian paella. 

It's strange, but of all the people I met last year Clara and Miquel who I saw the first week, Erin the young American whom I met on Atapuerca and met on and off from there to Santiago; stick in my mind. I was thinking about all of them a lot today. And Josef the handsome young man who wrapped my knee in Santa Domingo and made it possible for me to finish the Camino. Clara was a Canadian who has been loving in Japan for twenty years and working as a teacher. She is also the one who picked up snails that were on the path and set them down on the other side of the path so they wouldn't get squished by a foot or a bike. Miguel is young good looking Spanish man who lives in France and teaches yoga and meditation in France and India. Erin is living in Leon teaching English as a second language. Josef was either a doctor or nurse who volunteered to treat pilgrims at the albergue. He also practiced yoga and told I should go to this place on southern India to do yoga. 

Anyway each of these people obviously had some kind of energy that connected with my heart. 

Today there was the guy at the bar that kept calling me "niña" meaning little girl. Ahh!

I stopped at another bar and these two Spanish gals urged me to get the tortilla francesa con queso (cheese omelette) I don't know what they do but cheese omelettes are so delicious here. Maybe it is the milk again. Who knows, but I always eat them here whenever I have the opportunity. I think this one cost about a euro and a half, or less than two dollars. 

It's almost time for dinner, ensalada and vegetable paella. My mouth is watering. 

Did you all give John hugs for me? I thought of it as being like sending flowers only more personal.