Day 51 - Bercianos - September 4 - Day 4 of 15

Day 51 - Bercianos - September 4 - Day 4 of 15 

OK, is everyone sitting down? If not you probably should. Yesterday I was thinking about getting some chocolate sent to Rosa when I get to Astorga and visit the chocolate museum, because she shares my love of chocolate.  This morning Rosa asked if I could come for a visit to her house when we are done with our hospitalera time on September 16. Luckily I was sitting down. Unfortunately, it isn't possible because I'm going to León to finish the Camino. 

Then while we were eating what I would call lunch, Merusa and I were discussing different Caminos. She is going to do the Norte (along the northern coast of Spain) and asked me if I was going to do a Camino next year. I said I wasn't sure because I had to be home in July and August. I said I would like to do part of Camino Via Plata from Sevilla to Salamanca in the Spring because my friends say the flowers are beautiful then. So, Merusa says that she wants to give me her telephone number and email address and that I should stay with her when I come to Sevilla! She also offered to give me a ride to León in her car when we leave here on September 16. 

I'm so glad I did run that first day. That feeling of needing to pack my bags and flee is deeply rooted. But I had't felt it in long time. Yesterday we started sharing a little bit a out ourselves we are all a out the same age and we are all retired. Merusa was a professor of anthropology at a university. Rosa was involved in politics. I don't always pick up everything that is said because of the language problem. But I must be getting pretty good with Spanish because that's all we can use to communicate and we seem to be able to get it done. 

This morning right after the pilgrims had all departed, many besas and abrazos, I was in the kitchen cleaning up from breakfast when I heard Rosa and Merusa calling me from some where near the front door. I went out and they said that the people standing there spoke English. So I asked them what they needed. The woman said they needed to go home from the Camino because something had happened at home and they needed help . . .

Whoops, can you hold on a minute? Another truck is coming honking its horn. I need to go see what they are selling. A moment of silence. Ok I'm back. I'm glad I checked that one out. It was a big truck full of fresh fruits and vegetables. We got two big zucchinis, some carrots, a few donut peaches, two huge heads of Romaine lettuce and a big box of super sweet red grapes. Yum. 

Ok I'm back to the story.  They needed help getting a taxi to Sahagún. So I called them a taxi. Now mind you, here in the Pueblo, that means 1) I probably woke the taxi guy up, because it is 7:30am and the call goes directly to him. There is no dispatch. Each cabbie is his own business and 2) he has to drive to here from Sahagún to pick them up. So there is going to be a little wait. Rosa invited them to come in and have some coffee and breakfast while they waited. I was so pleased by this gesture. I spoke with them a few minutes while they waited. The man's brother had died and his brother was his only living relative. They stayed in the hostal last night and it was closed up this morning. I guess the guests just leave if they want, but there's nobody up to say good bye or help. And the bar downstairs was closed. I was so glad we were here and we good help, in a small way.