Day 4 of the Journey

JIM: Hola.

The night before last we had the best meal of the trip with Tapas in a bar.see picture.Amazing. Accompanied by 2 glasses of an excellant crienza and all for 12 dollars. I am spending about 40 dollars a day on the camino.

  That evening i was consumed by the seahawks on espn computer. After that was an interesting night. We slept with some 16 people in a large room.8 bunk beds. Most of us retire at 10 or so. At about 1030 a large german man tried to get into his upper bunk. I thought he was going to knock the bed over, it was so loud. Then a group of polish,hungary and young french men came in at 1130 or so. They were rumaging around,putting things in lockers etc.then around 1-2 i heard a crescendo of creaks and squeeks in a mans bed ending suddenly like a beethoven symphony movement .Superimposed on that was a bweeping noise from cell phones right next to my ear all night. Needless to say i did not sleep much. Dave and i got a good laugh over the cacophony of sounds.

  We got up early after having cereal and bread for breakfast. Walking from the city center to the suburbs and finally up a 100o meter hill ending with a total of 25 kilometers or so. We have now gone 100 km. i walked alone out of town and up the hill as i wanted to reflect on some things. I have noticed that,particularly with my gray beard, i am looking much older. I was pontificating about reconciling my past ,present and future. I was also reminded of my age when Rosie called me "Uncle" a term reserved for respected elders. I had met 3 koreans zait,Chow and zou walking up the hill,which interupted my thoughts. The 22 year old asked how old i was. I replied 63. He said you are very strong FOR a 63 year old man. I laughed and decided to accept the compliment. Maybe the camino was taking care of me.

 

 We stopped a couple of times for cervasa and snacks. We ended up in puenta la reine. I helped a brit with a blister and an elderly australian with a knee problem,an american woman who fell hurting her knee as well as continuing to help Rosie with her lungs. It seems i am doctoring and enjoying it. We ate at a large table with all of us,jerry from indiana,Paul from Holland wittier from britain. Food was ok including wine in a small casket,chilled,beans,a fish dish,tuna, and some wierd custard dish. I also met an interesting Hungarian woman,whose name i do not recall.

 

All it was the best day on the camino so far. I feel great and am fortunate that i am not amongst the walking would nded.

Adios

Jim