Sunday, October 11

We are in Villafranca del Bierzo today. A beautiful town in an up and coming wine region. It is a long week-end in Spain as well so the town is humming. I took the bus today from Poferrada to give my leg a rest. It is an awful feeling. You become a walking junkie, and stopping is horrible. I am more exhausted from sitting around than I am from walking. There has been a bed-bug problem at the albergue so I am crossing my fingers.

I walked about 18k´s from Rabanal but could not go one step further. Not only was I in pain, but my leg was on fire. We got to the bar and I thought how am I going to ask the lady to call me a cab when who should appear but our little Brazilian friend who speaks Spanish...he got it all organized and saved the day. The most beautiful taxi arrived. A white merces Benz with leather interior and a smartly dressed driver who could not have been nicer. He took me to Poferrada where I found a pharmacy and stocked up. My concern was coming into the long week-end with everything closed and no ibuprofen. Out for dinner in Ponferrada, a not very good pilgrim meal but fun company and a good time.

We will see what tomorrow holds. I will try walking and see how it goes. I don´t think that I will make the 30 k`s as planned, but we will play it by ear. There is a Parador here and we are going to pay it a visit today. We made an inquiry about two nights at the Parador in santiago when we finish...788 euros . I don´t think so. Oh well.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope everyone has a wonderful day off. The weather here is spectacular today. Must be in the high 20´s. Again, enjoy.

Buen Camino