Saturday 8th October, 2022

October 08, 2022

It was a good night, deep, long sleep.

This morning, I moved slowly as my back was so very tight. I imagine from the plane and walking, walking, walking the stone streets/walkways yesterday looking for a room. I reorganized everything. Collected what I don't think I'll really need...more than I'd like but less than I thought.

I'm having more difficulty than in younger years being on my own. I try to channel my inner Andrea doing her Camino solo...but I don't seem to have the sunny welcoming inclinations that I used to have. I remember traveling in Germany after the Horens Festival, meeting people, finding a room, it all was so glorious...it wasl aslo my 1st trip abroad and i was in my 20's! . 40 years later, maybe i'm a bit more cautious.

Ran into some Americans finally and was able to ask about food types which was helpful. Finally landed a breakfast spot by noon, so had ham (proscuito), bread (unavoidable here) with tomato and a coffee. Such good coffee - nothing acidic about it!

There was a very vocal march against somethinng with Policia in front and in the rear passing by my cafe - in between all the stone buildings - very loud!''

I do enjoy the people watching. Sitting in the cafe outside under a beautiful arcade, so many doggos with their humanz in restaurants and walking the camino.

Meg got us a BnB for tomorrow and Monday night and it looks fantastic! Totally psyched for that!

Today, I will seek out a masseuse, there is a performance of some sort tonight and hit the tourism office for general information. Not sure when I'll meet upwith Meg & Judi tomorrow and they will spend time in line at the Pilgrim office when they arrive...

9:18 pm

A wonderful afternoon! I did a bit of shopping, jewlery here is so inexpensive & all 925 sterling silver! Plenty of walking & relaxing in the sunny praza de Cathedral, wathcing pilgirms streaming in meeting up with their groups, loved one, families etc. It is incredible scene. Old/young, 2 legs, 4 legs, bicycles - including a sitting bike pulling a gear cart, wheel chairs and plenty of older and much older folks looking better than I imagine I'll look!

Sitting on the wall in the warm sun a man sat beside me - speaking damn good english but he is an Albanian Camino group guide, having done walking tours over 20 times! I went back to the hostel, picking up a snack of turkey, agua, crusty bread and yougurt! A feast! With all the walking I am famished but fill up quickly. Got a massage in the early evening, walked in the beautiful park at dusk with the Cathedral lit and nearly full moon rising off to the right. Right now, I am finishing the evening with a night cap of "choc-o-latt" (hot chocolate) and rice pudding - the size of a bowl of soup in one of the many cafes near my hostel.

I have to say, it is so refresshing not to see beer, disease & insurance ads. Everything is so clean, morning cleaners wash the street front stone entranceways, garbage bins everywhere but never overflowing. No homeless but a few beggar women, heads down on their knees...awful to see, & wonder...