We started the day with a great breakfast which included yogurt and cheese. This is such a treat because breakfast is usually day old bread with marmalade.
Jenny and I began walking with Daniel from Sweden, Rose & Jess from Kentucky, and Yan from China. We were on the lookout for Massimo, a very handsome Italian man that Jenny spent the evening chatting with, but he apparently set out very early.
As the morning progressed, we realized that we were feeling very good today and before we knew it we had walked 21km.
In Los Arcos, we saw Lynette sitting at an outdoor cafe & we stopped to have a coffee with her. We met Lauren from Washington D.C., and Louise from Somerset, England. As we sat there chatting with the ladies, Daniel came by and joined us.
After the coffee and Nepolitana treat, we had no problem walking straight on to Torres del Rio. We checked into a private albergue owned by a Mexican family, and the guy in charge was a riot. Smiling from ear to ear at all times, he welcomes everyone personally. He loves his job, it's easy to see. We have laundry, showers, wifi, & a full bar. Dinner is offered, but is served at another location down the street.
After showering, I go down to sit outside the front of the albergue at a plastic table to write in my journal and sip Rioja. Within a few minutes a crowd gathers. I meet Adam from Orange County, who is staying at another albergue in town. Jenny then comes down with Kirin from Ireland, who isn't feeling well because he began his walk after a 3 day stag party and then tried to walk 30km each day. After a few minutes, a group of four older Italian men that we played leap frog with arrive. One of them greets me with, "Bella, ti amo"....Jenny says it means I love you beautiful. I am embarrassed but flattered.
Next, Fabian & Marek arrive. Two boys from Germany that we have been with in three albergues now. They were in the room with Lynette last night and were so kind, respectful and well behaved. Fabian has a full head of dreadlocks & tends to dress like a complete hippie, which causes people to fear the worst when they see him coming. Marek, his best buddy since the age of five, is much more conservative in his appearance with short hair & glasses. Both the boys are very kind gentle souls and frequently go out of their way to help others on the Camino. It's nice to watch because people never expect it. They have both just finished year 13 in Germany and have plans to travel for a year while they make decisions about University. Fabian is thinking about culinary arts, Marek likes the idea of being a social worker.
We all head down the hill, through the village, for our late dinner. Jenny and I are seated with Daniel, Yan, Jess, & Rose. We are all tired but the food is good & we have fun.
Jenny & I get Kirin's food to go since he hasn't left the bed. After discussing his predicament & poor Camino decisions, we decide that we can't feel sorry for the position he has put himself in. With only ten days to walk the Camino, he has run himself into the ground in just a few days. Knowing that everyone comes to the Camino to learn a lesson (or a few), we assume his lesson has something to do with knowing his limits and respecting his body. (This is also something that I know I need to work on.) We give him dinner as our offering and suggest that he stay put for a day of rest.
After dinner we all head straight to bed. Somewhere in our room full of 10 bunks, there is a ridiculous snorer. It sounds as if he is being strangled in his sleep and the rest of us find it hard to suppress uncontrollable laughter. Never thought I'd be able to say that I have actually fallen asleep while laughing, but now I can.
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