CVdlP, Day 4/5, 22/23 September 2016

Thursday, September 22

Today I slept in to almost 10:00 AM and felt I could have almost slept longer. I wasn’t feel great and having made the decision to stay another day was the right one.

I stayed in my bed most of the day and sat in the patio to get some time outside. I still could not think about eating anything but forced myself to walk the few block to a restaurant around 1:00, but it didn’t start serving food until two. I was lucky it was not the customary 4:00 PM.

Nothing on the menu sounded good and I just got a salad with olive oil and vinegar, but I could not finish it. I saw people eating various things that looked good and decided just to order what looked good on other people’s plates. I ordered a plate of grilled green pepper, probably not the best for my stomach, and a bowl of Spanish olives. Must be my salt craving because they hit the spot. I order some calamari and could not eat more than a few bites.

I went back to the albergue and just rest and never went back out for diner. Went to sleep early hoping yo feel better in the morning.

Friday, September 23

I woke up feeling much better and thought of heading out, and decided to be cations and stay another day.

I had more energy and walked to the local mercado and bought some fruit, yogurt, snacks, and drinks, and assumed it was a good sign that I was getting a bit of an appetite.

I actually enjoyed my time at the albergue as one of the owners, Daniella, was home with their six month old baby, Luis, and they kept me company most of the day. She was truly a very nice woman, and Luis a cute smiley baby. Both kept my mind off of how I was feeling.

Daniella, who is originally from Romania, made a great salad as her husband is vegetarian, and gave me a small plate and I was able to enjoy and eat it.

By diner time I was very hungry and went out with my new Italian roommate. He is seventy-four years old, about five foot tall, and this is his sixth Camino. He has actually done one from Switzerland to Rome. He didn’t speak much English, but typical for most Europeans, he speaks multiple languages, Italian, German, and French. After trying our best to communicate, he accidentally spoke in German and I was able to understand him. My speaking Dutch help as some of the words are similar. He spoke in German and I in Dutch. I had a very nice time with him, and he like so many Italians I have met, was a friendly person.

I went inside to pay for my meal and ran into the other owner of my albergue, Luis Sr. Another typical friendly Spaniard as I ended up talking to him until almost eleven, two hours. He is also a blacksmith and the bar/restaurant is where he gets much of his business. Just in the time we were there at least six people asked if they could buy him a beer. Must be Spanish hospitality because the owner put a glass down in front of me and said he’d like to offer me a drink of his good stuff. I didn’t want to offend him and told him about my medications and then he brought out a non-alcoholic liqueur made out of oak nuts. It’s was very good, and surprisingly it had the taste of a nut.

It turned out to be a nice day, and I am happy that I gave myself another day to recuperate. If I feel well in the morning, feeling as good as I feel now, I will definitely go to the next town which is only ten miles. A very short walk but the perfect length for my first day back.

Best wishes,

Ted

Looking down a street in Almaden de la Plata