Tui (Zero Day)

Today was my Zero Day and I slept until 8:00, and then just laid in bed until afternoon. It felt good, but strange because my senses kept telling to get up and start trekking. It has been a little over fifteen days since I last had a zero day. I might not have taken it today if my shins had not bothered me, but it was a sign my body was telling me something.

I finally headed out the door and walked to the Tui Cathedral and the plaza in the afternoon. I stopped and had lunch at an outdoor cafe. I had planned to go to the super mercado to pick up some drinks and food for tomorrow and found, like so many businesses in Spain, that it is closed on Sunday. I did not find this so much in Portugal.

I went back to the hotel and ask Irenea if there was an open store, and unfortunately it was back down towards the bridge where I first came into town. I really did not want to walk far today and decided against it. Irenea offered to drive me, and I thanked her and said no.

Later in the afternoon when I came down to pay for the extra night, she handed me a shopping bag with two 1.5 liters of water and one 1.5 liter bottle of orange drink. Wow, how can I say no to such a kind offer. Then when I paid for the room, she discounted it €2. Not a huge amount, but again, a very kind offer.

For dinner I tried going to two recommended restaurants and found both closed. There are so many open places but many just serve drinks and snacks. The Spanish love to just go out for a drink and sit outside. And you see so many of them and their kids strolling and playing on the plaza late at night, which you don’t always see back home.

I had a zero day and it went fast, back to my room for an early bedtime. My plan was to leave early but today I used up all my calling minutes on my phone plan. It is limited to calls outside of Portugal, and now in Spain I’ve used it all. Having a phone is very important to make reservations for lodging, especially since there are so many pilgrims. The only place to get a new SIM card is less than a block from my pension, but it is closed on Sunday, and does not open until 9:00 am tomorrow. So there goes my early start.

I figured that it would only be three, or four, days to Santiago, and with this it may be four days. I am not in a hurry, though I have to fly to Barcelona on Saturday. This will give me a little more time to sleep in the morning and I’ll take it as a positive.

Best wishes to all,

Ted

Please excuse the typos, spelling, grammar, etc., as I am typing this on my phone, and I am probably pretty tired.

If you would like to see the Alzheimer’s Association website, see our team page, and donated, please go to:

act.alz.org/goto/tedstrek

A sign at the Tui Cathedral

Walking to the Cathedral

The Tui Cathedral

Hey, and there is a man in purple, Walking to End Alzheimer’s, in front of the Tui Cathedral. Poor guy must really believe in that great cause, because he’s still walking with his injuries.

And a beautiful statue of Frayr Salvado, and oh, there’s a man standing there wearing the purple representing the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Wow, he must have walked a hard and long way for a great cause!

Walking near the Plaza

A government build. And that is even beautiful.

The view out of my window while I was lounging today. Not bad!

Irenea, one of the managers at the pension, being sweet and kind and giving me two 1.5 liters bottles of water and one 1.5 liter of citrus drink. She is originally from Cuba and met her Spanish husband when he was there for vacation. Nice lady!