And I'm bad with names
Gave me directions
But it's all the same
I'm lost
I'm too tired to try
Street lamps are broken
Black the way I came
Who broke the moonlight
Watch it wax and wane
I'm lost
I'm too tired to try
Let's not get ahead of ourselves now
There's no need for rain
Its our own parade
Let's not be afraid of our reflections
Its not only you
You're looking at now
Road signs were stolen
Left here holding this flame
Who stole my patience
Who stole my way
I'm lost
I'm too tired to try
This song accompanied my thoughts on the part of the stretch that I walked alone. "No Good With Faces" by Jack Johnson.
This morning started out earlier. I followed Camille's lead at getting up around 6:15. My legs looked a little better, but I needed to get to a doctor still. Today they'd be open. Jetted back over to Capoteca bar to use wifi to communicate with the padres really quick. I was supposed to meet Camille and Olea back at the monastery to be a part of the lauds (Camille told me it's when they sing prayers back and forth--the nuns, I think). Would've been cool, but we couldn't find it, so we started the walk.
Camille, Anita, and I walked to the first town. We ran into Chris and Lainie and we all stopped at a hostel to get food. It was a cute hippie hostel playing spicy latin love songs on the speakers. There was fresh baguettes, jam, butter, coffee, teas, and milk all laid out on the table for us to enjoy. And wifi. And bathrooms. By donation only. Such a sweet deal. I would love to do something like this when I move to Viana one day. Maybe as a retirement deal? So if you stop through Viana on the Camino forty years from now, please swing by my pad for some coffee, toast, and spicy latin music.
We enjoyed a chat and rest and then were on our way.
Camille, Anita, Lainie, and Chris have been my favorite people to walk with on the Camino so far. And today I got to be with them all at once.
Who's the lucky gal?
Chris and I took turns playing songs on the uke. Sometimes singing along. Sometimes mumbling along.
Then we split up a little. I put the uke away and jammed out to Jack Johnson on my phone. Eventually I caught up with Anita and Camille again and walked with them the rest of the way to Belorado.
Today was naked blue skies with a light breeze. Bright sun. My farmers kicked in on one arm, so I rolled up my sleeves.
As we approached Belorado on the dusty gravel road, we saw a sign for a swimming pool at the next hostel. 5€? That's it? What's the catch? The only catch is that hostel is 1km out of town, so they sell everything you'd need in the hostel (even a nice sized bar) but they charge a little more. 5€ is still killer.
The five of us ended up in the same room in bunks.
Doctor first. I walked 1.5km into town to look for a consult. Found Red Cross, but they were closed for the next three hours, so I headed back to the hostel.
Rinsed off, washed laundry in the shower (too cheap to pay 2€ to use the machine), and POOL! So cold, but so refreshing. After an hour of laying out with just legs dangled in, we finally decided to get in and do a few laps in this 9 yard pool. Ha Camille, Chris, and I. We also talked to some Brits about Trump. The whole world is scared of Trump, according to the representatives of the world I've met on the Camino.
There was a rinsing station that I tried to use by the pool, but the knob popped off and the water pressure sprayed out through the knob hole. It took Camille and I 3 min to get it screwed back on finally.
Back to the rooms to shampoo and dress.
Ate some chorizo, cheese, and grain baguette that Camille and I bought a shared. Camille is a very generous human being. She always shares her food. She bought pastries to share with all of us earlier at that donation house. So thoughtful. Always.
After lunch Lainie and I walked into town. She was headed to yoga (some guy pulled over in a van gave her a coupon while we were walking) and I was headed to the doctor. I walked her to the hostel where the yoga was and went on my way.
I went to Red Cross first. Still closed. Rang the buzzer five times. A lady in a red soccer jersey finally walked up and told me, "I can't treat you here. You'll have to go through that alleyway to the Health Center."
Okay. So down the alley and went around the building. Pharmacy was there, too. Popped in to see if they could just give me allergy cream, but the sweet, young pharmacist insisted that I go to the emergency room first.
Across the street I went. To the Health Center. To the Emergency Room. Also locked. And empty. Hmm. I buzzed twice. Two smiley, brunette gals in white med coats opened up the door for me. They must be on-call in another room unless they get the buzz. I was the only patient there. They were very friendly and welcomed me in.
I inquired the prices. 75€ like the other. No cards. Just cash. They directed me to the bank 25 meters away. I got out cash and returned to the emergency room. It was still unlocked for me. I walked into the examination room and both the medic and the nurse kneeled down to touch my leg right away. The softly rubbed their hands up and down. Checking for texture and temperature, I'd assume. They were very sympathetic. As if they each were my own mother.
"Allergies. Likely plants."
"Sun exposure, too, huh?"
They bounced hypotheses off one another.
Then came the questions directed at me.
-Where did you start the Camino?
-Where have you sat?
-What did you touch?
-How long has it been like this?
-What have you been putting on it?
-What have you been wearing?
Verdict: Plant allergy. Sunshine made it worse. Heat added to complications. Topical ibuprofen was not a good call on my part. Neither were essential oils.
Remedy: Two types of pills (benedryl-esque) for up to 10 days. Pants. Hiking boots again. Cold showers. No creams. No essential oils.
The medic gave me half the meds that she had there to save me some money. Also, I have travel insurance which will reimburse costs. Wise, last-minute decision.
Headed back to the pharmacy.
"Allergies?" the sweet, young pharmacist looked for confirmation.
"Yep."
She suggested the cream, too, but I declined.
Next item on the list was a store that would print a document I needes to send to a friend. The sweet, young pharmacist very kindly and efficiently gave me directions to the nearest print shop.
The elderly man at the shop got me all set up with my document, envelope, and even a stamp! Saved me multiple trips around town.
I filled up my water bottle at one of those old fountains with ice cold water and made my way back to the hostel. Stopped by the yoga place, but Lainie seemed to have left already.
Once at the hostel, I was ready to start the recovery process with these weird allergies. Medic recommended food with the pills.
Ordered a brei and ham pincho, 2 coffees, and candy (because).
Caught up with my friend Cheryl from home who helped me research blister preventative methods.
Here I sit now in the brisk Spanish air under the flood lights on the patio of the hostel.
My bed calls. Tomorrow is a new day. I'm officially 1/3 of the way into the Camino. So fast. So fulfilling.
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