Las Arenas de Cabrales

We started out expecting rain but it waited until about 30 minutes after we arrived at our accommodations. It was overcast and hazy all day, but a nice day for walking. We got free breakfast at our hostel (unusual) before setting out and we walked about 13.5 miles.

I'm so glad I have Moriah with me. She takes care of all our arrangements and serves as my personal tour guide. When we started out, a man recommended a different app than what we were using, and Malachi picked up on that quickly. Moriah took over the responsibility when he left, and though I'm sure I could do it all now, it's just easier to let her find things. It has made things less stressful... for me, anyway!

It's interesting buying medications here. No over-the-counter stuff is out on shelves, but you must go through the pharmacist. I bought Tylenol today and she would only sell me one box of 10 tablets.

It's also interesting what people drive on. When you think you are on a walking/biking path, a car will drive up behind you. Today it was so narrow that when we squeezed over to the edge in the bushes I was afraid the side view mirror was going to brush against me. The next car just waited till we got down off the path before trying to go by.

You know those little lending libraries we have in neighborhoods in the states? We saw one out in the woods which I guess was the Spanish equivalent. There's a picture below.

I believe it must be a rule on the Camino that all pilgrims must go up at least one flight of stairs to get to their rooms. I guess it "builds character".

Doing laundry here is different than we expected. We planned to wash our clothes everyday when we arrived and showered, and put on the next day's clean clothes. However, it's so cool and so humid that our clothes are not drying by morning. It has become a bit tricky.

Our accommodations tonight are in a neat old house outside town. Perhaps it was the family's house, because our twin beds still have Care Bear bedspreads. Because we are more isolated (which actually makes it quite peaceful) we don't have places to eat, so we will eat the evening meal here. It's a big meal and more expensive than we usually spend, but we were wanting to experience one of these meals, so this is our opportunity. Everything is served late here. Dinner was supposed to begin at 8:00, but they are accommodating us and letting us eat at 6:00 which is very kind of them. We don't like eating late, we go to bed early, plus we are very hungry!

I didn't want everything I wrote here to be about my foot problems, but I will end with a little report. The first couple hours of the day I hobble until my medications kick in. I'm determined to try not to walk more than 15 miles. Even at that rate, I'm sure every day I walk is making this worse. I'll try to complete what I've started, but I must show some wisdom in this. I may have to bus some even though I wanted to walk the whole thing.

We just got back from eating our big dinner. After the soup and some stew with bread he was taking our plates and the bowl away. I was afraid that was it except the dessert so I was taking more when he pointed to the plate underneath and said "pollo". He then brought chicken, fried potatoes, and salad. Then dessert. I'm stuffed, but I got my money's worth. Chris from Australia joined us and, like us, was thrilled to be able to eat before 8:00.

My foot is swollen tonight. This is not good.Read more