May 1 Thursday - May Day! May Day!

May 1 Thursday - May Day! May Day!

Well two days without getting lost are the record. Today I got up, walked to the restaurant for breakfast (a cup of café con leche a tostada,) the of the restaurant and the albergue gave me a little going away present (red note pad,) and I left. I found the Camino and started walking. As I'm walking along this red car stopped and the driver asked me if I was going to Santiago. I told him I was and he informed me I was going the wrong way. But I told him I had seen a directional  marker. He told me again I was going the wrong and explained where the right way went. I told him thanks and turned to retrace my steps, somewhat dejected. He said he would give me a ride back to the Camino. 

It turns out he was in the bar this morning and is neighbors with Mozzie. He also told me Mozzie is a gypsy, but his wife is a normal person. He told me he is from Spain, but has been working in Holland and that is why he speaks American. He says he doesn't speak English, and he is correct. His pronunciation is American he says his wife is from the village I am leaving and they have a baby, so he comes back more often. He says his name is Jose and that there are a lot of Joses in Spain. I told him I had a friend named Jose, but he is Mexican. We came to the place where the Camino is, and there is a marker there, and it is not pointing in the direction I went. Sigh. But if I hadn't gotten lost I wouldn't have met Jose. I thanked him for helping me and he said, if he's in America and needs help, someone will help him. I hope so too.  

So I start out again. Today's walk is somewhat like yesterday's, except there are cars instead of vineyards. Then was more standing water/mud bank climbing/cutting paths through foliage as tall as I am adventure. But to be honest, it was all kind of mind numbing and tiring. While I was walking, I was wondering what my lessons could be. So far I don't have an inkling. Then my mind pops up and says, "Maybe the lesson is you don't have to do this to learn your lessons." Whoa, where did that come from? The last two days have been disappointing visually, but my human encounters have been outstanding. 

I get into Merída and I read the page from the guide book and it says, in the directions on how to find the Albergue, cross the Roman bridge and as you come into town turn left. I'm reading this while standing under and in the shade of a huge brick bridge with arches, and I think, "Oh no, they've changed the route. I supposed to be on top of the bridge. I turn around and I see these bricks running up the hill a couple of stories, that are part of the bridge an they could take me up to the railing and - then a moment sanity struck me. I am not Batman, or even Robin. A Tilty person Climbing two stories on steep narrow bricks with a back pack is not only not a good idea times ten, it's pure insanity. Ok, so there's more than one way to skin a cat. So I decide to walk around and back to find out where the bridge starts. So I walk for awhile and finally see where the cars get on the bridge, and then I realize there are not very man Old Roman Bridges that carry high speed traffic. Then I look at the bridge and I think that the bricks look very modern and are all even and the same shape and size. Then I remember there was an old Roman bridge in Salamanca for pedestrian traffic, but they built a near bridge for cars. And the light goes on (I'm really a clever girl you know lol) I determine I should just follow the arrows and I would probably find the Roman bridge. I did and I did. And a little while later I found the albergue   

I get to the albergue and the door is locked and there is a number posted on the door to call the hospitalera. So I knock on the door because I figure there are probably some pilgrims inside and I can at least set my stuff down. So the German with the goofy smile opens it and tells the hospitalera is not there and I need to call the number. I agree with him set my stuff down and starts telling me the number "no functiona," that I need to dial a +34. I tell I don't think so because I have a Spanish phone. He continued to insist it won't work. I finally tell him I'm just going to try it. He throws up his hands in exasperation. I dial, she answers and says she will be here in a minute. The German comes back and I explain again about country codes, and now he believes me. Only he notices my phones key pad doesn't have a "+" so how could I dial another country. I don't know. I'll have to find out, but not today. 

So the hospitalera comes, she's as personable as a DMV clerk. But I get a bed, pay her, she gives me a flyer for a restaurant, and leaves. I haven't seen her since and it is 8pm. The exterior of the albergue is cool looking (I'm including a picture) and it is right on the river that flows under all the bridges I've been talking about. The albergue is a basic albergue, but I have a bed, I took a shower, I ate at the restaurant on the flyer she gave me, and the food was good. There are more pilgrim's here than I have seen up to now. I guess some people start in Merida. Merida is a City, a tourist city. After being in the country walking through wide open spaces it is a bit jarring. So I've been hanging at the albergue. I will sleep soon and start again tomorrow. Praying for no standing water mud banks vegetation paths. lol.