A Shift in Pace
So, I got an opportunity to serve as a hospitalera In Salamanca. Last night the hospitalero at the Salamanca albergue asked me to watch the albergue while he went down to the Plaza with a friend. I was happy to do it. When I left today I told him I'd be here a few days, so if he needed any more help to let me know. He said if I wanted to do it the next night That would be fine. So I went again tonight.
Last night at the albergue I asked Lisa and Lassi to get me a bottle of water while they were out at the Dominoes Pizza all you can eat bacchanal. I was going to give them the money, but they said don't worry about it. And I told them I would give it to them when they got back. Well they weren't back when I went to bed and they left before I got up this morning. They are young. When I went downstairs, there was a bottle of water sitting on the table on a piece of paper that said "NANCY." Isn't that sweet?
I slept good last night. The window was open a little and I had a blanket over me. I got up this morning and was a little fuzzy waking up, but I got everything together by 8am. I asked the hospitlero if I could leave my pack there until 12:30 pm, because I couldn't check into my hotel until then. He said I could. So I took off trying to figure out how I was going to pass four hours AND stay off my feet. I could easily pass four hours in Salamanca if I didn't need to rest my knee. So I decided to have a leisurely breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants. I had a grande café to wake up me and my appetite. Then I got a croissant a la plancha (sliced with butter and jam, another grande café and a bottle of water. Then I read my book on my iPhone. That took an hour and a half. So I walked around for a while going to about ten farmacías, both regular and homeopathic, looking for particular things for my knee. Totally unsuccessful. That took another hour and a half. Then I stopped and got another coffee and a bottle of water. The coffee was supposed to be an Americano, but the guy put way too much water in it and it was really weak. But I gagged it down. lol
I went back and got my pack about 12:30. With a good knee and no pack, the walk to and from the albergue to the plaza is short. With a bum knee and a pack it turned out to be a little long. I ran into Jerard on the way to the hotel and we decided to meet for lunch at 1:30. I checked into my room and am very happy to report that it is lovely. It has a bathtub big enough for a family. And my room doesn't overlook the street, so it is quiet. It has nice comfy beds and even a small refrigerator with a little freezer where I can keep my ice pack, used for my knee, cold. All this for 60€ in the heart of Salamanca between the Plaza Mayor, cum book faire this week, and the Cathedral. If you ever need a Hotel in Salamanca, look into Hotel Rua Salamanca. It is really a great deal!
Jerard and I went and had lunch at a restaurant on the Plaza Mayor that has a second story inside with tables that had a view of the Plaza. In fact, my seat had a view of one side of the Plaza that didn't include a view of the modular book fair. I love living in denial, so I just pretended the book fair wasn't there. After lunch, I said farewell to Jerard. He is leaving tomorrow and he may go to Zamora or even continue to Santiago. I may, or may not, see him again. It is the way of the Camino. I went back and took a bath in my huge bath tub. I never take baths, don't like them, but it seemed like it would be a sacrilege not to take one in this huge tub. Than it was nap time.
At six thirty I headed back to the albergue to do a couple of hours as a hospitalera. There were only six pilgrims there. Last night when I stayed at the albergue, there were 18 pilgrims. Bed capacity is sixteen, so the last two slept on the floor. Again, it is the way of the Camino. One night the albergue is full, the next night it is almost empty.
On my way home I could not resist the pastry shop. I got three things and ate two of them while reading a my mystery novel on my kindle app on my iPhone. Greatest idea ever. Always a book handy and no extra weight in the pack. I have several spiritual books in my kindle library, but some how end up reading mysteries. I guess I'm still in spiritual kindergarten, nowhere near graduation. ; )
Salamanca is truly one of the most overlooked cities in Spain. I had never heard of it until I came to study here a few years ago. But is a lovely city. It is home to two Universities, one of which is the oldest in Spain, two Cathedrals, and fifty buildings designated as cultural heritage assets. And as I've said before it has, in my opinion, the most beautiful Plaza Mayor in Spain. If you are in Spain, it is a great place to visit. I am glad I had a chance to see all the sights when I was living here. If I hadn't, it would be almost impossible to stay still and rest my leg.
When I came into the city, I saw parts of the river trail I spent countless hours exploring that winter I lived in Salamanca. As a side note explanation, I came on a study abroad program with sixteen young people most under 21 years old. Most of them had never drank in a bar before and they were all away from home. I called it, "My Trip to Spain With Sixteen Drunken Teenagers." They were all nice kids, well except one or two, but we obviously had different interests and different schedules. I got up about the time they went to bed. So I spent a lot of time alone wandering the city. While traipsing around today, I passed many places that brought back memories. Like saw the place where I stood and watched the Children's Procession during Semana Santa and the other place where I stood late at night by the Cathedral watching another procession. I walked by the place on the Plaza Mayor where I drank hot chocolate and ate churros. It was a cold winter in all of Europe that year.
Well night all.
No comments:
Post a Comment