10 May 2008

We have been out of touch for a few days but we are both keeping well, there was no internet facilities available.

Getting back to the last blog where we checked into this large warehouse type Albergue in Sahagún, we need to tell you that it was a terrible place eventhough the owner was very nice. The place was damp and cold and Danielle decided to sleep fully dressed, with many layers. It poured all night and into the next day making the cold now wet. It was quite miserable and, on the Camino, that means mud paths everywhere. Since the train station was just around the corner from us, we decided to walk there and check the timetable. As it was, a train was due within 20 minutes and, on the spur of the moment, we decided to take it to Leon. That saved us two days of walking, about 40 kms and allowed us to take a day off in Leon. Once again we ended up in a big city on a weekend and we expected to have some difficulty finding accomodations. After asking a few elderly Spanish men, we were directed to an area where we found the Hostal de Londres, a one star hotel (we did not know those existed). It turns out it was a perfectly adequate place and the owners were quite a warm couple. It was in the center of things which made it convenient to do some sightseeing. It was then that I Danielle, discovered that I did not have my passport. What a panic! I immediately remembered where I had left it. Just before going to the train station, I was on the internet and had taken it out to find an email address for some friends who had asked us to let them know where we were that day. Bernie was in a rush for me to get ready and, it turns out he was right to be, because the train we caught was 25 minutes late so, if it had been in time, we woul have missed it. Anyhow, I rushed to get my pack on and leave and hence, the passport catastrophy. I walked in to our hotel and, with my awful Spanish, told the man ¨grande problemo passeporte in Sahagùn". He immediately understood and he was nice enough to find the telephone number and call them. They had it and said the would drop it off at our hotel by 9pm that night. What luck seems to follow me on the Camino! At 9 o clock, as expected, he was there with my passport. We did some sightseeing in Leon such as the Cathedral which is far more beautiful than the one in Burgos. The stained glass there rivals anything in Europe, so says our book. We tend to believe it because it was breathtaking. At one point, we came upon a great Pizzeria and we had a very good meal. Christine, it was the kind you like with the very thin crust. It was just delicious. Bernie seems to think he is on a starvation diet here so he very much enjoyed that stop. Talk to you tomorrow on our next blog.