We are walking! It was so nice to leave the Parador Hotel clean, rested, and not having just walked nearly 500 kilometers! We had no trouble walking all the way to our goal of Villar de Mazarife, where I spent my first night without Rand last year.
Walking, we've determined, is our primary reason for doing the Camino this year. For Rand to complete his Camino (God willing!). For me to complete my Camino unbroken (God willing!). And for us to complete our Caminos together (one way or another!).
And of course to make new memories and lasting friendships!
These two were the only others at the albergue we stayed at tonight in Villar de Mazarife. From Switzerland, they have been married 41 years.
He walks for religious reasons.
"Are you Catholic?" I asked. "We believe in the Bible," he said, "the Old and New Testament. What denomination you are is between you and God."
I like this very much.
He gave us a pamphlet about how you know you are going to heaven. He carries them in several languages. We accepted it graciously. While it isn't how we are called to serve, it is our responsibility to honor the call of others.
His wife walks because she's already walked across Switzerland and France. Spain is the next logical step.
Even though he trained to walk with her, after the first 5 days he realized that no training prepares you for the Camino. Isn't that the truth! So he walks as much as he can, and takes the local bus to the albergue they plan in advance to stay at for the night. He also sends his backpack with the transport service so he doesn't have the extra weight to carry. She walks every step, with her backpack on.
"She is very strong," he bragged.
They spent the last 3 days resting in Leon after he caught a cold.
Catching a cold is something that has been on my mind since we arrived. Something I definitely want to avoid. It is colder here than I remember. At least it feels that way. Maybe because last year I left Ohio in the negatives and this year I left California at 85 degrees. Or maybe because we didn't walk our first several day. I'm sure that once we get moving more regularly on foot we will adjust.
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