No internet yesterday, just a story. I had walked over 19.5 miles on Saturday, so I thought it might be good to kick back on Sunday and not push. Walked around 9 miles then turned right thinking I was going to the Virgen de Gaudalupe Alberque. Well... I kept following signs to the alberque and the bar. Too late I realized I was actually walking to the next town - within a stones throw of Cirequa (sp?). So I followed the signs to the bar and asked for the alberque. They spoke no english, but we communicated and the husband walked me over. It was lovely - a fairly new place (kind of like a town house) where I believe the family had their apartment, then they had 7 bunk beds in a basement room with a nice window in it. I was thrilled it was so clean and I had the shower to myself.
It was about 11:30. I went through the usual routine of showering, washing clothes and hanging them out. Then I took my journal outside to the fountain and sat on a bench and wrote for a while. Lovely afternoon - a few clouds, coolish breeze. There were some children riding their bikes. After a while I went to check on my clothes and decided to grab my guide book and check on the options for stopping the next day. BUT I couldn´t find my guidebook! Disaster! While you can walk the whole Camino without a map, I really needd my guidebook as it shows the distance to the next town and tells whether or not there is an alberque, and if it is half-way decent. My anxiety level began to rise. And with the anxiety of no guidebook I started feeling anxious about the alberque - would no one else show up since it was a little off the camino? Would I be completely by myself?
After looking all around and not finding it, I realized I needed to calm down. I could go have a wine, but I thought hmmm... maybe this is one of those moments when I´m suppose to check in with God. So I went back outside and entered into prayer. I gave everything up to God, my panic, my anxiety, my concerns. I tried to listen and be ready if I felt God encouraging me to travel by faith without a book at all. Or would someone arrive at the alberque who could help me out. I started to feel reassurance that all would be alright. I started to feel like I really could trust the intuition that had led me to this alberque at this time and I would be with the right people if anyone else showed up.
So then I went for my glass of wine. As I sat outside I looked up to see a couple a little older than me come up. They were from Sweden. I told them they were at the right place and they went in and arranged to stay at the alberque. After they had settled in they returned to the bar and we visited a little. They told me they had gone to the other alberque, but when they´d asked the lady if they could see the room she yelled at them :¨" This is not a museum". The lady said she had time though to notice that it was not very clean. (Actually, today I met some Australians who stayed there. They described it as a concentration camp, very strict. That´s probably the only negative description I´ve heard of an alberque so far). So I HAD chosen the right place.
After a while I left to take in my laundry. As I was getting things organized I moved my pillow and thought I saw something on the floor behind the bed. Guess what? It was my guidebook. All that worrying for nothing! But good lessons and faith deepened. A good Sunday indeed.
Today I am staying in Villamayor Del Rio. Another tiny town about 8 km east of Burgos. I was delighted to walk into the room and find that Cathy-Jo from MN was there. I had first heard about her days ago. My other two roommates are from England. They are musicians who I have seen in the distance walking. Merwanna is carrying her harp and Craig is carrying his guitar. So after I showered I headed outside to do my laundry. Merwanna was outside in the garden playing her harp. How lovely and relaxing as I hung my clothes on the line. I heard from a Finnish woman that they often give concerts in the evening. I´m hoping they´re in the mood tonight after dinner!
May the loveliness of good music be with you. Bueno Camino!
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