Day 19 Terradillos de los Templarios-Calzadilla de los Hermanillos

Good Morning Everyone!

Staying at off the beaten paths where most every pilgrim goes (main villiages and albergues) I´m often without a computer or cannot get on. I always prefer the off the beaten path...it´s where you find the magic.

On our 11th & 12th days dehydration had caught up with me because of a little known ¨Camino Swoosh¨...because of the language differences sign language is often used in this case........The Pilgrim bends forward (just a little) at the waist, then they take their fingers pointing upward towards their butt and with force and thrust their hand in a downward fashion towards the ground...SWOOSH...diarreah (sp?)! That´s how I got dehydrated. I´m doing better and knew I was well when my Happy Face and Spirit returned! Wooooooooo Hoooooooo!

In London on our way to France we met two adorable little girls...Chloe 10 & Darci 5 yrs. old who have been e-mailing me. I am now an official penpal to Chloe.

On Day 16 we stayed at one of my favorite albergue´s...St Nicojas. It is the Albergue that doesn´t have electricity only lit by candlelight. The Hospatalero´s were exciting beyond words. I was overwhelmed sitting at the head or end of a very long wooden table watching all the Pilgrim´s toast and eat dinner together. I was facing the Altar looking at the window at the far end of the room.

After our Foot Cleansing Ceremony Pilgrims´gathered around the table and outside to enjoy the blue sky and windy evening. Inside was a different story...Here I knelt between three Italian men singing Italian songs. One (Alberto) was a Gondolier in an earlier life and how he met his wife (Elvia) was singing to his hearts core. Then, Josepi and Giovani followed in sync. Their voices inside that little church was incredible and I found myself singing even though I didn´t know the words along with them...my arms around their shoulders, swaying this way and that, and then moving to Alberto giving him a hug as well. Oh my! My heart was overflowing with love once again!

Arriving early gave me a chance to wash every single item of clothing I had with me and watching it blow in the wind reminding me my childhood days when I helped mom hang clothes to dry. More wonderful memories.

Yesterday, I felt as mellow as the breeze blowing towards us across the wheat fields.

The farmers were out cutting in their wheat fields yesterday. We saw maybe an acre of lettuce and the rest of our view was wheat fields. We walked 17kms on a straight dirt road...the same where Nicole and I encountered our Englishmen in the jeep and giving us a short 3 min ride. More memories.

I stopped to see my friend Eduard arBoadilla del Camino where I was wonderfully greeted with a great big hug and ÄriZona, Hello!¨ He had a new computer and got rid of the one I had great difficulty with. Gracias my friend Eduardo.

Well we must get on the road. We will walk 26kms to Calzadilla de los Hemrmanillos. The day is cold and windy. We have been blessed with cool weather in the middle of June.

Yesterday we found out we will have another adventure. Marc (my Husband), found cheap tickets for us to fly to London. After the Camino we will be heading to OPORTO, Portugal where we will fly to London Stansted. Woooooooooo Hooooooooo!!!!! Another Adventure even if for a day.

Well, until another day and another place, Ciao my friends and family. Today will be more flat land. We will have another five days of flat land and then once again we will start climbing.

I forgot to add, two days ago Yvonne and I both fell flat on the concrete with our heavy packs slamming us into the ground. I was walking on the cotton from the cotton trees and enjoying the softness beneath my feet when...slam! I was on the ground...hidden was an uplifted piece of concrete. I didn´t get any bruises and was just fine. Yvonne, a few hours later...took a step on a sloping curb and in one swoop as her foot hit the ground her entire body went forward without any warning, also with her pack slamming her forward! Her left eyebrow immediately started swelling and before bedtime she was getting a big, black eye. Today, she has more color around her eye but says she feels okay. Caution: watch out for the backpacks of the Pilgrims´...they are hazardous to your health!

Buen Camino...I Love You All...AriZona