Day Nine: Soy una Tortuga:Logrono

We planned a short walk today of 9 km (I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that I now consider a six mile walk “short”) so we could take a rest day in Logrono. We have walked about 100 miles so far.

All yesterday I was the last one, and the others would drop back and ask “Okay?” or “Esta bien?” I would respond “Si. Soy una tortuga.” They would smile and go on.

This is the view from our room at 6. (The earlier you walk, the cooler it is.) I got ready and went downstairs. 30 -45 minutes later there is no sign of my family. I understood what Bjorn felt yesterday, because if they had left I would have cried. They were still there, so I go upstairs and say, “You guys are slow.” Giorgio said, “We are ready.” I said, “Estoy una tortuga? No! SON tortugas!” They laughed.

After breakfast we met Margrette and Christina and walked together. Margrette tends to stay in hotels, but might start staying with us. Christina is part of the family now, so 1/2 of us are German.

We began walking around 8:30. We stopped fairly soon; I’m still not sure why. I needed a toilet but there wasn’t one. After a bit I put on some bug spray because in that shady spot I was being eaten. And we still don’t move. So when it looks like we’re about to move I head off, since I’m slow, and Bjorn says, “Go on. We’ll catch you up.” Except he forgot he said it.

So I walked and walked, and there was no sign of my family. As I neared Logrono there was a woman selling jewelry and cokes outside her house. I bought one and waited, but I still needed a toilet. So after a bit I went on.

Soon after you enter the city there is a park. There I saw the St. James rose. Not far after was the pilgrim office. Toilet!

Only I got stuck. I couldn’t get the door to unlock. I jiggle and push, praying I don’t have to bang and yell, “Disculpe? Disculpe!” I finally got it open. Then went downstairs and read my kindle on a bench. Here came my family! “Jane!,” they called. “Mi tortugas!,” I replied.

This is part of the church in front of our hostel, which is called “Hostel Entresueno.”

They thought I was behind them, so they kept waiting for me. We found a restaurant, where I had rapas (similar to calamari) and some of the best ice cream of my life (sorry, Blue Bell) and then found a hostel.

Dalilah and Christina are shopping, Giorgio is napping in the lobby, Bjorn is napping in the room, and I’m in the lobby writing. Later we are finding a post office and I’m mailing a few things home. I packed some things I don’t need. Many of us find we’ve done this. Bjorn is mailing stuff home a second time.

Mailing stuff home took over an hour. The girl didn’t speak English and didn’t really know what to do. We started a tapas crawl but only ate at one restaurant. I did NOT eat the miniature squid. I drank two glasses of wine and got very sleepy.

After dinner (or was it before) we listened to Dixieland jazz, and I tried a new line dance. I also sang with a hat on the ground in front of the church, I’d always wanted to try busking.