Again today was a short day, only 19 km. The night went well and I managed to sleep despite the snoring. Good ear props just is a must here, unless you can think of snoring as a symphony of music. A UK girl Rachel that we met the first couple of days liked to listen to snoring and found it relaxing - guess it is all about perception. It is interesting what you can do with your mind to overcome challenges, and it is all mental.
I was up too early for breakfast at the hostel, and I started walking about 6:50.
After 5 km I came to the first town where I got coffee and breakfast. It was a cosy place, but the most terrible breakfast. I got two crossaints, but they where from a package and cold and really bad. Any way, it was energy, and I continued the walk.
Shortly after I met Phil from Orange County in LA, and we walked together the next two hours and had great conversations.
Phil is 70 years and is walking the camino alone. He already had walked part of it with his wife earlier and wanted to try the hole Camino France - the one I am walking - and his wife did not want to, so he left for 6 weeks alone. He has three adult kids and 5 grand children and is retired and use the camino to practice gratitude of life - of everything he has with his family and what he has achieved with his career. Practicing gratitude for life is a really powerful tool and also something I do a lot while walking.
After an hour we came to next town, and time for second breakfast. This time I took the healthy alternative - Tortilla - which is kind of an omelette with potatos and made as a pie. And I got coffee and freshly pressed orange juice as well.
After breakfast we continued walking together. Now it has started to rain, so we had to take our rain clothes on. One more hour with great talks and we came to my hostel and Phil continued walking.
I came a bit early to the hostel after having walked just 20 km and had to wait before getting in. Hostel is nice and clean and about 20 min walk from center. I unpacked, got a nap, and went into the rain and 11 degrees to do a bit of sightseeing. I ran into Norbert from Hungary and we agreed to have lunch and then walked through the town in siiling rain to see the cathedral and the small streets full of bars and restaurants. So many people are out and all bars are completely full of people. It is Saturday, so probably that is why.
Now I am back at the hostel and have got a hot shower and am writing this text. Later we will get out to a restaurant. Many from our group has arrived at Leon today and we will see if we can meet. Restaurants first open at 21, so it is very late dinner - but we will meet before for a drink. And I found a restaurant near the hostel, away from center that was really nice and could take 9 people.
Rachel and I left for the restaurant to get a drink before. The bar part was full so we went across the street to another were local bar. Average age was probably over 70 before we entered, and except for a very loud birthday party, it was cosy and the locals were meeting and playing cards.
Most of our group soon arrived, Colin and his dad, Louis, Ciara and Pedro. It was really good to see the group again and have a chat.
We went for the restaurent and had a nice dinner. The waiter was good and lots of space in there.
We had a good time and left 23:30. I went to bed, Colin and his dad took the train back to where they stayed, and some went for shots - I preferred to be fresh the morning after for Leon sightseeing.