Sunday, September 26, 2010

Little blessings

Hey folks.


This is probably the earliest post that I have made since we began our journey here in Spain, but there is a cool explanation for it.


We are now in the beautiful city of Léon and have been since about 8am.  We left Mansanilla at about 7am to embark on the 20km journey.  Sound quick? Yes, but not for a "taxi".  I put taxi in quotations because it wasn´t really a taxi per se, but a friendly couple that we met in the bus station in Mansanilla.  Jason's knee had started bothering him yesterday and he felt it wouldn't have been able to make the trek into Léon, especially since the majority of it was going to be on the side of the road on a mostly paved path.  So, we went to the bus station this morning, anticipating the 7:50 bus to Léon, only to find that there was only one bus to Léon on Sundays and it leaves at 4pm--that wasn´t going to work.  We left and then went back inside to inquire about a taxi, and this is when it got interesting. 


The man whom we questioned, whom we also woke up from his 24hr watch at the bus station, then asked a man named Javí, who was standing next to a lady who looked to be his mother, who was watching him throw away money at one of the ever-present slot machines of Spain, how much a taxi would run to Léon.  He then said something about heading to work in that direction and that he and his mom could take us.  My normal instincts were saying "paul...Really? If this were the US, you would be saying 'I need an adult, I need an adult!' and running out of the bus station looking for a place to hide"  Instincts aside, we soon found ourselves clutching our bags on our laps inside a very tiny eurocar that smelled like a mix of b.o. and other various and sundrie odors.  But, God be praised.  They took us to Léon, saving Jason's knee, putting us very close to a 24hr farmacia where we purchased an ace-bandage, not too far from a value priced hostal, right down the street from the Cathedral, where we made it just in time for the 9am Sunday Mass. . . .Pretty sweet, huh?


After Mass we then made it across the street to a gift shop that just so happened to sell fleece/windbreakers, a warm item that we didn´t plan on bringing even though Spain is the same latitude as NY and our trip takes us a few weeks into an already close-to-freezing Autumn.  We purchased one and then got a great coffee and sweet-bread thing--no, not the sweet-bread-nasty-cow-meat-dish--and checked into the hostal and started walking around town. 


The Cathedral is amazing and the city of Léon is very nice as well.  We don´t feel too bad for taking a cab because it is saving Jason´s knee, but one of the suggested ways to get into the city due to the rough road conditions is to take a bus.  I know it is a Camino, but one can´t caminar if their rodilla is busted, so, there you have it.


I wish that the computer I am typing on had a port for memory cards so I could show you some pics of the Cathedral, but those will have to wait.  Thanks for your prayers. You all will continue to be in mine.  Next entry should be from just outside of Léon.  Much love.


Paul

2 comments:

  1. hey man its Robbie ur barber. ur dad turn me on to ur blogspot. very cool dude. have a great time. u walking the golf courses over there, LOL

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  2. Hey Robbie!
    Thanks for checking out the blog! No, unfortunately no golf. I need to get back into it when I get back though. Hope you are well man, I will see you when I get back for a trim.

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