A slow start as we had less than 20 kilometres to walk. An appropriate pace enjoying the houses, flowers and cats of the area. Met up with two American ladies now both living (separately) in Costa Rica. Great chatting while walking, makes the kilometres pass.
Interestingly, the Americans both have similar stories. Like many other expats living in the same region. With husbands, decided they could bring retirement forward 20 years by selling up and moving to CR. A very gutsy move as there is no potential to reverse the decision (financially). And a comment from January also that with no services available, if they had a cardiac arrest they'd die. (No ambulance service, let alone hospital!) And no, I didn't make an error in the previous sentence. Yes, her name is January. And she was born in February. Anyone of my generation will simply say "Oh I see!" by way of understanding when I explain that January comes from San Francisco and was a child of the 60s! (The hippie 'flower power' generation!)
We passed a local lady washing her clothing in the outdoor community laundry, a source of great fascination for the Americans. She was proud to have her photo taken. Obviously a very hardworking lady, true 'salt of the earth'.
A number of lovely villages, the magnificence of the roses here has Jenny's attention every time, and now she has taken also to photographing cats, of which there are many roaming the streets. Today there were a few friendly dogs too. Pasture, forest and hills. I think today with all our ups and downs we totalled about 300m up and 400m down. Hard to really track it with the discrepancies of the guide books.
Vistas were frequent and superb. There are so many valleys and near and far mountains contributing to the scene. We met Hannah from Germany again, she was one of the original group all those weeks ago. Then we met Frenchman Patrick who had been trekking with two other French (including 'trolley man'), but through injuries (theirs) he now walks alone. His two buddies have both fallen victim to the Camino and have headed home. Of those we personally have met or heard of, 9 (including one death) have not made it to the end.
Arrived at our destination and had a pilgrim lunch at a bar. Nice. Then the realisation our accommodation is actually another 3 kilometres further on. So that put an immediate end to our expectations of relaxation and walking recommenced. Our new place is predictably on the crest of a steep hill. Enough hills already!
Our room is basic but clean and comfortable. We share a bathroom with just 3 other rooms, two empty and the third occupied by Febe and Andre. Nice to keep running into them. Comparing notes, we will touch base again in five days from now, not before. The pilgrim meal here tonight was amazing, with the host expressing particular concern to ensure we ate heartily. Jenny got her lentils along with the mixed salad. I enjoyed a steak, amazing soup and also the healthy salad.
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