…and it wound across motorways and along a farm track until I came to a beautiful 13th century bridge with lots of arches. I was really ready for a break and so ventured into a lovely inn at the end of the bridge. The patron was middle aged with an immaculate white shirt on, busy at the coffee machine but with one eye on everybody. I asked for a coffee. He hardly acknowledged me but when some Americans swanned past him to descend the stairs to the toilets, he barked,
”NO Privado, Privado…no, no”
That didn’t bode well because I was desperate. Gingerly I took my cup back to the counter, to save him clearing up after me and asked if I could use the toilet…
He nodded approval….saved!! I think he wanted people to buy something rather than use his lovely establishment just as a toilet facility. I get that!
I took a picture of a sign outside with a Knight on horseback…whoever he was, he was ‘Honourable’…honroso !
High up on the hill, I saw a huge guy…I had to look twice before I realised it was a ‘GUY’…as in Guy Fawkes Guy…..
I think this walk is getting to me so I stopped at the little hippy stand and rested a while just to restore my equilibrium.
I pass a big stone cross…and a hill with civilisation below…I must be here I stupidly thought. No!! It was a mirage of Astoria, the city I was supposed to be getting too so I stopped for a ‘Cortado” along the road and sat next to a policeman and his GUN.. I was a good girl!!
I’m not going to describe climbing a zig zag contraption over another railway line or the fact when I reach the city there are hairpin bends with an incline of at least 1 in 3…!!!! I was almost demoralised.
After fighting through the closing market day in a tiny square, I turned the corner onto another medieval cathedral and another Gaudi building…I was staying at the Gaudi.. I had arrived.
I collapsed and wept.