Well, if I repeat myself people, please forgive me. Somehow hours on the dusty open road turns your brain to mush. On the last leg I met up with David. He is an American and I think a wise man. Well at least he has lectured all over the world. I often see him striding forth wearing knee high white socks. It makes him look a little German but he tells me that he wears them on the advise of his cardiologist. He must be a good washer or he has lots of pairs as they are always so clean. He is distinctive too, short with a small white beard and moustache. I asked him where he was staying to which he replied…”at the Posada”
”OH, so am I!” I said as we enter the slightly bigger village of Castrojeriz.
”Oh but there are 2 you know. Which one are you in?”
The brain mush returns tenfold because I haven’t a clue. I rush to pull out google maps and enter the name. He left me behind as I struggled to get the address..needless to say, its hot, I’m tired and very sweaty. I drag myself along the cobbled street only to find La Posada glass doors and David registering. I beam out loud because I have arrived…well that is until the receptionist tells me No you are in the other one. I’m mortified, I have been rejected..She takes me outside and offers directions in Spanish. I am good with ‘izquierda, and derecha and todo recto.’…but none of her Spanish figures at all. No words do I recognise…No wonder…because resorting to said google maps again, it takes me down and down narrow cobbled steps , left then right, then left..to the little lower road.
Eventually I arrive, but the door is locked. WHAT….?
I fumble for the voucher and ring the number. The Spanish man on the other end speaks no English….
”Aqui …aqui..” (Here here) he keeps shouting but he ISN’T here!! Across the little cobble street is an opening to a tiny bar. It has a big barrel outside and 2 red umbrellas. I see a burly man approach…
”Si, Si “ he says and registers me in the hotel. Breakfast is over there he explains as he points to the tiny bar, WiFi is over there, dinner is over there…Bar El Manolo…”
I am just too tired to argue so I struggle up to my room which wasn’t bad and go through my routine. Shoes socks off, strip…bathe..was everything and drape it all, anywhere there is space. Charge everything up and clutching IPad and money, I leave to find somewhere, anywhere, other than Bar Manolo.