Well…I will not say I am surprised.
My life has been anything, but drama free for those of you who truly know me. Even a psychic told me that this was my “fall down life” Bonnie Porter…you would get a chuckle out of that. I guess finding out that this is my “fall down” life has made me question less when it does happen I know just what to do…fall down…get up…brush myself off and keep on going. For me there has never been an option to lay down and give up.
First documented injury. Got to learn a better way to take off the backpack. I keep scraping my hands and now I have matching bruises. My pack is a whopping 20 lbs and it is manageable yet brutal at the same time.
Ok…so what happened to me yesterday?
The flight left as planned on friday and I was happily on my way to London Heathrow. I only got a tiny bit if sleep, but I did manage to catch the movie Tomorrowland (Emmanuel). I cried a tear of joy as we landed and made my way through the 800km of airport to my connecting flight. Only a few more hours and I would be checking into my first Albergue(hostel) at the convent in Leon. So damn frick’in excited.
Once in the air I was able to grab a few more zzs and finally with a sigh of relief I caught a glimpse of the landscape as we were landing. The Pilot came on the intercom and said what the weather was projected to be like for the day. High if 16 maybe some light showers…good….and….then it came….Welcome to France….wait..WHAT!???? FRANCE!!!! MERDE!
A wash of panic came over me. What do I do now??? I am supposed to be in SPAIN NOT FRANCE!
It was immediately clear that the travel agent had sent me to Lyon (leeon) instead of Leon (layon). A mistake anyone could make with such a complicated travel plan. After that i am afraid it is all a bit of a blur. Some tears were shed and some phone calls were made. Some nice police officers, baggage people, and kind information clerks all looked at me with sorry in their eyes. My friends Wendy and John tell me that when people say “sorry” it actually translates to ” I am glad I am not you”. In this case…I Bet!!! In the end my amazing friend Randi swooped into action in Durham and got things done! Thank you my friend I LOVE YOU! I honestly would have been coming straight home if it wasn’t for you! My amazing sis, daughter Megan, and Simon were there for encouraging words As well. I want to say thank you for that, as I felt so deflated and lost.
The travel agent was able to fly me to Barcelona that same night with a hotel stay and then a flight today (Sunday) at 3 pm to Leon in SPAIN. I will have lost a day on the Camino, but will have to find a way to make it up. Walk faster..longer…something.
Here is a couple of pics of the shi shi hotel!
Can you say…LUCKY?
Only sad part of it all is that I was in france and Barcelona, but wasn’t able to see any of the beautiful sites. Means I’ll just have to come back again.
Long story long…I am in my bunk bed at the Albergue Benedictinas in Leon. That’s a whole “nother” story.