We caught the bus to Leon today. The only bus available is at 3:15 and it reaches Leon at 7:15 pm. Given that we do not have anywhere to go until that time except to an authentic olive vendor shop, we asked our kind hospitelera, Blanca if we could stay until 2 pm. She says no problem and even said we could leave our backpacks at the albergue while we shop for olives. She is the nicest and hardworking caretaker I have encountered so far. By the way the Albergue is call Puerta del Revellin. It has won an award for cleanliness and I can see that it is true, having stayed overnight here.

So after a breakfast of microwaved scrambled eggs with olive oil (as recommended by Blanca), bread and coffee, we went out looking for this olive vender. By the way I should mention that we slept-in this morning as there was nothing else to do except wait to catch the bus in the afternoon.

We found the olive shop not too far away from the Albergue. It was located in an indoor farmer’s market. Many vendors of all types: meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and of course, olives. We were allowed to sample the different kinds of olives there and settled on a couple of green fresh olives in garlic oil and herbs. I also got myself a small sampling bag of pickles and onions as it looked interesting. We bought a Spanish fruit for Blanca to thank her for her kindness but I don’t remember the name of it. Blanca mentioned last night that she like it. I will get Marybel to spell for me later. After this shopping affair, we went to the bus station and bought our bus tickets for Leon (just wanted to make sure that there were seats on this only bus to Leon for this day). Glad we did this as not many seats left on the bus.

We returned to the Albergue and rested a bit more. When 2pm came around, we don our backpacks, said our thank you’s to Blanca and headed out to the bus station.

We were quite surprised at what we encountered on route to the station. Just a block approaching the station, we encountered a group of people crowding and looking down on something. Lots of commotion and noise. As we reached the spot, we saw what they were concerned about. There was a woman lying unconscious on her side next to a SUV-like vehicle. The children inside were crying and another woman was on the phone calling emergency services. We had to stop on the street as a crowd was gathering to see what was going on and we ourselves were curious as well. We can see a very upset man and was told by some people in the crowd that this was the unfortunate woman’s husband. The police and ambulance arrived. The EMTs took the woman into the van but did not take her straight to the hospital. I saw that they were performing CPR on her inside the ambulance. After another 5 mins the ambulance left for the hospital. Marybel obtained the whole scoop on this incident. The woman fell to the ground after opening her car door to leave her car. She just dropped without warning. She is around thirty something years old and her two children were still in the car when this happened. She must have suffered a heart attack or an aneurysm. When the EMTs worked on her, they managed to revive a slight pulse but they commented “we got a pulse but it is weak. She is more on the other side than here.”

I learned a very big lesson here in this moment: you are not assured of your next moment.

Anyone of us can literally drop dead anytime just like this poor woman we came upon. It really gives me food for thought. So I say to all of you, please kindly forgive me for all my transgressions against you and I wish you all well. If my next breath does not come like this woman, at least I have left with a clean slate. Yes, I also want to say that I love you all and thank you for all that you have done for me. Now if god should claim me, I can go in peace. That’s it for the serious stuff.

We reached the Albergue run by Benedictine nuns and priests at around 8pm. $5 per person and it was quite filled up. No blankets provided so my sleeping bag is my life saver and Marybel had her travel blanket and liner. We had a simple meal of fruit, ham, bread and of course the stars of our meal were the olives we bought earlier. We sat at a full dinner table and our other peregrines (a family) were decorating a cake and shared a piece of the freshest chocolate cake. This family of pilgrims also shared a family tradition where they tied a decorative string around one of their wrists. They make a wish on it and wear it on the camino to take to the Compostela de Santiago. Then they release it there hoping that St James will grant their wish. I am honored that they gave me one and helped tie it around my wrist. My wish is that all who reads this today make a wish in their hearts and place it mentally on my wrist band to take to Compostela de Santiago. I shall carry all of your most heartfelt desires and place them at the feet of St James. I also ask my sister Jen to make her prayer (you know what you need)in earnestness place it with me. I shall definitely bring it to this revered saint for you.

Two events for me today and I did not even walk on the camino path. A Near death situation and a lively family celebration. Both held much importance to the people going through them. Both sides of the same coin called life. Again, the camino is fluid and free flowing. Spontaneous happenings are its calling cards. It feels like it is telling me, “Leave the walk to me and I may show you more. You walk the camino even if you are not physically on it”

I thought this was to be a laid back day but as it turned out it was not.

Please do not forget to make a wish on my colorful wrist band. I shall bring it to St.James for you.

I will lay me to sleep this night and wish you all a most wonderful day for tommorrow.

Love and peace
Hilda 🙂