Jubilacion

We are staying in a lovely Casa de Rural in San Pedro de Rozados. Last night we had a delightful dinner with a couple from France who are also walking the Via de la Plata. Warm bowls of fresh vegetable soup with fresh baked bread, filet of steak and chicken with fresh sliced tomatoes and olive oil drizzled atop, and cheese with a smattering of fresh strawberry marmalade along with a good Spainish wine was how we started the evening. Our conversations were wonderful as we shared stories about our lives and how we gotten to the place where we were now; eating dinner together in the dining room of the Casa VII Carreras in San Pedro de Rozados.

We were joined by a young man from the UK and it was lovely to chat about our reasons for being just where we were this evening. It was fascinating to me to hear the tales of adventure that had lead us all to this place. We had met many people along the way who were walking much faster than we were and had aspirations of walking many Camino's while they were here. In their season they were hoping to get in as many miles as they could before heading home. I heard my self say that these journeys had become a joy to us in in a different way than it was for them. The villages we stayed at along the way we're not just mere check marks on our credentials. It was not about the destination or miles that mattered any longer but moments to experience the joy of being just where we were. We are not sure of how long this season will be as it is now but we want to experience it fully. We have nothing to prove to anyone as if taking a ride on a cold and windy day could diminish the beauty of our walk. The French woman commented, "Ah, you must be Jubilacion" ...the Spanish word for retired. I had to stop for a moment to consider the beauty of that word as we sat in the company of like minded individuals. 

In the morning when we woke up we could feel the miles of our arduous climb yesterday and just decided to alter our plans. We will stay another day in San Pedro de Rozados. We will sit on the warm patio and drink hot coffee with our toast and jam. We will walk through town, stop at the market in preparation for our upcoming travels, wash our clothes and allow them to dry in the warm sun and then, right in the middle of the day, we will take a nap. Yes, we are jubilacion, and we aren't forgetting it. Not for a moment.

Thinking of you so very much. Buen Camino.