Ha! We laugh as we realize we were only in Spain four nights.
One night, of course, was spent on the airplane flying east– I will not count this night. as we were not in Spain.
Night #1 in Spain was spent in excitement in Ponferrada. We stumbled around in severe jet lag after 24 hours of flying and bussing. We practiced our Camino skills. Plugged in our adapters and recharged our electronics. Handwashed one of our two sets of clothes and hung them up to dry overnight. Got a map and a sello and reconnoitered in the town. Went for a pilgrim’s dinner. We were bright eyed and excited by everything we saw.
Night #2 in Spain was spent getting ready to start walking in Villafranca del Bierzo. We did our daily chores– recharging, washing, reconnoitering, stamping, eating. But at 6:30 AM we got the panicky phone call from Mary about Nona’s quick decline, and immediately got up to go to mass to pray for peace. We spent the day making arrangements to come home.
Night #3 in Spain was spent making haste to return home, going west to more quickly travel east. We slept in Santiago in order to access the fast train. Daily chores, lovely tapas with beer instead of a pilgrim’s meal with wine. The next morning we attended Mass at the Cathedral, passed the peace with people from 100 different countries, prayed at the sarcophagus, and made the fast trip worthwhile.
Night #4 in Spain we stayed in Madrid by the airport at a brisk hotel. Daily chores, ate Deb Wu’s snack packs instead of going out for dinner. The morning was a rush of breakfast, packing, and getting to the airport.
Night #5 in Auburn– really???– arriving at SeaTac with our chauffeur Elaine taking us straight to Nona’s bedside at Garden Terrace. We slept in our own beds.
Boom. That’s how fast the trip was. But boy did we learn a lot. I realize that part of what I have always loved about traveling is the adrenaline rush of learning and figuring things out and not being in control. Zooming through Spain like Star Wars jet fighters.