Camino 11 - Lograño - Catching up

First, I have had a cold for several days. So that's why I haven't posted lately. I will try to catch up over the course of the day. 

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At last post we were in Lorca. We spent the night in a four-person room with Lisa and Mark. Lisa our fine Jewish grandmother-ish lawyer from vashon wanted the door to the balcony open. In spite of this I woke warm and ready for the road.

On the way to Luquin, we were able to stop in a church in Los Arcos. It was open for cleaning at 10:00, shortly after we arrived, quite a blessing. 

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We settled in Luqui at Casa Tiago by recommendation.  The showers were hot, the rooms were cold. There was a pellet stove on the middle floor which the proprietor lit near sunset. This night we shared room with three Croat pilgrims. Dino, Katerina, and I forget the up name of the third. 

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Yesterday was even more hazy to me. I know we traveled some 20 kilometers, but it is mostly breath and blur. 

Nonetheless we are in  Lograño.

We overnighted at the municipal alburgue which is very large. In the pod of bunks with us was an Italian bicycling team. Quite a few Korean folk husbands and wives especially. 

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This morning we rose, packed our bags, and pondered maps, until we were kicked out at 8:00. From there we located the cathedral. Paulo who was near the door assisted us with when the church would open and masses. This scruffy looking, chain smoking saint tended the door to the cathedral very kindly.

The early Mass was sparsely populated, but intent and intense. The physical interior of the cathedral is covered with art and sculpture not to mention the beauty of the building itself all stories pointing toward the glory of God. 

We had second breakfast at a cafe nearby.  Then a God thing happened after that. We were searching for the parochial albergue.  We made a loop around the cathedral. Asked for directions from Paolo. While getting lost following those directions we paused for noon prayer.  Less than a minute later two men who work at the Alburgue recognized us as peregrinos. They directed us the correct door for 2:00 p.m. 

Elizabeth and I have been resting in a city park with cottonwood seeds floating around. Children are playing and amateur drum corps marched by.