Tuesday ..... (unsure of the date)

Ola
Had to ask somebody what day it is, and can´t tell you the date. Maybe Spanish time and the walking routine is becoming ingrained. Spanish time a little like Africa time, and Sylvia, Rayna and I had a bit of a laugh yesterday when our bus was late, and we recalled that on the Via Francigena walk in 2006 the Italians talked about their busses being retardo (late) - and voila, our Spanish busses were oftern retardo too...... We had a walking day today again - 22km to Rabanal, after 2 days of bus trips to get us throught he mesetta (flat and boring like the Free State). I think most of the group were pleased to get walking again, as we felt out of routine and a little flat from the waiting and long bus trips. Today´s walk was from about 800 m to 1300 m over the 22km - a long slow drag áll the way up into ¨town¨. But spectacular scenary. It reminded me of the area near Gansbaai or Pearly Beach if you know the area.
Some Spanish observations: tea (say Tey) costs 1 Euro 50. and Tey con Leche (with milk) 1.80 about - thats 18 rand! we order from a card, never ask what anything will cost, trusting that we can pay for it afterwards. The prices on the card often are wrong anyway. Orange juice is freshly squeezed, and a gin and tonic can cost anything from 6 to 8 Euros as the just pour the gin in free hand and you have to say STOP! A lunch sandwich, bocadillo is a hugh bit of french loaf - at least 30cm long with Jamon on (say G, gutteral G-hamon) and cheese and takes lots LOTS of chewing. I´ve just had a salad verde (green salad) as we are all craving salad, and veges - although the salads are good here. Breakfast is often tostado with jam and butter, or Spanish omlette or the usual croisantte (excsue spelling!!) Tonight we will probably go looking for a pilgrim menu - often 3 courses including bread and wine. Val - the food is ok, and there is lots of it available.
over and out - the rest of the group here now-
Kathy