#12 In Fromista, Spain

Hi everyone A lot has happened and then nothing much has happend. I am now on my 26th day of the Camino and I have still not made it halfway. That is 26 days of constantly walking everyday, even if it is just a few miles, without a day off. It is not easy and lots of "stuff" comes up. Three days ago I got a cough. It was a dry cough and it didn't concern me much. Then I woke up with no voice. And then I had a fever. That went away and a nurse I met thought I was going to get better but after a night of hacking away and starting to develope some mucous (couldn't spell phelgm) I went to a Farmacia and am now on an Antibiotic. Super powerful one for three days (one pill per day) and a homeopathic cough syrup taken 4 times a day. I can't remember the last time I took an antibiotic. It was pretty comical not being able to talk for 3 days. One Italian guy - who happens to be a priest - got a kick out of making fun of my squeeky whisper. So in two days I will have reached the halfway mark. That's approximately 247 miles. But I have learned it is not getting the compostella that matters, it is the experience of the Camino that matters. I highly recommend everyone and anyone to do it for even two weeks. The Europeans do this in short spurts. It may take them a few years that they may go from St. Jean Pied de Port to Burgos one year, and then from Burgos to Leon another year. It is such a rich experience. These last 3 days that I have been sick, I have stayed at the 3 Saints albergues - San Bol, San Anton, and San Nicholas. All three had no electricity. San Bol used a generator to cook food and heat our bath water but had a spring that supposedly had healing powers for people with foot problems. And last night St Nicholas is run by an Italian organization and the food was unbelievable, and they made it vegetarian for me! They also wash everone's feet as a reenactment of the last super. The last thing they do after pouring water on your foot, and drying it, is to lovingly kiss your foot. Very touching. So the European Soccer matches have been going on here. Tonight it is France against Sweden. I don't remember who Spain played against but all the bars have it on their TVs. That's where I am right now using their wifi. I must be feeling better, I wanted something to eat. It was the usual, Tortilla Espanol which is just potatoes and eggs. I'm so happy I was able to catch up with you all. A big day is coming up where there is nothing between the town and 17 kilometers to the next town. I have to do it so I'll make sure I'm well. Love you all. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Marie