La reina (the queen) is what Lalo calls me as I soak my feet in the stream once again before going into town for breakfast. I’m staying another day. In the evening Lalo entertains me and Agatha from Paris before she and I go to dinner.  First on stilts – amazing, and then with card tricks. I’m in awe, and I’m rather smitten with him.

I had arrived feeling defeated and depressed. Heel pain was relentless and the bed bugs had been my last straw. I seriously considered not continuing to walk any further, but to simply hang out somewhere for the remaining couple of weeks until I could catch my flight home.

But I’m refreshed now. Further, I know I’m not done with the Camino . . . or perhaps it’s that the Camino isn’t done with me.