STAGE EIGHT AND NINE: Los Arcos to Viana

I'm just now realizing how short my walk was today, right under twenty kilometers so about 12 miles. I knew I was going to stay in Viana, two of my new Camino friends back at home recommended it and I walked into this festive town on a Saturday and locals were at play. I saw a wedding and someone else shared that there two weddings and a funeral. I facetimed with the family in the festive square and all of the towns kids gathered around to say hi to my children. I loved this town, my day was a nice one ( now that I notice my distance I see why). I stopped for coffee I route and met two American ladies who told me about the converted palace in Viana, I walked straight there justifying staying in a palace. Two nights in a row of hotels and I worried Steve's phone was alerting him to that card swipe (what were those banks thinking with the technology that shows your hubby each time you swipe your card:)) . I wrote about this night already but did want to mention that I also met young dancer's mom today when we stopped for coffee, they were just finishing up but I enjoyed her company very much. J from Colorado and when I got my hotel room and there were two beds I wished I could invite her to stay there too as it would be neat to have an evening of girl conversation. I had my hotel call ahead to Vantosa where I thought I could make a reservation one day in advance, I had heard great things about the place and was glad when it appeared the reservation was a success. I woke up in gorgeous Vianna at about seven to a bunch of clatter outside, I looked out over my private balcony which just eight hours earlier was illuminated over the palace ruins and there in the street were yesterday's bride and groom still dressed in their wedding attire. A cup of coffee and I was off for what would be a very hot and very difficult day for me. I walked and walked, I worried about getting to my reservation too late and my bed being given away. I pulled in at five thirty very late by Camino standards and said I had reservation and they said , no we are full...." she was about to say "...but...." when I started bursting out crying. It was my first cry around me , I have she'd many tears here over new friends spouses dying, sons dying (I don't feel I have the right to share their stories but can say the stories, the pains, the lives I am hearing about make me wonder how some of these people even go on). I broke down, and the gal was trying to tell me that she had a place on the floor in a private room for me. The three volunteers went into triage mode surrounded me, lifted my backpack from me, tucked me into my very comfortable spot on the floor and rubbed by back and arms while I drifted off for a quick nap...I couldn't stop the loud snorts and cries and could hear them opening the door to check on me periodically. Opera played from the speakers and incense surrounded the atmosphere....this was heaven on Earth and I went upstairs to find the American mother and son cooking in the kitchen, we had a wonderful evening...and I thought I just might live another day.