Wednesday December 3rd 2014 Itero de la Vera. 34 km.

3- 12- 2014   |  
Harrie Huijben
  |  Geen categorie @en, News  |  

One drink at the local bar One drink at the local bar 

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Spanish timber architecture width = Spanish timber architecture 

 Tosca rests a few hours at church entrance, opposite of albergue Tosca rests a few hours at church entrance, opposite of albergue

An hour ago I arrived in Itero de la Vega. Now I’m settled down at a bar / cafe with wifi. I’m alone here in the bar, of course with the television. I left the luggage in the open albergue where nobody was. Horse Leon got tied on a lush grassy field outside the village, behind a bus house a little off the wind, Tosca tied to the fence that closes the church entrance , opposite the entrance to the inn. As a true Cerberus ( how do you write that?). I hope there will be no evening mass. Maybe I’ll leave her there tonight. She then gets a big plastic bag covered with cardboard to lie on and she wears a jacket. Gradually I start finding her less pathetic. By day, she always has the greatest time of her life: all day hunting: pieces of carrion, mice hunting at the roadsides, chasing a hare, or getting tired  chasing a low flying raptor. Many Spanish dog would envy her. Her buttocks have already grown considerably, matching a female creature named Tosca. A mans eye wants something too.
And now, on with today. It was very cold today, but fortunately dry, a few drops once in a while. Leon walked beautifully, so , tied to a tree at the river, he has enough to eat. When last night I went to look at him before going to sleep, he whinnied wronged, because he couldn’t join me. So we are still growing together.

Today was not very fascinating. When this morning I went to pick up Leon , I saw that someone was lying nearby in his tent. He simply does what I don’t dare yet. And on the way, from time to time I came across pelegrino’s again. One pelegrino was an iron one (see photo). I talked a bit longer with one, until I found out that he was an Englishman. Then why are we trying to speak Spanish? He said he was camping mostly. I really don’t feel like that , I said. Unpacking everything, next morning when it still is dark, getting everything together and pack again, a dog that bites everywhere, and especially the cold. If you keep on all clothes in your sleeping bag, it is not cold. That made me a lot more relaxed. That fuzz in those albergues with bans for dogs I am fed up with . I now see that it does not harm my animals at all, to spend the night outside, with the care I offer Tosca and for Leon counts the same. If it really has to be, then I’ll also camp. But except that the pitch must be flat and a little sheltered, there must also be a tree with good grass around it, and it should not be boggy and preferably not stand out too much to passers by. So a difficult combination of conditions.
 So, and now from the wifi bar back to the albergue. Let’s see if they let me in. Because of the long day walks, I am more and more ahead of my schedule. I can slow down, but besides that arriving very early in the afternoon is boring, then Tosca will be chained all afternoon and Leon will also be bored. All three of us feel most comfortable when we are on our way.
Now it is a few hours later. I went back from the wifi bar to albergue a few hours ago. Now 1000 bombs and grenades, Captain Haddock of “Kuijfje” would say: inn door closed, all lights off. And I had put everything inside: dog food, plastic bag and cardboard for Tosca to lie on, tent, everything. What next? Find another accommodation here? Then I get those problems again about el perro (dog). Oh, I wished I had stayed with mother at home, oh, had not I … (Dutch song). There is another albergue. Can I stay at your place with my perro? You are welcome, but the perro, no. Those who do not want my dog ​​don’t want me. Dèh da du doa ( that’s the way it is). I returned to the inn where I had deposited my belongings in the hall. Called the number on the inn door. I can not get contact via my mobile phone. Moreover, an SMS from my provider that there is a malfunction for the time being. Do I have to wander around with Tosca all night? Back to the beautiful bartender with wifi. I explained her my problem in my best Spanish. She calls for me: the landlady will soon be at your inn. I stroke her hand , not having the guts to touch more of her and a few minutes later, when I arrive at the inn, I notice that I have been rescued. And Tos? She is allowed in the courtyard, because there is no one else . Now I have a broad understanding of what is a courtyard, so Tosca gets it right again (smuggled inside). I know it’s all just little things, but many of those little nuisances maak dich de pis lauw (cool down your piss, Limburg expression). I drink my wine, another small beer for the thirst and then I pass the pipe to Maarten again ( I stop it). To bed early, because tomorrow it will be more than 30 km.