Journey to Santiago - Day 7, Seventh Stage

Day 7 - Los Arcos to Viana

Distance walked today: 18 km (11.3 miles)

Total distance walked: 105.1 km (65.7 miles)

Total distance left: 618.9 km (386.8 miles)

Information on the stage traveled here.

Adal made it to Viana, about 10 km before Logroño, almost completing the seventh stage.  So today it was a total of 18 km.  He reports his nailless toe is not bothering him at all, and looking quite good.  It looks like it is starting to grow again!

He has become somewhat of a Camino celebrity, as so many know of the plight with his toe.  And then they found out he's from Puerto Rico, so he is accosted by many to simply talk.  He arrived in Viana to the first hostel and it was full.  Seond hostel: full.  So he went to the town's tourism agency (it's quite a small town).  They confirmed that the town was very full indeed, but gave him the name of two more hostels.  So, third hostel: full.  Fourth hostel: finally a vacancy!  But at 30 Euro a night, it is definitely the most expensive hostel he has stayed at.  He did get his own room, quite a luxury on the Camino, and a bathroom.  Er, mini bathroom.  He didn't quite fit fully in the shower.  So, to get the most out of his 30 Euro, he will get up later tomorrow to rest a bit before heading out.  He hopes to make it at least to Logroño, but being only 10 km away, he will probably keep going a bit farther.

He says there are many Italians on the Camino, and all sorts of people.  Quite a busy path this Camino!  They greet him with a rotund "Puerto Rico!  Puerto Rico!" whenever they see him.  Today he was told "Man, I was feeling so tired and like I couldn't go on, but then I see you and I get inspired to keep going!"  I guess you could take this two ways: either they know about the toe and are inspired he is still going, or they see his physical condition with his healthy belly and are impressed he is still going.  Either way, I guess it is a bit funny.  One trekker suggested he should have taken the nail and made a necklace out of it.  Ewww.  As a special amulet?  But yeah, maybe he should have kept it, as a memory of the hard work it is to walk The Path.

He hasn't been able to even listen to his MP3 player because he is approached constantly by people at the hostels.  He says a lot of people carry small flags of their origin on their backpacks.  We think he should have brought a small Puerto Rican flag with him.  Maybe next time!  I'm happy he is enveloped in such an interesting group of people and experiences.

I've told him how many people send their best to him and are pushing him to go on, and he's touched.  If for no other reason, for this outpouring of support, he wants to finish.  For them, for him, for us.  Some people walk it as a religious pilgrimage, others for sport, even others for introspection, and some for the feeling of achievement, a sort of been there done that.  I don't really know why he walks it.  Not yet anyway.  But that sounds like a good question.