WOW...you guys walk real slow...

Hola! Right now we are sitting in a ciber-cafe in Leon...so chic. We made it here and got a hotel without a hitch. So nice to have our own space and be able to take a long shower and sleep without 10 men snoring. Yesterday we split from our group in Burgos to take the bus here. It was a much more difficult split than we had anticipated. After 5 or 6 days with these people, they became a mini-family on the Camino and it was tough knowing we most likely would not see them again. One pilgrim in particular was a little more easy to leave. This kid was probably 22 and from Korea. We shared a room with him a couple nights ago and he would randomly call out in his sleep and/or fart loudly. He is quite feminine as well. When we arrived in Burgos at 130, we ran into him. He proceeded to tell us ¨Wow, you guys walk real slow¨in his feminine voice with a wave of the hand. He had been there since 1130. The only reason this is so funny is that he walks with his right boot on and his left foot in a slide-on sandal because his foot is so blistered it will not fit in his shoe. To be mocked by this guy was the ultimate insult. Funny how stuff like that can actually make your day. We are still laughing to ourselves about it. However, we left on a very happy note and we are excited to continue on our journey. The buses here are extremely nice. Throughout the ride though, we caught glimpses of pilgrims out walking and we actually wished we were out there. But we are content with being in Leon. This city is great, the cathedral is nowhere near as impressive as Burgos, but the gelato could hold its own! We broke our tradition of eating spanish food and had Kurdistan food last night. Was a great little treat! We spent most of the evening sitting on the Plaza Mayor, watching all the spanish people. We can´t quite figure them out, but we know we kinda want to be them. Nothing opens here until 9 am and then closes again around 1 for siesta. Then it opens at 4 and closes at 8 or 9. There are always so many people out walking around that we´re pretty sure they don´t actually work. But what a life. The pace is so slow and casual...a nice break from the pànic of the states. Our favorites are the old people, who get dressed up every evening to sit and gossip in the Plaza Mayor, or walk dozens of laps. We have been hard pressed to find many obese or overweight people here though. Everyone walks everywhere and they seem to be a very healthy people. However, we would say about 3 out of 4 people smoke here. We are becoming very used to cafe con leche in the morning with smoke swirling around us! This break has been wonderful for our bodies! Catie´s achilles are almost back down to normal size and Michael´s ankles are much less painful. Tonight our duo becomes a trio!!! Julia arrives at 7 and we are planning on walking to the train station to meet up with her, grabbing some dinner and then calling it a night, as we will be back on the Camino at 6 am tomorrow. We have 14 more days of hiking left and the terrain is supposed to become much more moutainous and beautiful. We are excited for this and our new companion. Please keep us all in your prayers as the days get longer from here on out. We miss you all!

Buen Camino!
Catie and Michael