Dear Abby (Big T) on the Camino

Two nights ago we stayed in a very out-of-the-way, very small village called Calzadilla de los Hermanillos. After picking up a few things from the tienda for dinner (see the Top Chef post from a couple of days ago), we sat in the plaza to have a cervesa before cooking. 

We started chatting with an Asian woman we had seen along the way over the prior several days. Other than saying hello, we hadn't talked to her at all. She had seemed very quiet and kept to herself

She was very shy at first, I think a bit self conscious about her English. (Of course, we know zippo Asian languages.)  As we talked, she began to open up. Goh is from South Korea and has been traveling the Camino by herself since May 26, about a week before us. She was having difficulty meeting people because of the language difficulties. She hadn't met any other Koreans (although we've met several). 

Goh was getting lonely at times, missing her family and friends. She was a little envious of people traveling with friends or family. She said she had watched Therese and I and that we seemed to be having a good time together. 

We had a nice time talking with her and Therese especially took Goh under her wing. Goh was fascinated by Therese's jewelry and stories about our families. So Therese is again the earth mother of the Camino with a new Korean daughter. 

The next night in Mansilla, we saw Goh again at the albergue. She was with a group of young Korean boys and having a great time. She was very animated and friendly with all of the other peregrinos, a 180 degree change from the day before. She told Therese that she was very happy that we had talked to her the day before and that it had changed her Camino. She was part of the international dinner that night and by the end of the 

night she was giving Therese hugs and kisses like a long lost child. Goh is a changed person. 

Today, we had an easy 19K stroll into Leon. It was a sensory shock going from the solitude of the past two days to the hustle and bustle of a big city.

We are staying in a hotel in the old central city. We have a room overlooking a busy pedestrian street. It's just up the street from Leon's grand cathedral. 

Many of our fellow peregrinos are taking advantage of the luxuries of a big city and are staying in hotels tonight. It seems that half of our hotel is our fellow travelers. 

Today's good intentions are for our close friends Chris and Richard. They are our loving friends and Therese's faithful running companions on those 6:00 am runs. Thank you, guys.