Ah yes, walking into Mérida

We enjoyed the short walk.... 15km, and Mérida is a beautiful city to approach on foot. Our plan was to find somewhere to stay (municipal albergue didn’t sound great) so we walked over a very long Roman bridge and came to a ruin, Mithreo’s House. I moved to check the opening hours and price and looked over to see Noëlle speaking to someone inside the gate. By the time I got back to her (10feet) these two women, visiting the ruin, were inviting us to stay in Lesley’s house. A quick exchange of phone numbers and her address and our priority suddenly changed to something to eat. A young man had handed us a flyer for a restaurant so off we went to have our first comida........three course lunch from 1-3. It seemed everything Noëlle wanted to order was either not in season or not what she thought, but we both finally decided and enjoyed our lunch. We ambled to Lesley’s house which was right downtown overlooking yet another ruin. As she told us, no one in Mérida wants to do renos because it’s likely a ruin will be found and the dig will begin. So people put up with alot. 

Who is Lesley? She and her friend Carola worked and met in the Orkneys. Lesley is British, lived in the US for many years, was a speech therapist and had recently moved to Mérida. Lovely two bedroom furnished flat for €300 per month. So we cleaned up and around 5 rushed out to see the Roman theatre. After returning, we three met Carola and her brother for tapas and wine and chat and chat. 

After a great sleep, Carola came over at 8:15 am and Lesley led us in a 30 minute yoga session. Then we managed to get ourselves organized to go to breakfast for migas http://recetasdecocina.elmundo.es/2015/10/migas-pan-receta-casera.html

A friend of Lesley’s from Saskatoon joined us. She’s done all sorts of caminos and now lives about 90 minutes north of Mérida. And then Noëlle and I were off to the bus station, taking in more ruins on the way. 

The bus got us into Salamanca by 6:30 and with the beacon of the two cathedrals as our guide, and Noëlle ‘s great sense of direction, we made our way to the albergue where we will be Hospitaleras. Victor, the supervisor was there, while the current Hospitalera was waiting for us by the church. He ran to get her, we took off our packs and the four of us locked up (no pilgrims) and went for tapas. What a great welcome!!! 4 glasses of wine, 4 large tapas....10€.