Food poisoning!

OY!

The past few days have been really tough! A couple of days ago, I ate a lentil soup and got Santiago´s Revenge the following morning! As we started our walk, I felt kinda funky.... and then I started to lose steam and had to stop several times. After about 6km, I couldn´t go on. We stopped in a small town and I got a taxi to the next albergue. I had to hang out at a bar for about three hours until the albergue opened. During that time, I sat in a chair outside with my sleeping bag wrapped around me. Frequently, I hobbled to the toilet to vomit or the other end of the business..... I became extremely dehydrated. Hence the time spent in the sun, shivering in my sleeping bag! Many pilgrims (peregrinos) stopped to offer help. One insisted I drink a cup of tea. Another offered to call a doctor. After about three hours, I began my search for the albergue. Once I found it, several pilgrims were waiting for it to open and realized just how sick I was. (MAN! I must have looked awful!). A french couple asked if I was okay and all I could muster was that I wanted my mother (in french!). As soon as the albergue opened, the lovely fenchman ushered me ahead of everyone, making sure I was the first pilgrim to check in. He even carried my backpack and poles upstairs for me! One of the Norwegians that I had met the night before (in the albergue where I got food poisoning) saw me and offered to go out and get some coca cola for me. He came back with a two liter bottle! By the afternoon, I was able to keep liquids down. My traveling companions, Ute and Paul, arrived about 3:30 and made sure I kept consuming liquids. I did manage to get downstairs for dinner. The lady of the albergue, a kind Hungarian woman named Judit, had made a nice potato soup with a healthy helping of hungarian paprika. It wasn´t my dad´s potato soup, but it was ok. I was able to eat several chunks of potatos and some of the bread. I spoke with a German woman who was at the same albergue the night before and she had the lentil soup with the same result as me! During dinner, I was still feeling very weak. My muscles were cramping and joints were aching. It was an amazing experience to have so many people of so many nationalities concerned for this one little peregrino!

The following morning, I finally had a small appetite. We got a late start and I managed 8km. We were all feeling really tired so we decide to head into Leon and stay a day in a pension. Pensions are a step up from a hostel but not quite a hotel. It seems like a luxury compared to the albergues though! I am feeling much better and stomach and feet will be ready to walk again tomorrow. In the meantime, I am enjoying Leon. I´ve seen the gothic cathedral and will see a Gaudi building this afternoon. But most of all, I am resting!

It´s been a really tough first week. But I´m looking forward to the rest of my journey. And hopefully, no more food poisoning and tougher feet!