The girl with the dog

This morning we said goodbye to Fiona from Irina and Massimo with a heavy heart. This time we are alone and comfortably away from the Camino path in a village about 10 km away. I organized a place to sleep for us over the phone, as it is raining here today. As feared, there was no possibility to stay in Leon with a dog. So I asked in the next village and Fiona is welcome :) The village is about 5 km further and our ride share Carmelo kindly drove us even this far. I will also remember him with gratitude when/if I arrive in Santiago de Compostela.

Tomorrow we have an alternative route to avoid walking along the highway. We will use that. Very slowly, with breaks, a few kilometers, and I am carrying her backpack again. Today has already brought a lot. Fiona is fit, but she seems to be sad. I think she also misses Irina and Massimo, just like I do. She prefers being connected to a pack. Here in the hostel, there are only unfamiliar faces and it seems we both have little desire to speak to anyone. Being alone on the way will be a good experience.

We should now be about 4 or 5 days ahead of the fastest people in our group. The steppe is behind us and I have already seen the mountains from the car.

As a Mexican Catholic told me on the way: I won't get the ticket to paradise because I missed the journey at the gates of hell.

Instead, I have a content Fiona and my paradise is here on earth.

Another lady from the church blessed me yesterday and when she saw Fiona, she was surprised but at the same time said that my dog must love me very much. She also said that I should take good care of her because she is so loyal to me and would give everything for me, even her life.

In the past few days, some unknown people have greeted Fiona by her name. 'Fiona! Hello!' ' And you are the girl with the dog! Nice to meet you! I am ...'

Javier from Switzerland laughed yesterday and said that I am a little sensation here, especially for Asians. He hears a lot about the girl with the dog on the way. Pilgrims often ask me if they can take photos of the dog. Or a cyclist stops, pulls out his phone, and takes a selfie with her.