Today we got to watch Raul out on the pitch playing fútbol in a quartet final match in the 16 year old division of fútbol. We got up and had cornflakes for breakfast along with some kind of sponge cake dipped in chocolate, fresh squeezed orange juice (Maxi was squeezing it when we walked in the kitchen) and tea. Maxi, Raul and I drove to Vitoria to drop Raul for pregame practice and then walked downtown to watch a marathon run near the professional fútbol stadium. We were back at the pitch to watch warmup at 11:00am with the game slated to start at 11:30am. It rained nearly the whole time we walked around the marathon area and was raining as we watched warmup.
Sally, Becky and Nerea relaxed at home another hour, then drove to Vitoria, arriving at the game at 11:25am, perfect timing to watch the game.
I was amazed at the skill and performance of these players. Tremendous speed, agility and ball handling! With just a few minutes left in the first half Raul, playing striker, scored a goal. Becky was filming and got it. In the second half the opposing team evened the score at about the 20 minute mark, then Raul’s team scored the
Winning goal with about 10 minutes left and held on to win the match. It rained off and on, sometime ferociously, during the match. It was a great game and fun to watch as we knew someone playing. They play their semifinal game Friday in San Sebastián.
Maxi, and the three of us drove back to their house and grabbed our packs and then drove to the nearby town to have lunch I. A very exclusive restaurant. Maxi had reserved a room like a cave for our meal. I had calamari, Sally ribs and Becky steak. It was delicious!! It is amazing that even with the language barrier we can have so much fun. Raul is sometimes reluctant translator, but does a great job. Poor kid had to hang with us old folks the whole weekend. The owner of the restaurant came in to check on us and took a picture with us outside afterward. We said our sad goodbyes to Nerea and Raul as Maxi drove us away to Logroño to get us back on the Camino.
Maxi walked us to our room, #5 on the cathedral square and said goodbye. We had to oboe the owner while standing at the door. He buzzed us in, then gave us the code on the lock box on the apartment door. Once in we were to email him a photo of our passports. We tried but sent them to Booking dot com instead of him. He call a couple hours later to request them. It took a while to figure out his email, but we finally got the job done.
We walked to the municipal albergue to arrange to leave Becky and Sally’s packs for pickup and met a wonderful, kind man who volunteers there. He at first was reluctant to let us leave our packs there, but quickly warmed to us and acquiesced. He spent a few minutes talking. He had lived in Bellevue for a few years even though he spoke with a thick accent. He was about 80 years old.
With shipping figured out we walked to find the bus stop we thought we would need in the morning to shorten our walk. We found it, then returned to our room while Becky met with Nicko from Germany that we shared the room with in Pamplona. Sally and I refigured our milages and nights and realized we didn’t need the bus tomorrow, but the next day. Tomorrow is only a 12 mile day. The next is a 19.
Becky returned about 9:00 and i spent the rest of the evening until 10:30pm catching up on my blog.
Tomorrow we are walking again after a wonderful weekend with the Perez-Castillo family.
Rain (lluvia) at the Castillo house
Marathon in Vitoria
Runners approaching the finish line
Stadium where profesional fútbol is played
Maxi’s house is part of a new development just 15 years old. School, bars, grocery, etc all within 5 minutes walking distance.
Perez-Castillo house-#27
Raul scores a goal!!
Our exclusive dinner in a “cave”
Nerea and restaurant owners converse
Kind albergue volunteer in Logroño.
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