Ok, y'all...
Perhaps I should post this in "attention deficit disorder pilgrims" BUT....
So, I'd been planning and reading ad infinitum for a year for the
Camino Frances BUT....
I flew to Frankfurt to spend a couple of weeks with friends before my Camino and managed to find myself in Finland for a few mostly wonderful days BUT....
Upon returning to Germany I realized I was in the WRONG place and announced that it was time for me to "get thee (me) to España" BUT....
Looking at Ryanair's website the only flight available that day was to Santander, ok, I went!
I kinda figured on getting transportation to St Jean Pied de Port from there BUT....
Standing outside the terminal I spoke with a young German (imagine that, coming from Frankfurt Hahn) who said he was walking the Norte, I said, "me too" and off we went! (Well, by bus to the city center).
We then walked to Santa Cruz de Bezanas where we found an angel incarnate, her name is Nieves and she is the hospitalera there. She had us sit in the cool and brought us cool water. She asked for credenciales, I had none (long story) and she showed us to the dormitory and told us to clean up. Later, during a magnificent supper her husband returned home with MY CREDENCIALES! The Camino provides...
Then, she arranged with us the time of breakfast and then showed us maps and guidance for the next few days journey.
The amount of time and patience and love she and her husband put into this is beyond comprehension and we were all in awe, oh, she does this EVERY DAY!
There's more but I'm tired of typing, buenas noches!