The next morning TRUST was out the window.  I woke up at the crack of dawn (those of you who know me will know that is anytime before 7am in my book) and was a ball of nerves.  I woke up around 6am and thought Do I really need to do this today? I really could just start tomorrow.  I could spend one more day here in Leon gathering my bearings and planning.  Immediately after this thought entered my mind, I heard How is tomorrow going to be any different?  You’ll feel the same way-scared, unsure, lost.  Get up and try.

I quickly got dressed, walked downstairs, and ask the front desk to point me in the direction of the Camino.  “Well, the Camino is really all around us.” Not helpful, I thought.  “But head toward the square and you should see the path.”

With that I walked out of my hotel.  My temporary safe haven for the past three days.  As I walked out the door, tears streamed down my face  Seriously, what in the world am I doing? I don’t even know how to start.

I tried to pacify myself with a negotiation. We are going to just play this thing by ear.  First we are going to go get a café con leche.  Then we are going to sit in the center plaza and look for other people who seem like pilgrims.  Then we (sometimes when I get overwhelmed I refer to myself as “we” because things are always better when you’re in a group) are going to try to walk to the first stop in the guidebook.  If we can’t figure it out, we will take a cab back to Leon and return to the hotel.

I offered up a little prayer to God.  Please let me find someone who I can walk with on this first day.  I went to the plaza to get some coffee.  First step completed.

Second step: I went to the  tourist information booth to get one more map of the city so I could find my way out onto the camino.  Walking in I noticed a  couple at the desk asking for directions.  The guy left to go outside.  Hmm should I ask the girl if she’s starting today?  Sure.  Why not.  “Hey there, are you starting the camino walk today?” “Yeah I am,” she answered. “I just met this guy and we are going together.  Do you want to come with us?” WHACK!  That was the universe  slapping me in the face saying “I told you so.”  We proceeded to walk outside and introduce ourselves.  Dave from Australia,  Eva from Austria,  Theresa from America.  I dubbed us the A-Team and we were off.