A SURPRISE VISITOR

I’m in a very nice Hostal in the small town of Puente de Villarente. Tonight after dinner the owner of the Hostal knocked on my door. When I opened it I found her standing there grinning from ear to ear. She gestured for me to link arms with her. Completely baffled, I slipped my arm through hers and off we went. We got to her front door and there stood the owner of the Hostal I’d been in two days earlier. He was holding out the stylus from my iPad. I’d left it in my room at his Hostal and he’d driven 35 miles to bring it to me. I was beyond shocked. I was literally speechless. All I knew how to say was mucho gracias and he didn’t speak a word of English! I’m pretty sure he understood my gratitude from the dumbfounded expression on my face though!  

He’d texted me earlier about the stylus, asking where I would be staying in Leon. I’ll be in Leon for 2 days and I thought he might mail it to my hotel there, but he never specifically said and our communication was limited. I had already resigned myself to having to replace the damn thing. I feel so humbled by his generosity. 

The Hostal where I’d left my stylus was a really unusual place that had been run by the same family for generations. Huge and sprawling, it had a Roman name, Domus Viatoris, and stone lions guarding the entry. Like every other place I’ve stayed, the bed was comfortable, the shower fabulous, the food good and the price very low. I’ve rarely spent more than $40 for a night’s stay and often less. Food is always reasonable too. Most of my Hostals have provided both dinner and breakfast. Even if the food isn’t fabulous, it’s always home-cooked. I’ve come to appreciate it. After a long day of walking I really don’t feel like going out in search of a gourmet meal after 8pm.