no whirring

I spent hours this morning writing letters outside at a café while drinking a giant orange juice and a café con leche and a Cola Cao. I watched Estella wake up and stretch and buy bread.  I did laundry.  I replanned my trip because I have a better Sense of Things. Then I bought 6 envelopes from the librería for 30 centavos. I found the post office and mailed 2 of the letters.  I feel rich with possibility because I have four spare envelopes and four spare stamps. 

I meandered the cobblestone streets and had a slow lunch that featured a very tasty vegan burger. I chatted with an Australian pilgrim and gave bread to a small child to distract her from licking the chair which she was intent on doing to the disgust and amusement of the collection of people who were doting on her.  I had a look at the river and then marveled at the beautiful library where I idly pulled out books to leaf through them.  I wandered around a supermarket to gaze at the various mysterious products 

At 2, the town started to shut down for siesta, so I decided to have a nap as per local tradition. Who am I to interfere with a cultural routine?  

Later, I talked to some folks on the phone and read a bit. I had a strawberry and mango ice cream while I sat on a bench and observed kids kicking balls in late afternoon sunshine of the plaza.  

By the end of the day, I noticed that my brain had stopped whirring like an overheated computer.  Tomorrow I’ll set out again with clean underwear.