EL PORTUGUÉS – DAY 8 – 5/23

Not much to report today. I quit at mile three. Up to that point it was extremely challenging. At one point, I was walking on my tiptoes to climb. I think I could have reached out and touched the road. I started to become a bit concerned about some chest pain I’ve been having. It’s not new. I’ve been noting it for about a year. It usually goes away after about 15 to 20 minutes and may be completely normal, but in combination with the fact that I haven’t been sleeping, it was just too much for my little brain.

Dan was waiting for me at the top of a hill, and he knew something was off. I couldn’t conceal it and actually started crying – what the!?! I know it’s mainly the lack of sleep where I can cry at the drop of a hat. I realize now that the emotion was due to the fact that I felt like I was disappointing Dan. I know he enjoys the fact that I am able to do this with him, and as silly as it sounds, I felt like I was letting him down. I know, ridiculous, and he’d be the first to say so. We both agreed it was best if I just took a taxi from there.

We crossed the street to a fire station to call a taxi. They were so kind. They offered to take me to a hospital and gave me water and a nectarine. I feel fine right now, just tired.

The proprietor here, Inés, is very sweet. She made me a cup of coffee, and we chatted while she was cleaning. This place is old but super clean. She doesn’t live here, she just rents out the four rooms. Because we are so far up from town, she stocks the kitchen with food for purchase, so we don’t have to worry about going out for dinner.

After finishing with the cleaning, Inés left and returned at 6 pm with a cake called bizcocho. It is a bundt cake made with lemon and orange. Fabulous. I had a piece immediately and the another for breakfast.

Shortly after I arrived, I received a text from Michele that she was in the hospital. She was having pain in her left arm while at work yesterday and drove herself to the ER after work. Due to her history, they kept her overnight and have been monitoring her bloodwork. They may do a stress test. This familial heart issue is certainly no picnic.

I have no Wi-Fi here, so I’m using my phone, and it seems that I cannot upload photos when doing this, so I’ll add them later.