The Most Ridiculous Day!

Well this day turned into quite an adventure!! The plan was an easy 5 km to Carrion where we would catch the bus to Leon. We got to the cafe which serves as the bus stop 2-1/2 hours before the bus but the lady at the counter says " Completo"--the bus is already full!! I stare at her and she repeats-- yes, I understand, but Noooo! That was not part if the plan! So we sit for awhile and consider our options-- stay here in Carrion til tomorrow and take the bus then or .... After a little research- thank goodness for wifi and smartphones! I figure that we can take a taxi to Sagahun where there is a train station to Leon. Hmmm... That would work. A taxi pulls up outside and the driver comes in for a coffee so we ask him the fare-- more than the bus but considering if we spend the day here, not so bad. So we decide to go and jump in the taxi. I have to admit that I feel a bit guilty- the bus seems okay but a taxi seems a bit more of a luxury for a pilgrim. Anyway we are off -- then in about 5km there is a police roadblock and the taxi is directed to stop. The stern policeman looks in the backseat at us and motions to me to put on my seatbelt -- I hadn't even thought of it! He wants documents from the driver and then comes around to demand my passport ( Andy wants me to mention the HE was wearing his seatbelt). The policeman walks off with my passport for several minutes. He walks back finally and speaks to me very loudly and sternly in Spanish about wearing a seatbelt as I try to look contrite and apologize in English. He is not happy that I cannot speak Spanish so walks away again- still with my passport. He comes back finally with a smartphone that he has translated to English-
Passenger must wear seatbelt - fine 100€ " No, no señor, peregrino! " But he would have none of it and kept pointing to the screen. Thank goodness Andy had enough cash or I may have been rotting in some Spanish jail by now !! I really thought he would have some mercy for a pilgrim, but no. So today we helped boost the flailing economy here and now Grammy has an international police record-- my first ticket ever!! Might as well go big or go home : ).
So, not the end of the story yet... We get to the train station and I go to the bathroom. I notice that my passport is not in my inner waist zipper, and I do remember putting it back there while in the cab. Now I am panicked and start emptying my pockets on the bathroom floor--nada! OMG! I can't have left it in the cab.... I search my pants to see if I have forgotten one of the many pockets and as I reach down my leg realize that the passport has fallen down inside my pant leg and is down by my ankle...another blessing that it has not fallen out & been left on the ground somewhere. So now I am sitting on a bench quietly waiting for the train and praying that the adventure for today is over- I guess that's what I get for not wanting to walk the boring Senda. Andy says I have to get a tattoo now that I have a police record : )
Don't worry Mom, it's all good!