Settling in to Leon

It was incredibly good being able to talk to Simon when my phone was fixed. I didn't manage to hold back the tears of joy.  After that I enjoyed a walk around the streets of Leon.  It has amazing contrasts of old Roman cobbled walls .... simply standing ... not necessarily attached to a building anymore, and modern shops. Similar to Bcn it still has areas where its uncertain as to where it's correct to walk,  but these people seem very happy and relaxed in this apparent chaos. And the cars are amazingly patient I have heard horns sounding at other cars but never at people on foot.
I am enjoying this sight seeing realm but only to an extent.  And I've just realised what's missing for me, I'm not really connecting with people.  Of course I didn't notice it at Cari an Rodo's,  it was good there, yet I also felt they needed their space.  I would have been happy to stay longer, but she asked me to stay 5 days - an due to failing plans I asked for an extra day.  Since I left there communication with anyone else has been awkward for me. Connections are sparse.  So it was a real delight when an elder couple asked me in sign language if they could sit on the park bench beside me, ( I am used to people recognising me as a foreigner straight away now, even without my pack, and without me saying anything, Cari says it's my blue eyes. ) of course I agreed to have them sit beside me, "Si ... si .. bien!" An patted the seat beside me.  Sitting down she said "Hola" then he said "Hello"      !!!! :-)    "oh! Hello!" I said. Oh it was nice! We chit chatted away.  She knows a little Spanish, they're both great with English but they're Dutch. And for once I was able to give directions :-)
It'll be different when I get to Fredy's,  I'll have some regular connection then, that'll be good.  ( I feel like a 'connection junkie' :-)
It makes me realise how important connection is in my life - if that  isn't present  ... then what is my call? Why am I there? Hmmmm
Unfortunately the car pooling sites haven't worked out for me so far ... and most couchsurfing hosts in Spain don't answer.  I think partly what stifles the car pooling is the language barrier, even my little bit of Spanish didn't help in Barcelona because there the politically correct dialect is Catalan which is quite different from plain Spanish, and contrary to what I was told .... Most people in Spain can't speak English, even the shop attendants, including the one in the information centre ... "No hablo Ingles" . So it makes me wonder how the heck I'm going to manage in Germany!  I only know thank you .... and how to ask if they speak German!  
At least there I have a lot of friends . . . So I'd  better brush up on my sign language for when I'm on my own  :-)
It has been good for me to put what Spanish I do know to use, sometimes it feels like magic :-)