·
Monday, 1 June 2009
Bag-rustlers
and inconsiderate people with loud voices once again destroyed the tranquility
of the morning, my last morning in an alburgue.
(If I had do-overs I would spend a few nights in hotels! It is physically and psychologically
demanding to sleep among strangers and have no privacy or control over so many
parts of one’s life…character building, yes – fun, no!)
I
dragged my bag and trekked over to the commercial district across town and
found a cozy bar to breakfast on toast and café con leche. I window shopped till 1000 when stores
opened. I found a huge bookstore with
lots of books in English. (Follas Novas, Calle Montero Rios, 37 –
981.594.406…it is near the park where the ferris wheel dominates the horizon)
I
looked at summer clothes but just couldn’t see myself in any of them – I really
needed a complete make-over before I could transform from into any kind of
butterfly. I found an internet café and
spent an hour online and then wandered through the old Mercado – like a
farmer’s market and filled with wonderful produce. I whiled away some time sitting in the shade
reading a novel I purchased earlier. It
was hot and humid already so I decided to walk to the bus station before
siesta. I stopped enroute and had a
sharuma at a Kazakhi restaurant.
I
sat in the station café sipping café con leches and reading and sweating. I still have 3 ½ hours to wait. There is no A/C and there are no fans. I am restless, tired, bored and sweaty.
I
consider moving to another table – I cannot avoid hearing the conversation
going on between two people who seem to be negotiating a romantic liaison. He is a slim Italian and she is a hefty,
plain-faced English-speaking woman. He
holds her hand. I can hear their
conversation but pretend not to. I do
not move. I stare at the pages of the
book in my hand. From the corner of my
eye, I see body language that supports my original hypothesis – a rendezvous in
the making. She is 40-ish, a bit plump
with short, dishwater hair and unflattering glasses. They seem ill-matched. He knows little English – the conversation is
hard work for him. He is not attractive,
but seems so because of his attentive manner and his ability to appear sincere
as he spews out flattering phrases.
After
30 minutes and two beers each, they depart together. I think they sealed a deal.
I
wander out into the main station. A
group of Latter Day Saints are there – ten young, clean-cut boys from the
Shortly
after sunset, I boarded the bus for
I
am ready to go home. I am ready to
heal. I am ready to process all that has
happened these past 6 weeks. I am ready
to resume life. I am ready to see if the
Camino to
·
Sunday, 31 May 2009
At
0830, I was out of the albuergue. It was
good to “sleep-in” – six weeks of rising at 0530 +/- and daily walks of 20+
kilometers made me stronger, but I was glad to linger a bit this morning.
I
walked a few miles to the bus station to get my tickets for Monday departure. I
could have taken a cab, but it didn’t occur to me. What’s a few more miles after a 500 mile
walk? I should have taken a cab. I really was exhausted and my leg was
aching.
Ticket
in hand, I headed back to the cathedral and stopped at the pilgrim office to
see who had arrived. I attended pilgrim
mass again. Robert was there. We toured the cathedral and then spent most
of the day wandering around the city talking and snacking. We drank lots of café con leche and sipped
good red wine and just talked. I helped him buy souvenirs for his nephews. Robert will walk to the airport tomorrow.
He
walked to the airport in
I
said my goodbyes to my friend and went back to my albergue. I was asleep before the sun set. So much for celebrating. I felt old and tired.
·
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Monte do Gozo -> Santiago
de Compostela = 3K (I arrive!)
It
is the dark of night. From my bed by the
window in the albergue at Monte de Gozo, I see pilgrims walking past all night
long. Like horses nearing home these
pilgrims seem to chomp at the bit and rush to arrive at the cathedral.
I
do not sleep well. At dawn, I grab my
things and go to the common area to pack up.
I
see many familiar faces and exchange hugs and some farewells from those who have
been here a few days. Already there is a
bitter-sweetness in the air. We are all
about to end an adventure. (Or is it
really just the beginning of a bigger adventure as many people seem to
think?)
I
walk alone on this cool, crisp morning.
It is Saturday so there is not much traffic. The streets are empty.
I
arrive in
Then,
just as I was about to round the corner to the plaza, I managed to walk right
into the path of the spray as the huge street cleaner completed its circuit of
the plaza. I almost cried and then
quickly chose to laugh. And then I
laughed hard.
So,
I stand in front of the amazing cathedral, alone in the middle of the enormous
plaza. The cobblestones glitter with the
morning sun catching the water drops and making them look like diamonds. I stood there, awed by the cathedral and
totally forgot about my wet clothes and my aching leg and all the pther petty
details that could have ruined the moment.
Following
my private moment in the square, I found my way to the pilgrim office. Standing there, smoking in the morning sun,
was Robert (the “Flying Dutchman”). I
grinned like a kid. We went for coffee and
waited for the office to open.
Standing
in line at the pilgrim office was a delight.
The line wound up three flights of stairs. Pilgrims coming out stopped frequently to hug
people or to talk to pilgrims they never expected to see again. It was like a school reunion. Outside the building many pilgrims who arrived
days ago, lingered outside to inquire about other pilgrims.
With
my official credential in hand, I headed over to the cathedral to attend
pilgrim mass. I stood in the back. The cathedral was filled with tourists and
pilgrims. Pilgrims were acknowledged by
country. Many people wept. The huge incense burner swung across the
front of the cathedral. I observed the
disembodied arms of pilgrims hugging the Statue of St James high above and
behind the priest at the front of the church.
Following
mass, I realized just how exhausted I really was. My left leg was still swollen and
painful. I had to find accommodations
for the next two days, I needed to call my spouse, get bus tickets to
Instead
of celebrating, I simply laid down, elevated my leg and went to sleep among the
snoring and grunting of 50 strangers.
I
felt a little let down…like post-partum blues I guess. I did not expect to be so tired.
·
Friday, 29 May 2009
Arco de Pino -> Monte do
Gozo = 16K (3K more and I will be in
The
sweet smell of eucalyptus and the shaded walk make the 10 kilometer walk very
pleasant despite the fact I have yet to get my morning coffee and toast. I am grateful for the shade, because the day
is already humid and hot, though it is not yet 0900.
As
I walk, I consider my plans. I will stop
at Monte de Gonzo, just 3 kilometers short of my ultimate destination. Then I may take the bus into the suburbs of
It
seems amazing to me that I will be at the pilgrim office near the cathedral
tomorrow morning – I will be there when they open. The past 6 weeks seem like a dream sequence
if a movie.
And
then, I will go to pilgrim mass.
I
was in the cathedral at
As
I walked along, I continued to consider what else may happen in
I
considered just what I would do with the prayer ribbons I carried attached to
my walking stick for all those kilometers.
Each ribbon represents wishes from a friend and as I walked along, I
frequently prayed for these people (and others). I want to make a suitable ceremony for
them. I want to light candles. I am not a Catholic, so as I walked along, I
pondered on that a bit too – rituals and symbols are not really part of who I
am and how I live my life. But in the
past few years I find myself surrounded by them. Much to think about as I walk under the
Eucalyptus trees, breathing in the perfumes they share with those who walk
these paths.
There
are bus tickets to acquire, a book for the bus and plane ride home and there
are postcards to send…my brain has jumped ahead and now I suddenly realize I am
living in the future instead of staying in the now! The proximity to
Later
I
am sitting in the shade of building 29 of the 800 bed, Monte de Gozo albergue
(which actually has only SOME beds designated for pilgrims – the rest is a
hotel of sorts). There are 30
buildings. The pilgrim reception does
not open until 1300. So here I sit,
penning my journal and waiting again.
There
are many hours spent waiting on the Camino; just part of the many free lessons
in humility, meekness, patience and gratitude the Camino experience offers
attentive students.
I
initially walked past (I should say limped past!) the reception office to the
far end of the complex. I was
mis-directed by a less than helpful German woman. When I entered the lobby, I was rather
un-graciously directed to leave. This
area is designated for hotel patrons only.
The reception area for pilgrims was back at the other end of the complex
where I had originally started.
I
trekked back up the hill (still nursing a shin-splint and a blister).
There
are people from all over the world on the Camino. I am convinced that without much effort, one
could make the entire walk without actually meeting a Spaniard or speaking
Spanish. Many people travel in “packs”
and rarely speak to anyone who is not part of their clique. This seems more true the closer I get to
Perhaps
because there are so many people on the path who are only walking the requisite
100 kilometers haven’t gone through all the storming and norming experiences
that forged bonds among the pilgrims who have logged over 700 kilometers at
this point. The pilgrims who join the
path after Sarria seem distant. They are fixated on their goal somehow and seem
to be uninterested in the other pilgrims.
Many
pilgrims walk past as I sit here writing.
This
morning I walked through Lavacolla. The
name translates as “wash the loins.”
Historically pilgrims stopped there to bathe in the stream before making
the last approach to their destination: the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
After
their bath, pilgrims would race up Monte de Goza (Mount of Joy) n a version of
the child’s game of King of the Hill. From
Monte de Goza pilgrims can see the spires of the cathedral. Atop the hill is a large monument to Pope
Pius (sp?).
I
check into the albergue (3E for the night) and find the facilities to be quite
pleasant. The shower is hot and I have
only 2 roommates. I discover one can stay at this albergue for 3 days. Many pilgrims walk into
I
wash my clothes and walk back to the village to dine on the pilgrim menu with
the delightful pilgrim from
I
abandon my plans to bus into town to shop.
My ankle/foot is swollen and my shin aches. I will walk into the city in the early morning
– I want to be at the cathedral before the crowds.
I
have mixed feelings knowing I will soon be on an airplane heading back to the
I
watch the sunset on the distant cathedral spires…tomorrow I will no longer be a
pilgrim. Or will I?
·
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Ribadosoa -> Arco do Pino
= 23K (Only 19K to go – I may be in
Summer
has arrived. It is hot! It’s hard to believe this 6 week adventure
began with April snows in the forecast at
My
walking companions today (three guys from
As
I walk, so many things fly through my head.
I wish I had stopped to write them down.
Throughout this adventure, I have failed to stop and write. I have waited till days-end and then merely
jotted down the bare bones of the trip and rarely any of the insights and lessons
I have learned. At days-end, I am tired
and forgetful.
I
check into the albergue when it opens at 1300.
When I arrived, backpacks were already lined up outside the door,
designating the order of arrival. The sweaty
pilgrims sat, shoes off, waiting to check in.
I was among the first.
The
hospitaleros give me a disposable sheet for my bottom bunk. There is a luxury here: a reading lamp built
in the wall. I wish I had a book to
read.
Once
checked in, I cleaned up a bit. I have
made-do on this trip; using bandanas as towels …cutting corners to keep the
weight down. It will be so great to have
real towels, nice clothes, cosmetics, shampoo & conditioner, curls,
etc. It feels good to wash away all the
mud. I apply some lip gloss, comb my
hair (I’ve been washing my long locks with Castile soap!) and don my alternate
walking clothes. I head out to find lunch.
I
run into two old friends: the Flying Dutchman and the woman from
At
1700, the stores open and I spend some time looking, but do not buy. I do not want anything enough to carry it,
but I am drawn to all the little luxuries (scarves, cosmetics, cologne) like a
kid in a candy store. I feel like a
street person. I feel like a poor
person. I leave the shops and walk a bit more.
These
afternoons of just hanging out are difficult.
There are days one cannot walk further because of the distances and days
when the body will not permit it…and there is always the worry of finding a bed
at an albergue. Language barriers,
customs and culture and feelings of isolation can weigh heavy at times. People who walk with others may not feel this
so much.
I
wander into a supermercado (grocery store) and ponder what to eat for
dinner. At 1930 there are pilgrim menus
available at local restaurants (9 Euro) but I do not have the energy to go
through the motions of dining alone in a restaurant. I buy some meat, bread, a piece of fruit and
some wine and go back to the albergue.
The
Asians who walk the Camino like to cook their own meals so as I walk in, the
smells drift out to me. I enjoy watching
them cook and share with one another. If
my spouse were here, I am sure he would be cooking us a lovely meal, but I am
not so inclined. On this trip, I
frequently settle for yogurt or a sandwich or I stop in a bar for a racion of
calamares or tortilla. I am not much of
a “foodie”.
The
sun beats down on the albergue. This is
better than rain, I guess. I cannot
imagine what walking in the summer months would be like. The alburgues would be like ovens. My sleeping bag and silk sack need airing
and/or cleaning. I frequently sleep on
top of my sleeping bag and use the silk bag as a modesty cover. Earlier in the trip, the sleeping bag was
well used.
With
only 19K to go, many pilgrims will end their pilgrimage in
I
climb into bed early. I notice that two
of my roommates have already gone. They
slept away the afternoon and now are gone.
Will they walk all night? I
wonder.
I
lay awake on my bunk listening to the sounds of 50 people settling in for the
night. We are like cattle or chickens
roosting. Each pilgrim has an evening
routine or ritual. Many write under the
glow from headlamps or flashlights. The
man I dubbed “the Sea Lion” is among the 50 pilgrims – he has sleep apnea and
snores in a frightening way. I have
shared quarters with him several nights in the recent past. Many pilgrims swear by ear plugs.
I
consider who among these pilgrims will be guilty of bag-rustling and noise in
the wee, early morning hours. Can their
evening behavior be a predictor of their morning routine?
The
pilgrims who smoke emanate the odor of tobacco and smoke.
In
only a few days, my albergue nights will be history. Living so closely among strangers has been an
experience. Human behavior is frequently
surprising, sometimes disappointing and inconvenient, but there are times when
it is comforting.
It
is time for this pilgrim to call it a night.
·
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Palas de Rei -> Ribadaiso = 27K (40.7K to Santiago)
The
sky is blue. There is a fine breeze. I have showered, washed my hair and my
clothes and it is already dry. I spent
an hour online. I sat on the riverbank and
chatted with a Frenchman whom I have seen frequently on my pilgrimage. Now I am soaking up sun, sitting by the river
and watching the nearby cattle. Many
pilgrims are stretched out on the lush grass, sunning, chatting, relaxing. This rural albergue is a delightful place to
stay. The atmosphere and facilities make me think of summer camp.
I
had a hard time getting started this morning.
Snoring (like sea lions fighting!) and farting were issues. I was up at 0700 and gone by 0715. My plan was for a shorter walk actually. I had hoped to stay in Melide tonight. The city is renowned for its octopus (pulpo) and
I wanted to have a leisurely evening meal of it. I also wanted to shop for some clothes to
wear to the Pilgrim mass when I arrive in
My
left calf smarts with every step so the rest of the walk was painful.
As
I watch the sun set, many pilgrims have adjourned to a local bar to watch an
important soccer event (
I
have enjoyed my stay at this albergue.
Things
I saw as I walked today:
o
Tall,
narrow drying sheds – What are they?
o
Pilgrims
walking back from
o
Villagers
who made wish I could simply trade lives with them – stay put and befriend
passers-by.
o
Lots
of comments (envious and/or impressed) on my small pack…I’m grateful for my
tiny load.
o
Cows
coming home along the river banks
o
Fish
leaping from the water at sunset.
·
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Portomarin -> Palas de Rei
= 26K (Only 66K to go – Wow!)
I
was out of the albergue at 0715 and walked till about 0900 before I found a
place to stop for breakfast. I was
disappointed there was no toast available.
Small disappointments seem big sometimes. I really love my morning toast.
I
walked through eucalyptus trees today.
The perfume intoxicates me.
I
stopped at the municipal albergue (3E) in Palas de Rei about 1300. The private albergue up the street was
already full, so I consider myself fortunate to have my daily bread here. (Private albergues will often take phone
reservations and many pilgrims call ahead.)
The
municipal albergue has a sign on the door saying it will be closed to pilgrims
the next few days. I wonder if there is
a local holiday. Or could it be for an
annual cleaning (purging for bedbugs) before the actual tourist season begins
on 1 June?
This
albergue is really Spartan. I share the
room with about ten people, mostly men, and the shower arrangements are not
good (no privacy). I decide to forgo my
shower. I spend most of the afternoon sitting
on a park bench (my leg hurts so walking is out) soaking up the spring
sun.
A
couple of pilgrims walk past with their two young daughters. The children look to be about 7 and 9. I am not sure where their Camino began
actually, but I am impressed by the parent’s patience and good nature as they
juggle the logistics. Just walking the
Camino is no easy task.
I
have heard these young girls have learned to deal with some of the attention
they receive, by saying “You can take our photo if you buy us an ice
cream!” A little scary actually!
Other
Camino gossip: The Prime Minister of
Ireland recently walked the Camino along with a large group of friends. Bruce Springsteen will walk the Camino in
August (2009 or 2010?). One of the women
who runs the Pilgrim office in
·
Monday, 25 May 2009
Portomarin -> Portomarin =
Zero K (Still 90K to go!)
“Rainy days and Mondays
always get me down.”
It
is cold and rainy. My left shin feels
stiff, sore and is swollen. I dress and
put on my pack, hoping I can walk off the pain and make a short day (15K), but
as I stride up the hill, through the cold rain, I realize I need to take a day
off. I run into the Canadian who is
suffering from blister issues and accompany him to the local medical facility
to help with language challenges. (He
speaks no Spanish.)
So
here I am back at the albergue, sipping espresso from the vending machine while
the staff mops floors around me. Outside,
fog has rolled in – the lake view is almost obscured.
A
little about the lake: the Belesar Reservoir is a manmade lake. Portomorin was
nestled in a valley and was completely submerged when the reservoir was
built. The old St Nickolas Church was
moved, block by block to the top of the hill where it looks down on the
lake. All the other buildings in town
are only a few decades old. Fish swim in
and out of the empty homes submerged in the vast lake.
The
damp, chilly weather makes me miss my fleece.
I left it behind somewhere and really haven’t missed it until now. When I am walking I keep warm enough most
days.
Around
1300 I ventured out to find some groceries.
I have the kitchen to myself essentially. I came home with a large ripe tomato, a bag
of cheese tortellini and some wine. I
also splurged on a novel to read during the rainy afternoon. (There were about 5 titles to choose from so
the book was eminently forgettable.)
As
I was preparing my simple repast, the Canadian appeared and joined me for
lunch. He contributed a loaf of bread
and conversation. He also washed the
dishes. Outside the miserable rain
continued.
After
lunch, I showered and crawled into my upper bunk to read and nap the rainy afternoon
away.
The
extra day was necessary, but I was sorry to fall behind my familiar companions. I wonder who will be in
·
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Sarria -> Portomarin =
26K (Under 100K now: just 90.4K to go!)
I
was up about 0600 – too much snoring and snorting in the room. With only 5 roommates I thought it might be
quieter.
I
walked across Sarria, where King Alfonso IX lost his life on his way to
Compostela. He founded the city and gave
it his name and then ended up dying there.
I did not linger there, but stopped for an al fresco breakfast at the
top of the stair steps on the pilgrim route.
I ran into “Herr Gummischuhe” there and at the next coffee stop S. (the
Irish woman) and J. (a German woman) joined us for the rest of our day’s walk.
The
day was damp and rainy and we moved along quickly. The pilgrims who only walk 100K are pretty
obvious. They are so clean and many of
them seem rather humorless and sober.
Those of us with hundreds of kilometers under our belts are getting
almost giddy with delight: less than 100K to go! It seems like nothing. We laugh and joke and draw ugly looks from
some of the pilgrims who just began the walk.
One
100K pilgrim singled me out. “Wow, you
have a tan,” he says in a dear Irish accent.
“You are a real pilgrim! Can I
take your photo?” So our motley crew
posed for a photo. We encounter many
Irish pilgrims. They invariably comment,
“
My
left leg gives me pain. It is quite
uncomfortable, perhaps from the long, swift walk yesterday. I struggle to keep walking. When we stop I realize my ankle is swollen
and my SmartWool socks are constricting my leg.
I fold the socks down to relieve some of the pressure and continue
walking.
We
arrive in Portomarin and check into the albergue. S discovers she has left her pilgrim
credential at the albergue in Sarria.
While she and my other companions make phone calls and take care of that
situation, I collapse in a chair and peel off my left sock. My ankle is quite swollen.
The
albergue at Portomarin has the look of a large hospital ward – bays of bunk
beds with every four rows flanked with white privacy curtains. It is a huge facility with hundreds of
beds. There is a wonderful view of the
lake below and there is a pleasant place to dine next door.
I
head over to the restaurant with J. and several other pilgrims join us, including
my Canadian buddy (whom I first met at the scary albergue in Rabe) and the
young Priest from Indiana and the Danish woman who lives in
I
call it a night rather early, hoping my leg will be back to normal
tomorrow. I hope the cold rain will blow
over.
·
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Fonfria -> Sarria (via
Despite
the steep descent and the extra kilometers I logged on my unintentional detour
through
The
albergue I am so grateful to be in, is most pleasant. I am curled up on a couch near the fireplace
in the common room, listening to new-age music and sipping tea. An exuberant kitten is playing hide and seek
on the adjacent couch. (There are 8 more cats on the premises.)
Outside,
thunder rumbles and a deluge of rain falls.
I am glad to be warm and cozy here indoors. I arrived before the rain began. It would be difficult to walk in such a
storm.
The days’ walk was lovely for the most
part, but longer than I intended. At
Tricastela there were two paths and somehow I took the longer route via
Over coffee in
The last 15K from
As I walked through the woods, I ran across
the “Gypsy Boy” today (the brother of the delightful French woman who is
travelling with her almost-4 year old son).
He had a small encampment in the woods and was cooking a lovely lunch of
bacon-wrapped meat and some vegetables over hot coals in a small fire pit he
had dug beneath a tree. His look is
somehow timeless and seeing him in the forest, bent over his cooking, he
resembles an old painting depicting life in another century. The image is strong.
Later I see the “Gypsy Boy’s” sister and
her blue-eyed boy as they pass the albergue where I am spending the night. The youngster is lured in by the chickens on
the lawn. He chases after them,
laughing. It is a delightful scene until
the rooster, thinking his hens are in danger, attacks the child. That is the end of the fun, at least for a
little while. (The documentary film crew
materialized and got this adventure on film!
I have not seen them since
As I write, the evening meal is being
prepared. The smells are inviting. I suspect there will be a tortilla Espanol (a
potato omlette) and Caldo Gallego (regional soup). This will be a nice change from the frequent
offerings lentejas (lentils) which most albergues prepare for the pilgrim meal.
This is a private albergue, run by two
generations of a family. It is a new
building and is well designed and the hosts are kind and warm people. After 32 nights in a different bed every
night, I have some opinions on how to run an albergue!
Tomorrow the 100K pilgrims will begin to
appear. I have about 600K under my belt
now – 100K does not seem like much. But,
I am not eager for it to end just yet.
·
Friday, 22 May 2009
Vega de Valcarce ->
Fonfria = 25K (Just 140.7K more!)
Entering
the village, a crowd of lovely, velvet-eyed, brown cows crowd me to the side of
the “
Outside
the albergue door, a beautiful, large, grey stallion is systematically
eliminating the tall grass. I can hear a
rooster crowing nearby and I see dogs playing across the dusty street.
“This
is where I will spend the night,” I decide.
From
inside the albergue, loud music pours out and as I enter the door I see the
hospitalera dancing behind the bar as she makes a cup of café con leche.
So
here I am relaxing over a café con leche; over the mountain after a remarkable
walk which, at intervals, felt like a scene out of a Disney film.
I
climbed the mountain in the early hours arriving in
Early
in the day I walked through La Faba, where I stopped to catch my breath. This village would have been a lovely place
to spend a night. (There is a German or
possibly Dutch run albergue that feeds pilgrims from their organic garden)
I
linger a bit, playing with a pair of delightful stray kittens who wrestle one
another, fighting over a grease-soaked loaf of bread and a few pieces of
chorizo I share with them. I resume
walking.
The
enchanting villages I walk through today smell of cattle and are perched on
hillsides so steep the cows must have 2 long legs and 2 shorter legs in order
to graze on the hillsides. The path is
littered with cow manure.
When
I arrive in O’Cebreiro at the peak of the mountain, fog engulfs the 9 ancient, round,
stone, thatch-roofed structures (pallozas) that comprise (most of) the
village. The fog adds to the mystical
quality of the place. Words like
amazing, haunting come to mind. I can
almost believe the local legend; the 14th Century miracle about the
wine and bread turning into blood and the flesh of Christ.
Once
again, I wish I could stay a day or two and simply soak up the ambience of this
special place. But, I am a pilgrim and I cannot
tarry…pilgrims are meant to walk. As I
walk, I find myself wondering is J.R Tolkien ever visited the region. It could have been the inspiration for his
Hobbit-world.
. I had been anxiously anticipating the
challenging climb, one of the most challenging on the entire Camino. Like many things in life, the climb was
somewhat anti-climactic. Many pilgrims
elect to taxi or bus their way over the mountain. Others send their backpacks ahead so they can
walk more easily. I did neither. I chose to walk with my backpack and found
that I was exhilarated by the steep climb.
My joy and excitement fuel my energy and I walk on beyond my original
destination.
So
here I am in the charming albergue in Fonfria.
I have had a delicious hot shower (in a private bathroom) and I washed
my long hair with borrowed shampoo. I am
sitting in a sunny courtyard letting my hair dry in the breeze and sipping
sidra (apple cider) with a group of fellow pilgrims. There is lots of laughter and conversation
(despite language barriers). The German man with the cowboy hat (I dubbed him
“Herr Gummi-schuhe”) is so funny. My
Irish friend (S.) and the Danish woman who lives in Spain, my friend from
Finland, the delightful woman from New Zealand and many other pilgrims while
away the late afternoon together.
It
is hard to imagine that my pilgrimage will soon come to an end. I push that thought aside and stay in the
happy present.
·
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Cacabelos -> Vega de
Valcarce = 25K (163.6K remaining on the Way to
When
I slipped away from the albergue at Cacabelos at 0630, the over-flow crowds on
mattresses outdoors were still sleeping.
I walked up and down 2 hills (about 8K) before a fine breakfast stop in
Villafranco Bierzo. What a wonderful
community. If I had “do-overs,” I would
have spent my night here instead of in Cacabelos.
Pilgrims
who suffer from ailments and illness can walk through the Puerta del Perdon
(door of pardon) on the north side of the
The
next 30K are the most physically challenging of the Camino. The total assent is 1280 meters.
As
I walk along the Camino, my mind skips along.
Movies and books and songs, memories, dreams all fill my head. I make a mental list of things that make me
happy:
·
Rose
Arbors, Potted Geraniums, Wild Flowers and Flowerboxes
·
Cats (
·
Cows
and Sheep
·
Parakeets
and Chickens
·
Blue
Doors, French Doors and
·
Rustic
Benches
·
Books,
Films and Music
·
Toast
(With Butter & Orange Marmalade)
·
Hot
Showers
·
Hammocks
I
visualize different lives: should we go back to our cozy bungalow in SC or try
a new adventure (a B&B in
I
walk and think. I weep when I am happy –
my heart breaks open and all the joy spills out. I remember a quote from William Blake (I
don’t remember the context): “…Excess of sorrow laughs, excess of joy
weeps…” In m mind I hear my mother
quoting someone (Frost?) about living by the side of the road and being a
friend to all mankind.
I
am happy.
My
camera has fresh batteries, but now the memory card is full. So, again I have no opportunity to take
photos of the beautiful scenery I travel through. Some images I wish I could have captured
include:
·
A German
Shepherd dog and its’ small friend on a tiny 2nd floor terrace eyeing pilgrims
walking by.
·
Grey
stone buildings with slate roofs and rustic wood beams and doors covered in
bold, bright blossoms.
·
A pair
of wooden clogs parked under a rustic bench.
·
Beatific
caramel-colored cows grazing on emerald-green, rolling hills.
·
The
babbling stream that snaked along the path during my post breakfast walk.
I
enjoy the early morning walk and move quickly till about noon. I elect to stop at an albergue run by
Brazilians. It is an older building, but
clean and inviting. The hospitalero is
so enthusiastic and happy, I cannot resist staying (even though it is a bit
pricey). There are hammocks, there is
lively music, it is quite pleasant and there is the promise of an al fresco
Brazilian communal feast in the Camelot garden.
I
am the first pilgrim to check in today.
I find a hammock and curl up to write and think. Later I sip wine and have a long, interesting
conversation with a Dutchman I met in Astorga (I call him “The Flying
Dutchman”).
Dinner
is pleasant.
At
dinner I am amused when a fellow pilgrim (a German man) insists I look like
Joan Baez. This is the third time on
this trip someone has compared me to Joan Baez.
I respond with a wisecrack about my singing – if they heard me sing it
would certainly dispel any illusions that I might be Joan Baez!
After
lights out, I fall asleep with the refreshing breeze from an open window
(unusual at most albergues) and the pleasant sound of crickets singing in the
night.
·
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Molinaseca -> Cacabelos = 23K (189.6K remaining!)
I
feel as if I am in a detainee camp. And
like a detainee, I am just grateful to have a place to stay.
The
concrete grounds are Spartan and shade less.
Tired pilgrims sit on the curbs in the hot afternoon sun, tending their
foot and leg injuries. Others are hard
at work at the outdoor sinks, scrubbing the day’s dirt from their
clothing. Wet laundry hangs on drying
racks scattered around the dismal courtyard that is our temporary home.
Last
night I stayed in a lovely, bright private albergue filled with potted
geraniums, no bunk beds and a dining room.
Tonight I am just grateful to have a bed.
There
is still a line snaking around the building and the hospitalero’s have no more
beds to spare. Recent arrivals are given
thin pallets and are going to sleep in the communal area – outdoors!
The
albergue is a municipal one, associated with a church. Tiny cell-like rooms line the walls around
the churchyard. Inside each dark, dank
cell are two beds (privacy). There are
no locks on the doors, but anyone walking past the closed door could lock
inhabitant in. This makes me
uncomfortable.
I
look at the map and see that there will be a steady climb, climb, climb in the
near future. Of course climbs are
usually followed by descents and this one is a quick, steep one. (From 400 meters -> 1300 meters and then
down: 1285 meters -> 665 meters in just under 7 kilometers!) Pilgrims on the Camino learn quickly that
descents are often much more of a challenge than the climbs.
On
my walk today I saw many lovely sights; sights worthy of photographing. Since my camera batteries were dead, I took
mental pictures of the following:
·
A
skinny donkey and a skinny farmer plowing a rocky field.
·
A nest
of black cats snuggled together, taking a siesta inside an old tire.
·
Abundant,
colorful blooms spilling out of a window box.
·
An
elderly man walking his cow as if it was a dog.
·
A
fabulous castle (Ponferrada) that conjured up dreams of knights of old.
·
Wine fields
spanning the rolling hills with a Mordor-like mountain looming beyond.
I
had anticipated walking further today (7K more) but banking and buying
batteries slowed me down. Sometimes
simple tasks take longer when one is on the road. I had to go to a couple ATMs in order to get
cash. I am always afraid the machines
will retain my card, so each time I was refused cash, I elected to try a different
ATM.
I
also lingered a bit in Ponferrada where I ran into M. (a delightful
fellow-pilgrim and photographer from NYC/London). M. and I met unexpectedly at the corner in
front of the beautiful castle, as if by pre-arrangement. It is always a joy to
see a familiar face, so I was glad to see my friend again (he pops up every so
often, like a guardian angels of sorts!).
We
had breakfast and good conversation before taking a few photos of the old Knights
Templar castle. (I wish I had stayed
overnight in Ponferrada so I could have time to really explore the castle and
the rest of this old mining town.) Then we resumed our walk, this time
together. Ponferrada is urban, so the
walk across town and out into the countryside took a while. We walked and talked for a few hours.
Eventually
I left him my friend behind. In the end,
each pilgrim must walk their own pace.
Dinner
tonight was fun. I dined with S. (a
young, irreverent Irish woman with a Gaelic name) and her current walking
companions, a group of Italian men who are travelling together. We dined on a decent pilgrim menu at a local
bar: typical stuff, but really well prepared.
The homemade flan was the best I have ever tasted and the serving size
was enormous!
It
is time for this pilgrim to douse the light and dream about the days to come.
·
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Foncebadon -> Molinaseca =
21K (212.4K remaining on the way to
I have climbed mountains since I saw you
last;
You will not find me where you left me,
I have scaled pinnacles and seen the vast Horizon of a higher point of view.
The lines above run through my mind as I
stride along the mountain paths. I do
not know who wrote these words nor do I remember more of the poem, but these
lines resonate with me. They are
powerful in their imagery.
I walked alone and arrived at the Cruz de
Ferro while mists still shrouded the mountaintop. Beneath the cross, the ground is littered
with offerings. There are photographs
and notes, a mountain of stones and other offerings left by pilgrims. I look for a while, but feel overcome with a
sense that I am a voyeur, observing the sorrows and pains each offering
represents.
With the cross behind me, the fog dissipates. Sunlight spills over the mountains. It is peaceful o be out walking when the
world comes alive.
As I reached Monjarin I hear Thomas ring
the pilgrim bell, announcing my arrival.
A bevy of friendly dogs trot out to greet me; tails wagging, tongues
lolling.
This “hippie warren” is a delight.
I see the 3-year old boy who travels with
his entourage of admirers and family. He
is playing with kittens and singing songs.
I sip the coffee Thomas thrusts into my hands. On the hillside, the sheep and beautiful
brown cows are grazing. I want to linger
longer, but the road calls and I leave behind this serene mountain compound to
begin my descent down the mountain.
I pass through an enchanted forest and
continue my walk down the mountain. I
walk for miles seeing no other pilgrims, sharing the beautiful scenery with no
one. My heart grows full.
I stop in Molinaseca (instead of
Ponferrada). The new albergue is so
inviting, I cannot walk on.
I am immediately befriended by an older
Danish woman who wants to/needs to talk.
We buy picnic supplies and linger on the banks of the river as the sun
sinks lower in the sky. We drink cheap
wine out of our water bottles and relax.
When I arrive back to the albergue and walk
into my room, I am literally swept into the arms of a Spanish man who
dramatically danced me around the floor and ended the routine with a dip. He is pilgrim I had met earlier on. It is always wonderful to see familiar
faces. And when there is dancing
involved, so much the better!
Tomorrow I will be below the 200K mark and
in just two weeks I will be back home in the
·
Monday, 18 May 2009
Astorga -> Foncebadon =
25K (231K to
“There
are no beds,” said the hospitalero without raising his eyes.
“What?”
I responded in disbelief and my voice quavering.
Here
I am exhilarated from the climb up to the highest populated village in
It
is only 1500 – how can the albergue be full?
His
words are especially devastating because I had already heard the same message
in the other albergue in town. The next
village is over another peak, about 5K away.
It is a primitive place with no water and no electricity (kind of a
hippie compound). And what if it is
full?
Behind
me, another woman, speaks up. “Can we
just sleep on the floor?” she says.
The
German hospitalero stares at us, as if assessing us and then disappears for a
few minutes. He returns with good
news. He has found an open bunk for me
and my friend can sleep on a mattress on the floor.
I
say a prayer of gratitude and smile. I have
someplace to sleep tonight!
I
shower and sit on the porch, drying my long locks in the dying afternoon
sun. A dog (looking dead) sleeps in the
middle of the road. Kittens dart in and
out of the tumbled down slate buildings that used to be homes in another
era. I hear the cattle lowing, their
bells ringing as they graze on the steep hillsides. The village is above tree
level. The peaks surrounding the
community are snow-capped.
This
albergue is church run. There is a
modest communal meal in the small dining room.
The air is cold. I will be glad
for my sleeping bag tonight. I’ve lost
my fleece so I hope it will not be too cold in the morning.
In
my opinion, people who stay in public albergues when they “do” the camino have
a vastly different experience than those individuals who stay in private
accommodations (where you can make reservations). The logistics of finding an albergue can
interfere with the delights (or challenges) of the daily walk.
And
once a bed is confirmed, there are still the demands of sharing space and
services. Diverse languages,
nationalities, customs and courtesies add to the soup. Not only is there a concern about finding a
bed after a day of walking, there is the communal experience that extends
beyond simply dining together. I am
seldom alone in the albergues. There is
nominal, if any privacy.
Tomorrow
I will see the Cruz de Ferro, visit Majarin where Sir Thomas rings a bell
whenever a pilgrim enters his village (population 1). But now, I shall sleep.
I
have a bed and I am very grateful for that.
And for so much more. Life is
good.
·
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Astorga (256K to
The
days and nights are filled with ups and downs; some are emotional while others
are physical.
I
did not really enjoy my experiences in
I
am miles and miles down the road now and journaling again. My spirits are better.
Today
was a lovely walking day. I found myself
striding along with a couple delightful young women. (One is a soldier in
As
I head west, the terrain changes. I am
reminded of the forest in the film “The Big Fish”.
The
albergue is pleasant. There are about
ten people per room. I have a wonderful
view from my upper bunk – the city of
When
we returned from dinner tonight we were all in a crazy mood – lots of laughing
and sharing stories, long after the lights went out. We were all like children at a slumber party.
Tomorrow,
I will climb one of the two most challenging mountains on this journey. Tomorrow, I will write from the top of the
mountain.
·
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Ledigos -> Sahugun = 17K
(365K remaining!)
I
am penning this in the sunny Plaza Mayor in Sahugun. I am wearing my windbreaker because the
spring breezes are still chilly here. In
my scruffy clothes and windblown hair, I feel like a homeless person (which in
a way I am). I am whiling away the
hours, waiting till 1600 or so when I hope to connect with friends who live on
this very plaza. I don’t have their
address or their phone number, but I have been in touch online. They are in
During
siesta, there is not much to do. I spent
some time and 2 Euros at the Café Zentral catching up on e-mail. I snacked on tortilla and tinto (red wine).
And now here I am, basking in the sun on my very own park bench.
My
day started later than usual. I left the
Ledigos albergue around 0720.
Temperatures had dropped and the prairie wind was quite strong. The sky quickly became blue and the waving,
green wheat captivated me as I walked along.
At 3K I stopped for breakfast at a bar in Terradillos de los
Templarios. I was delighted when a
frisky kitten proceeded to hop up on my lap and snuggle down for a nap. (Spanish cats often tend to be a bit aloof or
suspicious). A second kitten
arrived. I had a hard time making myself
leave the cozy scene.
I
walked on (another 3.5K) to Moratinos where I was met at the fountain just
before town. An e-mail buddy (and former
Air Force brat) was sitting there with one of her dogs. (She’s an Ex-Pat and has a home here in sunny
They
offered me a bed for the night and ohhhh was it tempting. A lazy, relaxed day among kindred spirits
would be a good thing. But, I graciously
declined and pressed on. (Frankly, I am
always a bit disbelieving when people offer me a bed or an invitation – I turn
shy and feel unworthy. My social skills
are bad – I seldom “look people up when I’m in town” … heck I hardly even call
my own daughter!) I lingered a while,
but when some other pilgrims showed up, I departed. It was a delightful stop and I am grateful to
have had a few hours with them.
So,
now I am in Sahugun, a lively town in a rural area. The plaza where I wait and on which my
friends live, is bordered with 14 trees.
At this time of year the tops of the trees are trimmed back
severely. In the heat of summer they
will provide a lovely canopy, but now they appear misshapen and distorted (to
an American’s eyes). There is a fountain
at the end of the plaza and on the opposite end is a bandstand. A few pigeons splash in the fountain. Around the plaza are numerous inviting cafes,
bars and shops under an arcade. On
summer days, no doubt, tables and chairs and people spill out into the main
plaza.
2300 – Time for Bed
I
am full of rich food and pleasant conversation and now it is time for me to
sleep. What a luxury to have a room to
myself. Though I will be up early and
walking tomorrow, it is still a great pleasure to have a room to myself.
It
has been a delight to visit with friends today.
It also reminds me of how lonely and physically demanding days on the
pilgrimage can be. The contrast is
stark.
I
say a prayer of gratitude and turn out the light on another day in sunny
·
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Carrion de las Condes -> Ledigos = 24K (382K to go!)
Today
I knocked out 24K. I had hoped to reach
Terradillos de los Templarios, but stopped in Ledigos. The first 17-18K was long; no villages, flat
and shadeless. I started walking at 0640, after breakfast in a local bar and
arrived in Calzadilla de las Cuerza by 1000.
I pressed on for another 6K and stopped at Ledigos, hoping to find
tortilla. No tortilla available in this
deserted, rural bar. As I sat there I
realized my feet hurt and decided to simply call it a day and check in. I could simply relax and rest a bit and press
on tomorrow. I called Mark and asked him
to contact a Christian Science Practitioner for help me with my feet.
The
terrain is flat, but challenges most pilgrims.
Just before Ledigos I watched a grown man fall to his knees and weep at
the pain he was experiencing in his legs.
The sealed roads are as bad as the rocky ones.
The
albergue is basic, a bit run down actually, but it is sunny and warm and birds
are singing. I am fatigued I guess. I did not sleep well last night (I shared the
room with a snorer/farter who also spent an hour in the middle of the night
rummaging through his pack while wielding a flashlight and muttering to himself
in French. He left the hallway door open
when he banged around in the toilet adjacent to our room – not complaining,
just observing!)
At
1500 I munched down the sandwich I made yesterday (turkey and cucumbers) and
soaked up the sun a bit. I showered and
washed my hair (using a bar of soap).
The breeze is drying my hair.
Earlier
I walked around town a bit…it is small.
There are no shops. The only
sounds are the chatter of wild birds, bees humming and the occasional crowing
of a rooster who lives behind closed doors on the featureless Plaza Mayor. I can hear the prairie winds rush past my
ears. It is so quiet here. Not a car on the streets nor any people. It is siesta time, but even in the evenings
most of these tiny towns are devoid of life – like movie sets after the film
crew has departed. They are like the
small, dying towns in the heartland of the
I
am hungry for a novel or good conversation.
It
would be lovely to pace my walking in such a way that I could stop for a
leisurely lunch at around 1400 and then continue walking later in the day. Unfortunately, the albergues fill up
rapidly. So pilgrims tend to walk early
(to avoid the heat) and to stop for the day at around 1300-1400. This leaves time for laundering clothes,
journaling, getting supplies and dining.
I
love walking early, under the setting moon watching the purple skies lighten
and hearing birds starting their daily chorus.
The first stop is at 0800 most days.
I down a sweet café con leche and toast with butter and marmalade. I stop again for late breakfast at about
1000. By then I have walked about 4
hours (12-20K under my belt already). I am
not in a hurry. I love moorings and I
walk along briskly and happily most days.
It
is hard to imagine walking through this region after 1300. The sun drains me and any humidity would make
it even more challenging. How do the
summer pilgrims survive?
I
am, frankly, ready for a break. I am a
bit worn out and tired of the 24/7 public nature of pilgrim life. I should check into a hostel and treat myself
to some privacy and a day of leisure.
In
just 19 days I will be in
I
struck up conversation with a young couple from
As
I wearily crawl into my bunk, I hear the young woman, crouched in a corner,
weeping forlornly as she whispers into her cell phone. What will the next
chapter of their lives be like? Will I
ever know?
·
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Boadilla de Camino -> Carrion de los Condes = 26.9K (405.1K to go!)
I
am staying at Santa Clarisa’s (a monastery).
There are only 3 people per room here.
This can mean a more restful night’s sleep than places where 50 or more
people share space.
The
walking began at 0630 with the full moon riding on my shoulder. I dragged in here about 1145 – about
27K. My legs feel it, but will relax
before long. My feet seem to feel every
rock in the road – as if they are reading Braille.
I
feel a blister forming (a hot spot) and no proper band aids – the materials
available requite scissors so I must spend some cash on some small scissors and
add them to my pack weight.
Today
I bought sun protection – my face and hands are very brown now and there are
lots of sunny days ahead. When I walk, I
wear long pants and a long-sleeved (very light-weight) t-shirt to protect me
from the sun. I also withdrew 200E from
an ATM.
The
next few days require long walks and few opportunities to get supplies, so I
must plan accordingly. There are few
villages and they do not always have store or bars. In the days of yore, pilgrims could find
supplies. The advent of private vehicles
has changed rural life and has an impact on the pilgrimage too.
Once
again, I am the only native-English speaker in the albergue. I am achy and tired and inclined to feel a
bit blue. Rain threatens and the other
pilgrims, travelling in groups, seem indifferent to anyone outside their
circle.
I
took a nap on arrival and my third roommate barged in, talking loudly to a
friend down the hall. He moved my pack
and continued to carry on his loud conversation though clearly I was napping
only a foot away from him. Roommate
etiquette on the Camino – not good!
Post-aborted-nap
I went shopping. I ran into pilgrims I
have met before and shared a bottle of Valdepena wine (Tres Molinos, the
table-wine we used to enjoy decades ago when we lived near
I
am now sitting in the setting sun, like a cat.
I am in the ancient courtyard, sipping the last of the Valdepena,
listening to birds settling down for the night.
Classical music drifts out of the
monastery. Across the courtyard
French-speaking pilgrims chat.
I
think about my own life. All of my adult
life has been like a pilgrimage. I have
moved so frequently – I meet people, engage and move on…never knowing for sure
how I have influenced (or been influenced).
Sometimes when I am away from home, I wake in the night, remembering
home, but remembering the wrong place.
In the dark I actually think: where is home?
The
many languages I encounter here on the Camino make me think of the
I
read the Prayer of Saint Francis of
It
is time to call it a day.
·
Monday, 11 May 2009
Hontanas -> Boadilla de
Camino = 28K (430K to go!)
Three
weeks ago I boarded the plane from the
I
am, unfortunately, NOT halfway to
I
am, however, making rapid progress now.
Today, my happy, healthy legs and feet carried me almost 30K. Tomorrow I will probably make 25K. One note in my guide says to bank BEFORE
leaving Carrion de Condes – no banks for two days. The terrain on the meseta is flat farmland,
few trees or villages. This time of year
it is a beautiful green blanket, but I try to imagine walking it when the
blanket is golden in the heat of summer.
The vast meseta is like a green sea.
The
long, slow climb up to the flat meseta was early in the day and rain threatened
so I donned my bold, red poncho; climbing and sweating – it was a good
workout. I maintain the same pace on
climbs as I do on flatland. This is not
true of most of the other pilgrims I observe.
Perhaps I have some mountain goat genes!
Before
arriving today, I met with a flock of sheep – they flooded around me as I stood
in the middle of the path, delighting at my good fortune.
I
arrived at this lovely private albergue about 1400, showered, washed and hung
laundry, and downed a large, delicious bowl of café con leche. Rainclouds are moving in and threatening my
wet laundry.
Tonight
I will sleep on the bottom bunk (most nights I choose the top bunk). The bunks last night were extremely high and
I had a hard time climbing into bed. I
tore my walking trousers and my tote bag in the process. At 0600, I had an even more challenging time
getting out of that bunk. Even an
acrobat would have called it a challenge.
Most
of the day I walked alone. I like to be
alone with my thoughts. I did have nice
interactions with a German woman who works in the department of monuments. I see her often on the path. She is an excellent walker and always looks
so poised, confident and well-turned out.
I also ran into B. (the Canadian guy who stayed at Rabe the night I was
there) and the woman from
Lightening
is flashing and thunder is booming. The
rain is pummeling the earth. Already the
sidewalk outside the window looks like a river during flood season. We pilgrims are inside, sitting in the dark,
thinking about the repercussions of all this rain. Half dry laundry is draped on bedposts. There will be wet clothes tomorrow and there
will certainly be terrible mud to trudge through. And what if we are walking in such a
storm? Miles from anything…lightening…
Eduardo,
one of the albergue’s hospitaleros runs in.
He is soaking wet, dripping on the floor, working to light the gas
heater for us. Outside the lilac bushes
bend to the ground – the wind makes everything bow and dance as it sings. The sweet smells of rain penetrate into the
room. I am reminded of spring rainstorms
back when I was a child in
I
seem to be the only native-English speaker in the room. The other pilgrims are Germans and Spaniards
who are travelling in small groups.
Somehow I feel almost invisible among them – lonely and alone in a
crowd. They do not reach out to me or
include me, nor do I make an effort to initiate a conversation. I have no book and sit here, trapped by the
rain, whiling away the time until dinner (hours from now) by journaling and
staring out the window.
Finally
the rain lets up and a weak sun emerges from behind clouds. I set out to explore this empty, bleak little
village. I have a nice photo-opp, but my
recalcitrant camera fails me again (it is a battery operated digital – I wanted
to avoid the charging challenges, but it seems to eat batteries faster than I
can replace them!). A pleasant German
woman strikes up a conversation.
Later
we share the pilgrim meal. Across the
table are two young firefighters from
The
full moon shines down on me as I make my way to my bed. The end of another delightful day on the
Camino.
·
Sunday, 10 May, 2009 (Mother’s Day)
Rabe de las Calzadas -> Hontanas = 19K (458K to go!)
The Albergue Door Opens and
the Terror Begins!
If
I had do-overs, I would surely make different choices concerning this albergue,
but when M. (the hostess at this private albergue) initially snapped at me, I
gave her the benefit of the doubt.
There
is something to be said about people who are direct, I thought as I jumped up
to respond to M.’s orders. And I like it
when people are clear and direct. But I
also expect people to be respectful of others, so when I heard M.’s sharp,
demanding tone, I should have followed my gut feeling.
This
woman is a bully.
And
I would quickly learn that she has serious control issues.
B.
and I later joked that M. was a fine example of the stereotypical controlling
Catholic school director or perhaps a prison matron. I am generally the optimist and willing to
give people a chance to prove themselves.
I always find something good about people and rarely give into the urge
to say unkind things. I am not a saint,
but I do believe people generally act from their highest sense of right and
people who know better, act better. So
when I heard M.’s sharp tone I was fairly certain she was simply under
temporary duress.
I
was so wrong.
Throughout
our entire stay, M. micro-managed every activity we undertook. She had many, many rules which she detailed
to us during what could only be called an initial briefing. We sat for almost an hour while she asked
each of us very personal questions and gave each of us unsolicited advice
coupled with her own opinions.
Let
me take a moment to interject a bit of information that may influence readers a
bit: I am a retired US Air Force Master Sergeant. I went through a rigorous basic training and
know what it is like to submit to a drill sergeant. I hope this information gives me some
credibility when I say, this woman is like a drill sergeant gone amok!
I
will refrain from detailing all the indignities we pilgrims submitted to during
our stay at M.’s albergue. But not only
was she a critical Cruella-deVille (101 Dalmatians), she also charged us for
the privilege of being demeaned and demoralized! We paid 20E for a simple bed and a meal of
lentils, accompanied by a lecture.
I
cannot write about this experience in detail, because I will rant and
digress.
Just
trust me when I say, this was a terrible experience and I do not wish it on
anyone.
Oddly
enough, M.’s spouse was a very kind, warm individual. It is also rather surprising to learn that M.
has walked every Camino in
[24
June 2009. I elected to NOT transcribe
my detailed original notes on how we were treated at this albergue. It is still painful to relive the experience. VJP]
_____________________________
*The
following is an excerpt from an e-mail I shared on a Camino newsgroup – I used
some humor in my brief description of my experiences at M’s private albergue in
Rabe de las Calzadas but know that the experience was not amusing in the least. The 8 pilgrims who stayed that night were not
treated with any dignity.
…Ahhhh yes, the prison matron of
Rabe de la Calzadas. .
Several times on my Camino I ran into my cellmates, er, I mean pilgrims who had
shared that dubious night in Rabe and weeks later, they were still fuming and
snorting and dealing with residual anger about the experiences with Michelle
(she has actually walked all the Caminos in Spain and proudly displays her
certificates on the wall of her wonderful Camino museum. (I must say her spouse
is a delightful man - filled with good humor and good stories...)
I should have known it would be bad when she initially grilled me ("Are
you happy?" to which I responded, "Yes, I'm happy." She said,
"You don't look happy!" I was inclined to stand up, salute and
say "Yes Ma'am, I'm happy, Ma'am!" but, I refrained.) And she
told me in no uncertain terms that I was not a pilgrim, but a tourist
("look at you bracelets and your long hair..these are not pilgrim
ways!")
There were privacy
violations (ie: she charged, with nary a knock, into the bathroom to
micro-manage how one woman was managing her shower!)
There was great concern about bedbugs so Michelle had a rather complicated
system of bagging our things and lots of rules about how to conduct ourselves
during our stay. One of my fellow inmates (oops, I mean travelers) broke
into tear tears after a reprimand from this woman.
Interestingly enough, she wrote a few motivational words on my pilgrim
credential.
I will share an extended version of my stay in my blog - I am slowly
transcribing my notes so it will be a while. Suffice it to say, I would
certainly not recommend staying at her lovely home...
Just a bit of my experience in Rabe... and I did not go into details because it
is too painful to conjure up these memories.
Despite this, I say: life is good...
On the Road to Hontanas
I
was on the road to Hantanas by 0630 and was a rabbit – the full moon was
glorious. I walked fast. I was eager to put Rabe behind me.
I
walked to San Bol, an isolated, oasis of an albergue with no electricity or
running water. After mile after mile of
green fields, the grove of trees at this small hippie-style albergue looks so
inviting. I am still haunted by the
treatment I received last night (M.’s albergue in Rabe), so it is a real
delight to be treated so well here. A
kind volunteer made me a cup of coffee and some toast (over an open flame and
in candlelight).
Refreshed
and glad to have met kind, warm people, I continue my walk to Hantanas. I walked with a wonderful Austrian man and
shared stimulating conversation as we traversed the countryside. In Hontanas, we stopped for tortilla and café
con leche in a charming bar on a small, crowded plaza. I decide to stay the night here.
The
next few days will be through flat, hot countryside, so walking early and early
stops are likely.
I
am almost halfway through my magical 40 days.
As
I write this I am seated on a sunny bench on the main road. Less than a foot away from me a group of
curious German pilgrims stand, gaping at the ergonomic pen I am using. Do these Germans speak to me? No they stare and then speak to one another
as if I am not even here. At first I do
not realize it is the pen that they are puzzling over. Once I understand this, I initiate a dialogue
about it. It is only then that they even
speak to me.
Daylight
is fading and this pilgrim is off to find an evening meal and maybe an Internet
connection. It is Mother’s Day (in the
·
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Burgos -> Rabe de las Calzadas = 11.4K (476K to go!)
1330 – On a Bench in Front of
the Albergue in Rabe
No
one in this lovely albergue (
Last
night, I limped around
The
women are so dressed up. And I am like a
street person limping along (blisters and strained muscles) in my bedraggled
walking clothes and flip flops – my hair flying and my face devoid of makeup. People stare.
A little girl tugged on her father’s sleeve and eyed me
suspiciously. The father looked at me
and then pulled the child aside and quickly moved on. Is this is what it feels like to be homeless
or to be a street person?
This
morning, I lingered a bit in
Walking
in and out of cities takes a lot longer than simply walking the Camino across
the countryside. There are so many
opportunities to get lost. And of course
I managed to add a few extra kilometers to my journey getting lost near a large
park near the edge of town. So a late
start, too much sun, sore feet and legs.
As
I write this, I am sitting on a bench outside the albergue in tiny Rabe de las
Calzadas. It looks charming and is
adjacent to the local church. The
albergue does not open until 1400.
A
van just raced by, horn honking, and a guy jumped out, went to window next
door, slid it open and thrust 2 loaves of unwrapped bread through. Home delivery…pretty casual, but there is no
store in this town. This is how the
locals get fresh bread. In the olden
days there would have been a local panaderia (bakery) and small stores here. There would also, no doubt, have been a
weekly open air market. These days
though, people have cars and those who live in small villages must drive to the
nearest city to do shopping. Just like
in rural
I
stopped in here today, because my smallest toe has a large blister which I need
to treat once I am inside this albergue.
I plan to be up and walking tomorrow at 0600 so I can get 20K in by
noon. .
It is a 9K walk to the next village.
Another
Pilgrim limped up. B. is a delightful Canadian
man who stayed at the albergue in Villafranca when I was there. He had terrible blisters and allowed someone
to administer first aid there. His feet
are still sore and he plans to stay the night here too. He has a dry sense of humor and quite a
wit.
Here
we sit in the noonday sun waiting for the albergue to open.
[Little
did we know what evil lurked behind that albergue door! vjp]
·
Friday, 8 May 2009
Villafranco ->
I
walked ten hours today. I can hardly
believe I walked 40K!
The
full moon was still dancing across the sky (about 0600) when I began the
initial steep ascent up the Montes de Orca.
It is a desolate 12K walk through oaks and conifers. Despite the trees,
the path is not shaded. At the top (Alto de la Pedraja) is a cross
commemorating those who died in the Spanish Civil War. I began my walk with R. but did not see her
after the first hour or so of walking. I
passed many pilgrims early on and then for most of the rest of the day, I saw
no other pilgrims.
Walking
felt good so I continued on. I felt
exhilarated and filled with energy.
I
decided to stop at Ages or Atapuerca (famous for prehistoric archaeological
finds) and arrive in the city of
So
onward I trudged and made it into
I
am too tired to seek out a meal – I will venture out later to eat and visit the
cathedral. First a hot shower and a
nap. I hope to stay in
More
later…
Friend Judy’s Inspirational Thoughts for my Day:
Below are a few excerpts from a chat with Elise
Moore on spirituality .com. She was on a walking vacation in
Before
I started to read, I was aware that I really needed a quick healing. This
vacation was going to be a walking vacation, and so, as I was thinking about
that, some negative thoughts began to crowd in. The sort of “what if”
thoughts—and I didn’t even want to go that way.
…….. also from Science and Health,
“Every step towards goodness…........is like a step towards God".
And what that meant to me at that moment was, I wanted to
have every step being a step more spiritual, a step toward the understanding of
God and His presence and power, the understanding of divine Love.
I got up at that moment,
and began walking down the beach. When I needed to, I would know that every
step was toward God, toward divine Spirit, toward the power of Truth to heal. I
was not going to agree with pain. As I stepped out across the road
from the beach, I realized I was completely healed.
·
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Belorado -> Villafranca de Orca = 11.5K (526.4K to go!)
Last
night in Belorado I attended mass and the pilgrim blessing. Afterwards the priest asked (in Spanish) for
volunteers to help return the icons to their proper locations. They have been out since Easter
celebrations. While I was trying to
decipher his Spanish, almost everyone else disappeared. People hear the word volunteer and stop
listening I guess! So, the priest took
R, and me by the elbow and escorted us through the serpentine streets of
Belodorado to another church where he put us to work.
We
were late for the group meal at the albergue but it was OK. It was called a communal meal, but really we
were simply all dining at the same time and seated at tables of four as in any
dining room. The meal was good and ended
with a digestivo (strong liqueur, like grappa, designed to help with
digestion). Baskets were circulated so pilgrims could donate money for the
meal.
After
a breakfast of cold bread, butter, marmalade and weak café con leche, I walked through
two (or three?) small villages. One
village had only 48 residents. I walked
many kilometers of un-shaded, rolling farmland ending in a scary walk along the
edge of a very busy highway. Large
trucks whipped by, honking and kicking up dirt.
I was hot and sweaty so when I reached Villafranca de Montes de Orca I
stopped for food and water. After
consulting my papers, I decided to stop for the night. The next stretch of the Camino involved a
steep climb and a walk of 12K to the next town (which has no stores!). One guide book describes the walk as
“soul-less.” All of this at mid-day
under the hot sun. Nope! I am staying the night!
Villafranca
is named after the traders and others who repopulated this region during the
reconquest (from the Moors). The community albergue in Villafranca is on an
uninspiring (and dangerous) curve of a major road. It was a converted school. There are large windows and a nice view from
the rear. The showers proved to have really hot water and room in the shower
area to dress without being a dwarf with contortionist skills! I showered, did my laundry, and walked down
to the only bar in town. Time for
lunch. (Lunchtime in
The
bar is like a truck stop. The outside tables were flanked with about 20
big-rigs parked side-by-side. Pilgrims
filled the table and sat in the dusty, parking lot passing the time. We watched local trucker downing wine and
beer before they continue on the road. Familiar
pilgrims faces pop up. Some people were
slowed down by blisters, joints that failed, sunburn, etc. Others have picked up speed as they grow
stronger. Some have learned to take buses
and taxis or to ship their backpacks ahead.
People play cards and while away the hours.
Most
pilgrims were in bed before 9PM. The
Snore-Corps (as R. named them) shared the room with us. These Spanish guys can really saw wood! They also like to keep the windows closed so
once again, it was humid and hot.
Friend Judy’s Christian Science
Thought for the Day:
Science & Health: 514:6
Mind, joyous in strength, dwells in
the realm of Mind. Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility
they climb the heights of holiness.
·
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Granon -> Belorado =
16K (537.9K to go!)
1530 – Relaxing by the Pool!
I
am lulled by the gentle sounds of hens caring for their babies. The albergue (run by Brazilians) has a carpet
of green, inviting grass in the courtyard.
There is also a swimming pool!
The garden is flanked by a chicken yard.
I face away from the German pilgrims drinking beer poolside and watch
the chickens as well as a family of ranging rabbits.
Later
I will shower and go explore the town, but for now, I sip Rioja wine (though I
have left the Rioja region behind now and am in Castle-Leon) and consider
moving to the pool to soak my feet in the cold, cold waters. The pool is in the sun so I linger in the
shade and continue to enjoy the antics of the poultry and rabbits.
The
walk today was good, but the sun was very hot.
The terrain is like
Last
night in Granon the local church had a pilgrim mass. In a small village, the pilgrims comprise
most of the people at the mass. In
Granon, most of the village showed up.
The priest gave us a warm blessing and then we went back to the albergue
to share a communal meal for 40. I
helped prepare baked apples and stayed up past “curfew” to dry dishes. The sit-down meal consisted of lentil soup,
baked apples, egg salad, bread, wine and water.
We set up tables and all sat around one of two tables to talk and eat
together. Afterwards there were prayers
in the church and each pilgrim read aloud and shared a story.
The
house rule: don’t awaken before 0700 (breakfast at 0730) was violated by many
pilgrims. Rustling bags and loud voices
- people think they are being quiet and respectful, but they are not.
More
later… I am off to clean up and to explore Belorado.
·
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Santo Domingo de la Calzada -> Granon = 6.5K (553.8K to go!)
0700 – Writing Over
Vending-Machine Coffee con Leche
Last
night a pair of lovely Dutch women invited me to share the meal they cooked in
the albergue dining room. The women are
dear friends and each year they meet to walk for two weeks on the Camino. They are delightful, laughing and joking,
relaxed and enjoying their experiences.
I am grateful to be included.
They also share their meal with a pair of young Spanish firefighters
(from
It
was kind of them to include me. One can
feel quite lonely n a crowd, even among pilgrims. Language, customs, culture, concerns can all
keep us isolated from one another. And
at other times we reach out beyond our boundaries, borders and fears to make
life easier for someone else. This is a
lesson that may never be completely learned.
One may need to keep working (throughout a lifetime) on the art of
reaching out and selflessly sharing.
My
American friend (R.) surprised me with a gift last night: a pastry chicken and
4 chocolate baby chicks. They are so
clever and detailed. I laughed when I
saw them. They are too cute - it is hard
to eat them!
The
albergue was an oven last night. I lay
awake, drenched with sweat. The light in
the hallway flashed on and off all night long as pilgrims made another kind of
pilgrimage (to the toilets). It was like
an old-fashioned neon sign. I felt like
I was in one of those old black and white detective movies at the flea-bag hotel.
The
accommodations are nice at the albergue, but it is an albergue and there are
many people.
Twice,
the man in the upper bunk next to mine sat up in the middle of the long night
and screamed (in French) at the snorers.
I have no idea what he said and do not know if he was sleep-talking or
simply angry and reacting to the cacophony of snoring and snorting. And in the early morning hours there were
pilgrims up and flashing their lights as well as talking in their outdoor
voices.
As
the room grew lighter I observed a sweet, rather private moment between a
couple across the room. This very tall,
hearty man from
1400 – Soaking up the Sun in
Granon
R.
and I walked together. We arrived in
lovely Granon early in the day (only about a 6K walk!) but I insisted we stop
here. Pilgrims who stay at the albergue in this village sleep in the bell
tower. The hospitaleros also arrange for
a wonderful communal dinner.
There
are albergues and there are albergues.
Many are quite large and aim to be efficient while others are small and
warm and strive to be effective. I have
looked forward to staying here in this unique albergue in Granon. This place is
on the favorites list of many veteran pilgrims.
We
are the first to arrive. We climb up
into the bell tower and unroll the mats they provide us. We are tucked under the eaves. Above, outside, the belltower is home to a
stork family. In the sunny patio where I
sit penning my notes, I can hear turtledoves coo and other birds
chattering. The storks clatter their
beaks. Roosters crow and a piece of farm
equipment passes through the quiet streets. Spring flowers flourish and the perfume drifts
through the village on spring breezes.
Bees buzz, butterflies flit, and it feels as though time stands still
for these few bright hours in the middle of the day. A grandfather stands tending a baby carriage
as he talks to his friends, a kitten plays in the doorway across the street, a
woman sings in her kitchen; life is good.
The
mid-day siesta is alive here; a custom that might improve the quality of life
of the world if we all adopted it. Even
here on the Camino, many pilgrims rush around, and try to pack so much into
each day. They wear themselves out and
have no time to sit and be or to observe nature and people and the life
unfolding around them The people in this village however, honor the joys of
siesta.
I
also like the rhythms of life here in Spain.
People to gather in public place at 0800 or 1000 and again at 1700 each
day. They come together throughout the
day. They sip a drink and share.
From
across the street, I hear an old man crying out. Is he angry or is he demented or suffering
from Alzheimer’s. He asks questions over
and over and makes demands. No one seems
to answer. I wonder what his life is
like. I wonder what it is like to grow
old in this quiet village.
My
thoughts are of simple pleasures: carving out a nest where I can enjoy the
sunshine, a cat or two, fresh flowers, lunching under a tree (or under the
stars). Time to read, time to walk the
dog, time for “every purpose under heaven.”
I imagine life in a light-filled space.
I consider the house in South Carolina and wonder if I could build a
quiet life there and simply happily-ever-after.
Or is it merely inertia that draws me there. Or maybe I could initiate another adventure –
build and run a guesthouse on my brother’s mountaintop in northern Malawi? A home and life in downtown Albuquerque or
maybe a pleasant life in surprising Des Moines near family. Simple pleasures – libraries, churches,
creative projects…baking bread to share with friends, building traditions,
raising some chickens…a small business.
Life
is good and filled with an abundance of delights. I am open to the delightful opportunities and
I am not outlining or making rigid plans.
But I am willing to commit and willing to serve. I will find that path as surely as I am
finding the path that is the Camino.
·
Monday, 4 May 2009
Azofra -> Santo Domingo de
la Calzada = 15.5K (638K to go!)
The
day never really dawned. I woke late
and the grey skies gave no clue to what time it really was.
I
made my way down the hall for the usual ablutions, and realized the albergue
was empty of other pilgrims. It had the
eerie feel of a schoolhouse in summer or a nightclub seen in the light of day.
This
albergue provided pilgrims with some privacy.
Instead of an open bay filled with bunks, pilgrims shared a small room,
designed just for two. What a luxury to
have a modicum of privacy and an escape from the usual symphony of snoring and
farting and the pre-dawn rustling of plastic bags under the glow of annoying
headlamps and flashlights.
I
set out at 0840 as the grey skies morphed into mist and light rain. The temperature dropped. Ahead, I observed a pilgrim disappearing into
a taxi cab. I plodded on up the sloping
terrain, eager to find a bar for some hot café con leche. By 1215 I was in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. The one village I passed through had no bar
so I was eager to find a dry, warm place to sip some coffee.
I
wandered through the historic district, my red poncho the only splash of color
on this dreary day. When I saw the
albergue, I decided to stop and call it a day.
The Spanish Confraternity runs this establishment with its large dining
room and convenient location. It is
large and modern and well maintained. I
will share a room with about 28 other pilgrims. The grey, overcast sky and
penetrating humidity takes its toll. I
am sleepy, the room feels muggy and close and the bathroom is like a sauna.
This
is the jubilee year of the town’s namesake and as luck would have it, there is
a special mass today. St Dominic was an
11th century religious hermit and engineer who spent his life
designing and building roads and bridges for pilgrims in this wilderness area
on the banks of the Rio Oja (River Oja).
His remains are housed in the cathedral.
The
motto of Santo Domingo de la Calzada is: “Donde la gallina canto despues de
asada.” (Where the hen crowed after being roasted.) So, I am especially eager to see the rooster
and hen that are housed in the cathedral and play a significant role in the
legends about this community.
The
condensed version of the tale goes like this: a young pilgrim, travelling with
his parents, spurned the advances of a local barmaid. Angered, the young woman hid some silver in
the young man’s knapsack and then accused him of stealing from the tavern. Of course the evidence was there and the
young man was marched to the gallows and hanged. The devastated, but devoted parents prayed
earnestly to St James and knowing St James would support their innocent son, they
proceeded on their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, leaving their son strung
up on the gallows.
The
story does not end here. Once their
pilgrimage was complete, the grieving parents return to Santo Domingo de la
Calzada and find their son, still hanging and alive. Supporting him from under his feet is the
saint. The parents run to the surly
judge and ask him to release their innocent son. The judge, who was seated at lunch, scoffed
and said if their son was innocent and still alive, the roasted chickens on his
plate would stand up and crow. To his
great surprise, the roasted chickens did just that! A miracle!
St James protects travelers along the pilgrim route and this legend is
testimony of that!
I
visit the cathedral delight to hear the crowing chickens. Later, I visit the alternate chickens which
are housed in the albergue where they wait for their 15-day rotation in the
cathedral. I feed these birds bits of
bread and feel lucky that they eat my offering.
This is considered a good omen, by those who know about omens.
I
mingle with other pilgrims and hear the inevitable gossip. About 6 of the pilgrims who I saw at the
Azofra albergue last night have shipped their backpacks ahead. Foot and knee problems drive their decisions. My own knee is good now and my backpack
(about 8 pounds) is light and not a burden.
Some other pilgrims have checked into private hotels for the night
rather than deal with the challenges of communal living in the albergue.
·
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Ventosa -> Azofra = 18.5K
(575.5K to go!)
The
300 people who live in Azofra are all in the small, neat town plaza sipping
wine, snacking on wonderful tapas and talking.
Music plays in the background.
The Mayor splashes more Rioja (regional wine) into my glass and insists
I try his wife’s special Jamon Serrano (salted ham). I am delighted to oblige. Then he thrusts a plate of salchicon and
chorizo (sausages) my way and splashes still more Rioja into my glass.
The
Mayor dazzles his constituency with his (seeming) command of English as he
chats happily with R. and me. We nod our
heads and listen attentively and do not let on that his English skills leave
something to be desired. Everyone is
dressed up. I feel a bit out of place in
my pilgrim clothes, but the locals seem quite happy to have us there.
What
a wonderful thing it is to participate in a local celebration. We certainly did not plan this adventure, but
it is one of the serendipitous things that happen.
How
did it happen?
R.
and I walked into the village just as the church bells were ringing. R. said, “I’m going to see if I can go to
mass – you head over to the albergue and see that we are in line for
beds.” She went left, I went right. In a matter of moments a local man happily smiled
at me and literally thrust a bottle of chilled wine into my hands. Quite the welcome!
The
Fiesta de la Cruz, coincides with Spanish Mother’s Day this year. The locals certainly celebrated and
generously included us in their party.
It was a lovely end to our day’s walk.
We
walked through Najera about 0900 and had breakfast at a bar near the river and
resumed walking. As we approached the
old city, it was hard to keep going. I
was sorely tempted to stop and stay the night since a full blown Renaissance Faire
was in the process of being set up. The
medieval town is just the right atmosphere for such an event. Venders were setting up so I lingered,
examining their wares and taking photos of the birds of prey and the armorers
chainmail work.
Above,
ciguenas (white storks) have built large nests atop every spire, chimney or
tower in the vicinity. Their noise of
their clattering beaks echoed through the narrow streets. The city was delightful.
R.
and I walked on. We saw several pairs of
abandoned leather boots on the steep climb beyond Najera. It was a beautiful walk and the weather was
balmy and bright. We sang songs and
laughed. I used my staff like a baton
and did a little dancing and marching as we walked along.
The
albergue is quite pleasant. Only 2
people per room! The patio is very nice
too. There is a small fountain/pool
where I soaked my feet in cool water.
The
rhythms and routines of this life are getting easier. My feet are happy, but I may need
insoles…walking on sealed roads is surprisingly hard on the feet.
Tomorrow,
I hope to stay in Granon (to sleep in the bell tower). Or I may stop at Santo Domingo.
The
moon is half-full.
·
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Navarette -> Ventosa =
3.5K (593.5K to go!)
I
walked with R. again today.
We
stop for coffee and toast after about 2 hours.
While we sip coffee, we confer and make a plan. We decide to stop here for the night to get
away from the bad energy of the group of pilgrims we were likely to find
ourselves with if we pressed on to Najera or points west. The albergue in Ventosa is small and is
likely to be more pleasant than the large municipal albergue 10K down the
road. This is also a holiday weekend in Spain
so there are more Spanish pilgrims walking.
This makes finding accommodations more challenging. And my knee is still tender. So a lazy day sounds good. (Note: this albergue and village was not
included in the guide book I consulted yesterday.)
Ventosa,
population 100, is quiet, though birdsong, dog-barking, and the sounds of
people doing morning chores fills my ears as I sit writing on the bench in the
tiny town plaza. Women are sweeping
their stoops, wiping down their windowsills.
A happy dog loped over to welcome me with a wagging tail and ears to
scratch. Some older men are soaking up
the sun across the plaza and a radio is playing in the distance. A tractor is parked here on the main street.
The
windows, as in most Spanish towns, are filled with potted Geraniums – lovely
splashes of pink and red. Fat little
parakeets and cheerful canaries in their cages on the windowsills and terraces
sing along with the wild birds.
Ventosa,
according to the sign in the plaza was once famous for lechedors – people who
raised suckling pigs. People came from
far and wide to buy them. These days the
main crops are cereals and Rioja wine grapes.
The
town is so small, there is no permanent store.
As I sit in the plaza a large truck pulls in, and parks, horn honking
all the while. He opens the side and
there is a meat and seafood selection.
Customers can enter from the rear door and choose all kinds of fruits
and vegetables, foods or cleaning supplies.
It is very well stocked. It is
fun to chat with the local housewives who stand in line to make their purchases
and observe the crazy American woman who is gaping at the ingenious store on
wheels.
Later
R. and I check into the private albergue.
It is very pleasant and the owners are very kind. We sit in the lovely, sun-splashed courtyard
and sip wine as we get acquainted with the other pilgrims. There are Germans, French, Irish, Italians,
and an 80 year old man from India. We
climb the hill and linger over a pilgrim meal in a charming café before getting
a good night’s sleep.
Judy’s
uplifting thought for the day:
Mis 51:26-28
(to ")
"...And
starting fresh, as from a second birth,
Man in
the sunshine of the world's new spring,
Shall
walk transparent like some holy thing."
·
Friday, 1 May 2009
Logrono -> Navarrete = 13K
(597K to go!)
Navarrete
is charming. I feel as if I have stepped
back in time. With all the shops closed
and the people closeted away for siesta, the medieval character is really
evident. The streets are cobbled and
they wind around the curve of terrain like a maze or a labyrinth. I only logged 13K, but the town appeals to me
and a look at the logistics of going further firm the deal for me (16K to
Najera, the next community and no fountains or services before that.) So, a short day for me. Visions of a hot shower, time to wash my hair
and the lure of a washing machine firm my resolve to stop here for the night.
I
check in, handle my tasks and then wander around the town a bit. It is still siesta so I have the place to
myself. I visit the local church. There are many pottery shops. Locals have used the red clay to ply a living
since Roman times.
I
find an open fruto-seco and splurge on
some bacon which will go nicely with the tomatoes and bread and wine. A stop at the local bar to use the Internet
and then its back to the albergue.
The
weather has clouded up and rain is falling.
Pilgrims scurry around to find a place to hang their wet laundry. Poor R!
She used the washing machine to wash all her clothes and THEN discovered
that the drier does not work.
The
rain keeps us trapped indoors. I find a
novel abandoned by another pilgrim and try to get interested in the science
fiction story. I sit in the kitchen
reading and eyeing the Asian family as they prepare dumplings from
scratch. Cooking is a family
endeavor. Later, they invite me to
sample them.
A
pilgrim sat down to eat and found himself crashing to the floor. The wobbly chair had collapsed under
him. The hospitalero rushed in to assess
the situation. He did not even offer the
surprised pilgrim a word or a hand. He
simply glared, then turned on his heel and returned to his desk by the
door.
There
is another American staying here. She is
from Boston. I attempt to spark a
conversation, but when I introduce myself and offer my hand, she drew back and
simply looks at me for a moment. Then
she turns away.
I
return to my novel.
I
am in bed by 9PM listening to the lullaby of snoring and farting that are
becoming the background music of my sleeping hours. (Many people use ear plugs to avoid this
stress. I am adjusting, but the volume
and frequency of these nocturnal noises deserves comment!) One woman talks on her cell phone long after
lights out.
ab
TO READ OLDER
ENTRIES,
RETURN TO THE
ARCHIVES ON THE LEFT
Our
Peace Corps (Ukraine) adventures:
January
2005 - May 2007
Our
AmeriCorps*VISTA (Santa Fe, NM)
adventures:
August
2007 – November 2008
My
Santiago de Compostela Camino (Spain)
adventures:
20
April -1 June 2009
Blog:
http://pilgrimageofgratitude-mycamino.blogspot.com
My
Facebook Page & Picasa Albums:
Virginia
J. Pulver
Life
is good!
ab