Ok... I have been putting off this post for a few weeks now because I just thought i was crazy and being foolish. But, I really think i have been seeing everyone's European twins.
Probably about a dozen or so friends, family and so on have a twin living in Europe that they do not know about. I wish i started writing down the names and keeping track but at the time i was still thinking i was crazy.
Wow, that felt good to get off my chest.
Ciao
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Santiago de Compostela
Hey everyone! I have made it all the way to Santiago, the official end to the Camino. I am however continuing a little farther right to the Coast. The is a town called Fisterra and it had been deemed the "end of the world" since it was at the time what seemed to be the farthest west anyone could travel. Fisterra is an extra 100kms, so about 3 days which is great since my flight down to Morocco is not until next week.
Hiking the Camino has reinforced my belief that life is about the journey and not the destination. After walking 800kms I thought the end would be a great and glorious moment for the Camino but it was just another city and looking back at the trip I realized that was what I was here for not this city. Santiago's famous cathedral seemed especially bland since in the past 2 months I have been in and seen so many churches, abbeys, cathedrals, chapels and monasteries. Haha, but it was still impressive in its own way.
For the first time in 25 days I am not hiking or walking anywhere; I am just relaxing and giving my little feet a well deserved break... until tomorrow.
The photo is hiking down from Manjarin in the mountains towards Ponferrada. I had picked up this great stone with the intention of leaving it at the next Camino marker, but i only made it 100m.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Professional walker, i should get a sponsor.
So after a few little hick-ups in the health and wellbeing department, I´m back on my feet and marching away. I think I am somewhere around the 600kms marker, it so easy to loose count when you are somewhere in the middle. And its great for sanity if you don´t continuously count the distance everyday.
There is one big mountain and a good long flat bit between here and Santiago. Since writing last, its snowed quite heavily, rained off and on and now its if amazing and sunny. I´m getting a great tan on one of my arms and 1/2 my face (thats the one problem when you are constantly walking west).
I´m missing my shower from home quite a bit, because some of these showers are pretty crap. Talk to you all soon.
Ciao
G
There is one big mountain and a good long flat bit between here and Santiago. Since writing last, its snowed quite heavily, rained off and on and now its if amazing and sunny. I´m getting a great tan on one of my arms and 1/2 my face (thats the one problem when you are constantly walking west).
I´m missing my shower from home quite a bit, because some of these showers are pretty crap. Talk to you all soon.
Ciao
G
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Camino has begun
Hey, looks like it´ll be a while till my next photo posting. It seems all internet spots in Spain dont allow USB hook-ups. I´ll have to paint a real good picture with my story telling.
I started the Camino on March 3 with beautiful weather for about 4 days. And then... well it started to blow and on one day snow as well. Wasn´t the weather i was expecting in Spain, but then again it is the start of March still.
It took me a few days to realize that this is not so much a sprint as it is an endurance trek. The scenery has been beautiful for the most part, grape fields, rolling hills, epic old cityscapes and a free wine fountain... thats right... FREE. It was along the Camino attached to a large Bodega (vineyard) and offered two taps; one producing red wine and the other water. Needless to stay, it was the mid afternoon pickup i needed for my 43km day (which i am not planning on repeating).
Some days I see several other pilgrims and wish then ¨Buen Camino¨ as we cross paths but other days I have gone the whole day without seeing another pilgrim between each alburgue (pilgrims hostel), and sometimes hours without seeing another soul. Lots of time to think... and talk to myself.
Tonight I´m sleeping in a town called Grañon, in a a parish alburgue attached to the church. After climbing some stairs to an upper suite off the bell tower there is a cozy kitchern, bathrooms, living space and loft for the matts where we sleep on the floor. This has to be the most sureal hostel yet. Wish I could be out exploring the town on this sunny afternoon, but unfortunately the last thing i want to do is walk some more and the really cold strong winds are enough of a deterant to keep my indoors.
It has been great not having a timeline to follow, but i still need to tell myself to stop rushing and take my time. Although, the sooner i complete the Camino, the sooner i get to play in the hot sun in Morocco and relax on a beach. One thing is for sure, my body will continually remind me when I have done too much and give me a good humble slap across the face. It turns out I´m not invincible; I´ve been schooled my two (60+ years old) italian guys who not only kept up grueling distances each day but also did it fast and without complaining. Cheers to them. Its now that I am reminding myself to do my stretched each morning and afternoon to keep my body functioning. Who would have thought walking was such hard work.
Missing everyone at home; but sorry, not enough to come home early. I´ll try to get some photos up soon but its tricky to find good internet spots.
Ciao
G.
I started the Camino on March 3 with beautiful weather for about 4 days. And then... well it started to blow and on one day snow as well. Wasn´t the weather i was expecting in Spain, but then again it is the start of March still.
It took me a few days to realize that this is not so much a sprint as it is an endurance trek. The scenery has been beautiful for the most part, grape fields, rolling hills, epic old cityscapes and a free wine fountain... thats right... FREE. It was along the Camino attached to a large Bodega (vineyard) and offered two taps; one producing red wine and the other water. Needless to stay, it was the mid afternoon pickup i needed for my 43km day (which i am not planning on repeating).
Some days I see several other pilgrims and wish then ¨Buen Camino¨ as we cross paths but other days I have gone the whole day without seeing another pilgrim between each alburgue (pilgrims hostel), and sometimes hours without seeing another soul. Lots of time to think... and talk to myself.
Tonight I´m sleeping in a town called Grañon, in a a parish alburgue attached to the church. After climbing some stairs to an upper suite off the bell tower there is a cozy kitchern, bathrooms, living space and loft for the matts where we sleep on the floor. This has to be the most sureal hostel yet. Wish I could be out exploring the town on this sunny afternoon, but unfortunately the last thing i want to do is walk some more and the really cold strong winds are enough of a deterant to keep my indoors.
It has been great not having a timeline to follow, but i still need to tell myself to stop rushing and take my time. Although, the sooner i complete the Camino, the sooner i get to play in the hot sun in Morocco and relax on a beach. One thing is for sure, my body will continually remind me when I have done too much and give me a good humble slap across the face. It turns out I´m not invincible; I´ve been schooled my two (60+ years old) italian guys who not only kept up grueling distances each day but also did it fast and without complaining. Cheers to them. Its now that I am reminding myself to do my stretched each morning and afternoon to keep my body functioning. Who would have thought walking was such hard work.
Missing everyone at home; but sorry, not enough to come home early. I´ll try to get some photos up soon but its tricky to find good internet spots.
Ciao
G.
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