Off to the see the wizard...the wonderful wizard of Madrid!
Happy shopping day...more scrumptious paella and off to the airport we go!
I have loved my time in Spain...I will still be processing a lot of what I have seen and done...not to mention mulling over the thousands of photos!
Its time to head back to the real world...looking forward to my bed.
Adios Spain...thank you for the incredible adventure...amigos siempre!!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Day 32...18 October 2012
Early start to the airport to catch a flight to Madrid!
My dear friend Stick makes it onto the flight and is safely still accompanying me on my travels!
Madrid is busy...and you know when you are in a city when the beggars start to surround you!
We find Eva and Hostal Salome! Oh how gorgeous it is to be greeted by a welcoming face and a hot shower! Not to mention the luxury of a hair dryer!
Exploring Madrid is fun...different to recent experiences. The paella is out of this world and I vow to return tomorrow for my last dose of deliciousness! Prado art gallery is breathtaking...so much to digest...wish I had more time...more time for time!
Sadly we move on for some real Sangria! We get spoiled by many olives and chips to accompany our sangria...as well as a little dash of tequila...compliments of the cute barman!
Happy, I fall into bed...one more day...one more day!
My dear friend Stick makes it onto the flight and is safely still accompanying me on my travels!
Madrid is busy...and you know when you are in a city when the beggars start to surround you!
We find Eva and Hostal Salome! Oh how gorgeous it is to be greeted by a welcoming face and a hot shower! Not to mention the luxury of a hair dryer!
Exploring Madrid is fun...different to recent experiences. The paella is out of this world and I vow to return tomorrow for my last dose of deliciousness! Prado art gallery is breathtaking...so much to digest...wish I had more time...more time for time!
Sadly we move on for some real Sangria! We get spoiled by many olives and chips to accompany our sangria...as well as a little dash of tequila...compliments of the cute barman!
Happy, I fall into bed...one more day...one more day!
Day 31...17 October 2012
I have separation anxiety...I leave my backpack behind as we head out on a rainy morning to catch the bus to Finesterre...the end of the world!
I never knew how much I missed the ocean until I see it, feel it, smell it again! Deep breaths of aliveness!!!
I explore the village and run down to the beach! The water is warm in contrast to the chilly air. One brave soul has the courage to enter the water! I can see why the pilgrims back in the day thought this was the end of the world...looking out I can imagine with ease being at Cape Point...the water extends all the way to the horizon! It is beautiful and tranquil and gives me an inner sense of peace knowing that I achieved what I came to do! Thank you Finesterre for gracing us with dry skies!
Last night in Santiago treats us with another night of rain...pity as I would have like to explore Santiago a bit more. But no fun in the pouring rain.
I never knew how much I missed the ocean until I see it, feel it, smell it again! Deep breaths of aliveness!!!
I explore the village and run down to the beach! The water is warm in contrast to the chilly air. One brave soul has the courage to enter the water! I can see why the pilgrims back in the day thought this was the end of the world...looking out I can imagine with ease being at Cape Point...the water extends all the way to the horizon! It is beautiful and tranquil and gives me an inner sense of peace knowing that I achieved what I came to do! Thank you Finesterre for gracing us with dry skies!
Last night in Santiago treats us with another night of rain...pity as I would have like to explore Santiago a bit more. But no fun in the pouring rain.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Day 30...16 October 2012
Still wake up early even though I have set my alarm clock for later. Hardly slept. Just want to get there now!
When I get downstairs and see the other pilgrims drinking the usual morning coffee I suddenly get flutterbies in my stomach! Isaac and Christian have gotten up at 5am and are at our albergue already from Arca. I´m really glad we did the distance yesterday!
The 10km to Santiago fly by! I walk it alone and cover it in a flash! Smells like freedom!
Hit Santiago an hour and a half later and get into the queue at the pilgrims office for the compostela (ceritificate). The jubilation is tangible and feels like the papparazzi are there with all the photos being taken capturing this moment into the permanent memory bank!
The Camino still feels a little unreal...feels like I still need to walk tomorrow...or the desire to! The mass was long and the only interesting thing was the swinging incense!
The outside of the church is old and beautiful but I find the inside gawdy and lavish...unappealing!
Checked into the peregrino albergue which is basic and expensive for what we get...but this is what we can find in this storm and have no choice!
I miss our friends and sad we won´t see them again as the weather has dampened the festivities!
I hope the Spanish bergie enjoys the clothes and makes good use of them!
To the end of the world and beyond....
When I get downstairs and see the other pilgrims drinking the usual morning coffee I suddenly get flutterbies in my stomach! Isaac and Christian have gotten up at 5am and are at our albergue already from Arca. I´m really glad we did the distance yesterday!
The 10km to Santiago fly by! I walk it alone and cover it in a flash! Smells like freedom!
Hit Santiago an hour and a half later and get into the queue at the pilgrims office for the compostela (ceritificate). The jubilation is tangible and feels like the papparazzi are there with all the photos being taken capturing this moment into the permanent memory bank!
The Camino still feels a little unreal...feels like I still need to walk tomorrow...or the desire to! The mass was long and the only interesting thing was the swinging incense!
The outside of the church is old and beautiful but I find the inside gawdy and lavish...unappealing!
Checked into the peregrino albergue which is basic and expensive for what we get...but this is what we can find in this storm and have no choice!
I miss our friends and sad we won´t see them again as the weather has dampened the festivities!
I hope the Spanish bergie enjoys the clothes and makes good use of them!
To the end of the world and beyond....
Monday, October 15, 2012
Day 29...15 October 2012
Last day before Santiago...it is electric!!
Many pilgrims start early...it is a beautiful morning...just right for walking! Thank you Ribadiso for your hospitality!
I set out on my own and have a super walk...so many interesting conversations...so many different theories. The kilometers fly by!
I loved the one reasoning of why there are such amazing people on the Camino...we have time to listen to each other...really listen! We are a compasionate being...but we have forgotten to listen to each other. Here we only have time to listen! Its what really counts.
The 32km walk to Lavacolla goes by with such ease as I pass through such amazing territory...so peaceful through the forest that I don´t even notice that I ´miss´ a town! The beauty astounds!
Last 10km to Santiago tomorrow is met with intrepidation...yes, I´m looking forward to finishing...no, I´m not looking forward to this being all over!
I soak in as much as I can from my environment...it is going to be so hectic tomorrow...I have saved my crying day...but I don´t think I will be able to save it past tomorrow!
We at least have our own room tonight...so hopefully a good sleep and well rested for the moment tomorrow. Looking forward to who I see tomorrow...some old faces many new! And excited to put on my jeans that have been sent to me!
Many pilgrims start early...it is a beautiful morning...just right for walking! Thank you Ribadiso for your hospitality!
I set out on my own and have a super walk...so many interesting conversations...so many different theories. The kilometers fly by!
I loved the one reasoning of why there are such amazing people on the Camino...we have time to listen to each other...really listen! We are a compasionate being...but we have forgotten to listen to each other. Here we only have time to listen! Its what really counts.
The 32km walk to Lavacolla goes by with such ease as I pass through such amazing territory...so peaceful through the forest that I don´t even notice that I ´miss´ a town! The beauty astounds!
Last 10km to Santiago tomorrow is met with intrepidation...yes, I´m looking forward to finishing...no, I´m not looking forward to this being all over!
I soak in as much as I can from my environment...it is going to be so hectic tomorrow...I have saved my crying day...but I don´t think I will be able to save it past tomorrow!
We at least have our own room tonight...so hopefully a good sleep and well rested for the moment tomorrow. Looking forward to who I see tomorrow...some old faces many new! And excited to put on my jeans that have been sent to me!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Day 28...14 October 2012
Blame it on the rain, yeah yeah!
Pouring throughout the nights and most of the day! So the 26km today was through beautiful terrain but couldn´t take photos as I don´t have an underwater camera!
The Santiago excitement is tangible in the air and on the pilgrim´s faces. So close now...but caution must still be taken.
Stop for lunch in Mielide which is famous for pulpo...octopus! Very interesting...the suckers have a very weird texture.
The last 6kms were enough to Ribadiso. Should have walked an extra 3km with the Belgians to the next town...but this is where we will stay. Nice albergue but no facilities. So after wine and an ice cream...bed!
Pouring throughout the nights and most of the day! So the 26km today was through beautiful terrain but couldn´t take photos as I don´t have an underwater camera!
The Santiago excitement is tangible in the air and on the pilgrim´s faces. So close now...but caution must still be taken.
Stop for lunch in Mielide which is famous for pulpo...octopus! Very interesting...the suckers have a very weird texture.
The last 6kms were enough to Ribadiso. Should have walked an extra 3km with the Belgians to the next town...but this is where we will stay. Nice albergue but no facilities. So after wine and an ice cream...bed!
Day 27...13 October 2012
The mist is thick and beautiful! We skip Portomarin and join the way over the bridge.
The silence of the forest is shattered by the mindless slackpackers with their backpacks safely transported to their next destination. They do not have a care or care!
My first tortilla and tomato boccadillo. Filling for the day. The mist hangs low and only clears late. I´ve lost my glasses in the forest! Can I not even have a meal on my own?
A new type of patience is being taught to me on the camino.
Just before our last break for Palas de Reis...Karl arrives. He has left his dad behind and is a changed man. He is titanium!
The guy who shows us to our rooms in the albergue we check into shows Karl to his room on the 1st floor. He then leads us up 2 more flights and I complain that the girls should be on the 1st floor after a days walk.
He shhhh´s me and says look before you speak. Short sharp lesson straight to the face!
He leads us paradise. A bunkbed in our own room! Oh wow oh wow oh wow! I hug him...he tells me to call him! :-)
Shower, clothes washed, pizza in the belly, quick chat to the Belgians...yes of course we are in the same albergue...we take our stalking profession very seriously!
The silence of the forest is shattered by the mindless slackpackers with their backpacks safely transported to their next destination. They do not have a care or care!
My first tortilla and tomato boccadillo. Filling for the day. The mist hangs low and only clears late. I´ve lost my glasses in the forest! Can I not even have a meal on my own?
A new type of patience is being taught to me on the camino.
Just before our last break for Palas de Reis...Karl arrives. He has left his dad behind and is a changed man. He is titanium!
The guy who shows us to our rooms in the albergue we check into shows Karl to his room on the 1st floor. He then leads us up 2 more flights and I complain that the girls should be on the 1st floor after a days walk.
He shhhh´s me and says look before you speak. Short sharp lesson straight to the face!
He leads us paradise. A bunkbed in our own room! Oh wow oh wow oh wow! I hug him...he tells me to call him! :-)
Shower, clothes washed, pizza in the belly, quick chat to the Belgians...yes of course we are in the same albergue...we take our stalking profession very seriously!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)