Oh GOD! I proudly passed a McDonalds despite the fact I was starving and nothing else was open due to siesta... but several hours later after still no food found myself wandering in that direction again... Nooooo why did I do it!! It was sooo good, I felt dirty and wrong at the same time... ewww!
Still looking for something to do after camino with Cassy... looks like WWOOFing is back on the cards, possibly Italy! How cool!
Now to the illicit photo. There´s a church (insert name here) in Leon with 11th century paintings on the walls. Your really not suppose to take photos of it, I think heaps of people don´t turn off the their flash and it degrades the painting... though I managed to sneak one in... managed to get caught too... hehe... "I don´t speak Spanish" phrase has never come in more handy!
Staying in Belorado tonight (I´ll try and post the name of the city I´m staying into the title, like this one)
Woah there have been some long days. Another 10 hours day of walking again the other day. Such a relentless pursuit from everyone involved.
It´s quite curious when your walking all alone for hours on end all day the random thoughts that pop into your head. So many faces and moments in time come flashing back all of a sudden. Most specifically old friends from work/school/collage. Even old pets and animals I´ve owned in the past.
I´ve walked 236km so far and *only* have 542 to go to get to Santiago de Compostela but I also want to walk to the coast of Spain, Finisterre and back to Santiago again which should take a few extra days/kms!
Still looking for something extra to do once I´m done walking as I´ll have about 2 - 3 weeks left to do something in Europe before I head home. Hopefully me and Cass will be able to hook up somewhere in Europe.
P.S. Thank you soooo much Cass for your guide book on the Camino... would have lost my way 100 times already and know half as much as what I currently do about the cities Í´ve stayed in.
The days seem so full despite their mundane appearance on a map. Between talking, eating resting, planning, washing, laughing, sight seeing, breathing, dodging European traffic, thinking, drinking and walking... there isn't much time for anything else. I have about 20 of my favorite music albums on my PSP, I've so far listened to half of one!
It's amazing meeting so many different people, each with their own stories and lives. One of the things I dislike about huge cities is the rush of people, each one being capable of writing detailed and interesting book on their lives, a rush of information and a disregard for any of it. On Camino, everyone is flowing in the same direction. Similar goals being achieved in similar ways but unique ways. You join and leave people and groups as they flow around you, picking out the stories that are interesting and something you can learn and share with. An amazing experience!
Oh, and a mental note to self. Don't put peeled, hard-boiled eggs into the microwave. They'll explode, not in the microwave but on the table some time later with a 360 degree, 2 meter radius! LMAO!!
Anyone wanting to follow me as I go... here´s a map. Click it to get a larger image!
Holy crap!
That was the longest, most physically draining day of my life. I don't believe that I'll ever be able to say 'I can't' ever again. So much is happening I cannot even mention it all, I'm so tired I fell asleep trying to blog a message and I'm ready to do the same tonight! Good train trip down to Saint Jean Pied de Port. One train almost missed the only connection, stressful! I met 2 ladies, Dawn and Helen who were training in Australia together. Dawn walked with me today and we helped each other through a huge day.
Saint Jean is called one me the most ambitious starting points for the Camino, 1.3km incline over 25km, the hardest day on Camino. Pain!
I must sleep or I'll die! I hope everyone is well at home, UK and Oz! Love you all!
Anyhow, a big yahoo and sigh of relief to the new no smoking ban that
went into effect as of yesterday here in the UK! It's certainly making
my late night email far more plesent to write.
My mobile phone... still fucked! NOT HAPPY, JAN! (I had to explain
that quote to an Englishman recently, doesn't have the same effect. So
anyhow... sorry to all those that I normally call (not many, sorry
again)!
And now on to the latest purchase, a new Nintendo DS. I've been
thinking recently about all the items that I have to sell so I can
continue to travel (basically verything that doesn't go on my back)
and this means things like PS3, bike & it's looking very likely that
includes my laptop too! So after some research, one thing leads to
another and I have myself a new DS. Oh well... if this email works
it'll mean that I can use it to blog....
