Wednesday, October 10

Egg-plosion...

(Picture: Photo for mumsey... Spanish Sasha)

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!!

Tuesday, October 9

Camino de Santiago - Map


Anyone wanting to follow me as I go... here´s a map. Click it to get a larger image!

Mini running of the bulls...



Wow, what a day! If this is a taste of things to come then bring it on! There's hardly been a dull moment. This morning the intention was to walk to Pamplona, easy enough walk, only 20 km along reasonably easy terrain. Simple day...
I'd been walking all the way with Dawn, who'd up untill today, really needed my encouragement. Today though she was really powering on and I decided that it was time to walk alone for a while and focus on why I was walking myself. So I left Dawn and essentially started my own camino today. After a few km by myself in which I passed a few small groups with new found speed, I'd stopped just before a suburb of Pampalona called 'Trinidad de Arre'. Stopping just long enough meet some of said small groups again and promply getting invited for early afternoon coffee, which I keenly accepted!
Moments on entering the town we see boarded up doors and windows and nobody around (siesta time, fair call on the nobody around part). Soon after, in a bar we all find out that today is the towns festival, which includes a mini running of the bulls. Hence the reason the main street is boarded up! Woohoo!
Canceled are all plans for Pampalona today! What an amazing sight. Such strong animals, such brave, borderline stupid men on one small street!
The rest of the evening was spent with very cool randoms in the refugio talking in sooo many languages, some people translating for others, everyone adding in but primarily 'hands & feet' language. Hehe!
What's tomorrow got organised?

Saturday, October 6

A long road to Roncesvalles...

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!