In medieval times, there were three pilgrimmages Chrstians were supposed to undertake - to Rome, Jerusalem, and to Santiago. Santiago was supposed to be the last pilgrimmage one undertook. It was a dangerous one, with thieves, wolves, and wild boars. Today's pilgrimmage is much tamer. The Spanish governmnet, aware that religious fervor is diminishing, but wanting to encourage this camino that brings much-needed money, now promotes it as a 'European cultural itinerary' and in their promotional literature gives the following 5 reasons to do it:
1. To see World Heritage sites
2. For the variety of outdoor activities.
3. To enjoy extraoerdinary food and wine
4. For the chance ot stay in restored historic buildings, rural houses, modern hotels, etc.
5. To meet people from different creeds and gain personal enlightenment along hte way.
The people I have met who told me their reasons included: a United Church Minister who needed to figure out how to stop saying yes to every opportunity and overcommitting herself; an 18 yo who saw this as a rite of passage to manhood; a family who had lost a father; a young German investment banker who needs to destress from her very streesful job in a male dominated environment; people seeking to understand why relationships failed, etc.
Originally, this would have been the last few months before moving to BC, and was planned as a time to think about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. As you know, things worked out differently, and this has become more a camino of gratitude, of just being happy and grateful for my life and my work where they are right now. A lot of it has been the pure pleasure of walking, and of spending time with Nadine. I think some of the reason for going this may have been finally putting to rest the memory of the nerdy kid who got D's in PhysEd and was always picked last for games. It feels good to know that I can do this on a physical level. Some of it was also wanting to believe that I have not grown entirely soft in my comfortable life, and that I can deal with things like dormitories and cold showers.
I had brought a list of things to think about work, but until day 17, I was just busy walking and watching where I was going (that is very inportant- I did not watch where I was going in Pamploma, nad stubbed my toe not once, not twice, but three times, whihc is why I almost lost the toenail..). The time is now passing very quickly; we will be in Santiago in 10 or 11 days. The snow-capped mountains we have been seeing in the distance are now up close, and we are climbing again. The scenery is amazing. Life is good...
Gisele
jeudi 28 mai 2009
lundi 25 mai 2009
Jour 19...León!
Alors nous sommes déjà rendu à notre 19e journée de marche! Et présentement à León! Une belle grande ville espagnole remplie de belle architecture et d'histoire! Je dirais beaucoup plus belle que Burgos...cependant il n'y a aucune cathédrale aussi belle que celui de Burgos! Je n'ai pas grand chose à vous raconter...on dirait que c'est la même chose à chaque fois! Marche...marche...et...MARCHE! hihi Il nous reste environ seulement 350km à marcher....et dans deux semaines...nous serons en chemin vers Paris! Puisque nous sommes de retour dans une grande ville...nous avons pris l'occasion du gros luxe! Une chambre d'hôtel avec salle de bain privée (pas de vieux monsieurs tout nus!) et de l'eau caliente! Et une petite télé pour écouter Family Guy et Los Simpsons en espagnol! Pour moi...le camino est devenu une routine alors je vous présente comment se déroule une journée typique sur le camino!
On se réveille environ vers 6h à chaque matin....malgré le bruit des lèves-tôt (grr...) vers 5h! Je prends mon temps pour sortir du lit (normalement un bunkbed...moi en haut, maman en bas) puisque je suis beaucoup plus rapide pour me préparer le matin! On se brosse les temps, on se change et nous utilisons les servicios (salles de bain) avant de commencer à marcher! Parfois nous prenons le temps de manger un petit quelque chose, sinon nous atttendions au premier village puisque par le temps qu'on arrive, une des deux doit aller au toilette (normalement Maman...encore une fois hihi)! Donc par le temps que nous mettons notre application de Vaseline sur les pieds, faire nos baggages et tout le tralala...il est environ 7h! On s'arrête toujours au moins une fois en matinée pour une chocolatine et un cafe con leche pour bénéficer des salles de bains! hihi Nous marchons en moyenne 25km par jour...et dépendant du relief et la fréquence des stops de pipi ou pour manger...on arrive à la destination quotidienne vers 13h-14h...tout dépendant de la journée! Après....on trouve l'auberge municiaple ou une auberge privée..trouvons notre lit, et prenons notre douche! De toute façon....tout est fermé entre 14h et 17h pour la siesta! Nous prenons le temps de se reposer...planifier la prochaine journée...laver notre linge...se laver....jaser...et trouver une place pour souper! Dans les petits villages...il a seulement une option....et c'est le menu du pelerin! (Ouf....j'suis tannée!) Pour environ 9 euros...ils t'offrent une entrée...choix de salade, spaghetti, soupe et comme plat principal..porc ou poisson! Desserts inclus avec eau, vin et des fois une liqueur)! Mais c'est toujours la même chose...servis exactement pareil....vite les SUSHIS à mon retour!! Le souper n'est jamais servit avant 19h....alors par le temps que nous avons fini de manger...il est environ 20h30! Nous retournons à l'auberge....on jase un peu avec les autres...et on se prépare à se coucher pour être en forme pour le lendemain! Je dirais que par 22h nous sommse déjà entrain de ronfler! Et le lendemain...ça recommence!
Voilà une journée typique (pour nous en tout cas...) sur le camino!
À la prochaine!
Nadine
xx
On se réveille environ vers 6h à chaque matin....malgré le bruit des lèves-tôt (grr...) vers 5h! Je prends mon temps pour sortir du lit (normalement un bunkbed...moi en haut, maman en bas) puisque je suis beaucoup plus rapide pour me préparer le matin! On se brosse les temps, on se change et nous utilisons les servicios (salles de bain) avant de commencer à marcher! Parfois nous prenons le temps de manger un petit quelque chose, sinon nous atttendions au premier village puisque par le temps qu'on arrive, une des deux doit aller au toilette (normalement Maman...encore une fois hihi)! Donc par le temps que nous mettons notre application de Vaseline sur les pieds, faire nos baggages et tout le tralala...il est environ 7h! On s'arrête toujours au moins une fois en matinée pour une chocolatine et un cafe con leche pour bénéficer des salles de bains! hihi Nous marchons en moyenne 25km par jour...et dépendant du relief et la fréquence des stops de pipi ou pour manger...on arrive à la destination quotidienne vers 13h-14h...tout dépendant de la journée! Après....on trouve l'auberge municiaple ou une auberge privée..trouvons notre lit, et prenons notre douche! De toute façon....tout est fermé entre 14h et 17h pour la siesta! Nous prenons le temps de se reposer...planifier la prochaine journée...laver notre linge...se laver....jaser...et trouver une place pour souper! Dans les petits villages...il a seulement une option....et c'est le menu du pelerin! (Ouf....j'suis tannée!) Pour environ 9 euros...ils t'offrent une entrée...choix de salade, spaghetti, soupe et comme plat principal..porc ou poisson! Desserts inclus avec eau, vin et des fois une liqueur)! Mais c'est toujours la même chose...servis exactement pareil....vite les SUSHIS à mon retour!! Le souper n'est jamais servit avant 19h....alors par le temps que nous avons fini de manger...il est environ 20h30! Nous retournons à l'auberge....on jase un peu avec les autres...et on se prépare à se coucher pour être en forme pour le lendemain! Je dirais que par 22h nous sommse déjà entrain de ronfler! Et le lendemain...ça recommence!
Voilà une journée typique (pour nous en tout cas...) sur le camino!
À la prochaine!
Nadine
xx
Victoria Day in Mansilla de las Mulas
Yesterday, May 24th, was Queen Victoria's birthday (versus the national holiday that does not always fall on her birthday). Several Canadians, including yours truly, celebrated by having cervezas and vina tinto. (As an aside, a bottle of reasonable vino tinto in the bar cost us 2.35 Euros, versus 1.5 Euros each had we had a coke. The choice was obvious) Queen Victoria was toasted several times, as was the present queen and her dysfunctional brood. We had a great time. I met a few more Canadians yesterday, including a couple from Oakville who had known each other peripherally for years, met on the camino last year, and are now married; a woman from Toronto who has been working in Korea for 2 years, and another Ontario woman now living in Australia. The man from Victoria, Brian, lives in Fairfield, or 10 minutes from us. Small world!
One of the pleasures of the Camino is running into people you haven't seen for a while. Yesterday, we ran into the Yellowknife mom and 2 daughters we hadn't seen since day 2. It was neat.
Today, we are in Leon and splurging by staying at the Paris Hotel. It is wonderful! We couldn't do that every day, though, or we would miss out on one of the best parts of the camino, which is meeting and mixing with people in the evening. We arrived around noon, and have visited the cathedral (medieval and dark with stained glass windows, versus Burgos which is delicate and light), the church of San Isidor, and a bank that was designed by Gaudi and looks like it could be Hogwarts school. Our plans were initially to spend two days in Leon, but we now think that if we spend only one night, we can get to Santiago in time to take a day trip by bus to Finisterre. The walk into Leon was pretty nice, versus the industrial zone of Burgos. You do get a different view of big cities when you have to walk through them.
We have had a bit of rain, nothing to complain about. The snails all came out, and we saw people collecting them in plastic bags. The snails are beautiful; I will never eat escargots again! I am not being vegetarian on this trip; I figure I need the energy. I met an Austrian vegetarian who has been living on salads, chips, and chocolate. Not good...
Well, time for dinner. Till next time.
Gisele
One of the pleasures of the Camino is running into people you haven't seen for a while. Yesterday, we ran into the Yellowknife mom and 2 daughters we hadn't seen since day 2. It was neat.
Today, we are in Leon and splurging by staying at the Paris Hotel. It is wonderful! We couldn't do that every day, though, or we would miss out on one of the best parts of the camino, which is meeting and mixing with people in the evening. We arrived around noon, and have visited the cathedral (medieval and dark with stained glass windows, versus Burgos which is delicate and light), the church of San Isidor, and a bank that was designed by Gaudi and looks like it could be Hogwarts school. Our plans were initially to spend two days in Leon, but we now think that if we spend only one night, we can get to Santiago in time to take a day trip by bus to Finisterre. The walk into Leon was pretty nice, versus the industrial zone of Burgos. You do get a different view of big cities when you have to walk through them.
We have had a bit of rain, nothing to complain about. The snails all came out, and we saw people collecting them in plastic bags. The snails are beautiful; I will never eat escargots again! I am not being vegetarian on this trip; I figure I need the energy. I met an Austrian vegetarian who has been living on salads, chips, and chocolate. Not good...
Well, time for dinner. Till next time.
Gisele
vendredi 22 mai 2009
Routine
We've now been walking for over 2 weeks, and have covered just over 400 km. Today, we are staying at Terradillios de los Templaros.
Our days have quickly settled into a routine: Wake up around 5:30 to the rustling of plastic bags as the early risers get ready. By 6 am, there are enough people awake that someone turns on the lights or the music starts. Get ready, and start walking by about 7. Walk the day´s distance, stopping for a cafe au lait and bathroom break after about 2 hours, and a second shorter or longer break a couple of hours later, depending on the length of the day.
Arrive at destination. FInd a place to sleep. Take a shower. If we're not among the first, it is best to wait a couple of hours until the hot water tank fills again. (although cold showers do wonders for swollen feet). Handwash the day's clothes and hang to dry. Some places have washing machines, but there are usually long line-ups. In a couple of places, the hospitalero washed and dried all our clothes by machine for 6-7 Euros. It was worth it :). Hang out, write, go visit the town, etc. Supper around 7 (most places won´t serve supper before then). Most towns along the way have restaurants that offer a 'pilgrim's menu' for 9-11 Euros, which includes an appetizer, main course, and simple desert such as fruit or ice cream, as well as bread, and either bottled water or wine. Some people only stay in albergues where you can do your own cooking. We have done a bit of cooking, but it is just easier to go out. Start getting ready for bed and the next day by 9 or 9:30. Lights out at 10.
Today we did 27 km under a cloudless sky and a hot sun. Yesterday and today, we had to watch that flies didn't get into our noses or mouths. One of the Brazilians is a civil engineer who moonlights as a clown. He brought his clown nose with him. Yesterday, we came upon a group of schoolchildren on an outing and he put on his cape (i.e. the Brazilian flag) and his nose. The kids went wild. They chanted the names of Brazilian soccer stars. We took a video.
So far, we are on schedule. We are hoping to arrive in Santiago on Sunday the 7th, take the bus to Finnistere for the day on the 8th, and then fly to Paris on the 9th.
Home in 3 weeks!
Gisele
Our days have quickly settled into a routine: Wake up around 5:30 to the rustling of plastic bags as the early risers get ready. By 6 am, there are enough people awake that someone turns on the lights or the music starts. Get ready, and start walking by about 7. Walk the day´s distance, stopping for a cafe au lait and bathroom break after about 2 hours, and a second shorter or longer break a couple of hours later, depending on the length of the day.
Arrive at destination. FInd a place to sleep. Take a shower. If we're not among the first, it is best to wait a couple of hours until the hot water tank fills again. (although cold showers do wonders for swollen feet). Handwash the day's clothes and hang to dry. Some places have washing machines, but there are usually long line-ups. In a couple of places, the hospitalero washed and dried all our clothes by machine for 6-7 Euros. It was worth it :). Hang out, write, go visit the town, etc. Supper around 7 (most places won´t serve supper before then). Most towns along the way have restaurants that offer a 'pilgrim's menu' for 9-11 Euros, which includes an appetizer, main course, and simple desert such as fruit or ice cream, as well as bread, and either bottled water or wine. Some people only stay in albergues where you can do your own cooking. We have done a bit of cooking, but it is just easier to go out. Start getting ready for bed and the next day by 9 or 9:30. Lights out at 10.
Today we did 27 km under a cloudless sky and a hot sun. Yesterday and today, we had to watch that flies didn't get into our noses or mouths. One of the Brazilians is a civil engineer who moonlights as a clown. He brought his clown nose with him. Yesterday, we came upon a group of schoolchildren on an outing and he put on his cape (i.e. the Brazilian flag) and his nose. The kids went wild. They chanted the names of Brazilian soccer stars. We took a video.
So far, we are on schedule. We are hoping to arrive in Santiago on Sunday the 7th, take the bus to Finnistere for the day on the 8th, and then fly to Paris on the 9th.
Home in 3 weeks!
Gisele
Il nous reste q'à peine....400km!!
Bon! Alors...cette semaine j'ai réalisé que je ne suis vraiment pas faite pour blogger. Je ne suis pas une personne qui aime raconter sa vie de nature alors sur un blog..encore moins! Donc je m'excuse si je n'écris pas si souvent! Cependant...je ne vous oublie pas!
Alors..depuis mon dernier message...j'ai un peu perdu compte des kilomètres...et du temps! Nous sommes présentement à...oh boy...long nom...je ne me rappelle plus...Tortillas de....? Tornillos....? Yo no sé! Entonces...en tout cas. Nous sommes seulement 80 km de León...la prochaine grande ville sur le camino! Yaaaapii! On planifie d'y être lundi...puisque dimanche tout est fermé de toute façon! Après Burgos...c'est la Maseta!! LES PLAINES DU CAMINO!! Yesssssss! Comme à Winnipeg!! hihi
Ah ouii...je n'ai plus mal au pied...pas de tendinite...plus d'ampoules!! FIESTA!! hihi Mai j'ai un peu mal à la hanche...mais solamente un poquito! (Je commence à non seulement parler franglais...mais c'est rendu franglanol!) Les derniers jours ont été pas mal relax...on marche plus vite parce que le relief est plat...mais on arrête de marcher assez tôt parce qu'il fait très chaud à partir de 11h. Alors je passe les après-midi à boire du Coke (oh non....) sous le soleil! Le grosl luxe! hihi On me dit qu'il fait froid au Canada....ici? Fait CHAUD! Combien? Aucune idée...j'ai perdu la notion du temps, température et pas mal tout les trucs quotidiens! Vive les vacances!!
En chemin...nous avons maintenant adoptés deux compagnons de voyage...deux Brésiliens...Thiago et Joao Paulo! Nous ne savons pas jusqu'à quel point qu'on va pouvoir voyager avec eux...puisque chacun à son propre camino/itinéraire...mais nous espèrons être à Santiago le 6 juin! Nous passons notre temps à rire...et d'essayer de communiquer en espagnol...puisque c'est la seule langue que nous avons en commun. Ils doivent traduire du portugès...en espagnol...y moi du français/anglais....en espagnol....et de l'espagnol au français pour maman! J'ai aucune idée comment on fait...mais on est capable de se comprendre et de bien s'amuser! Malheureusement, Joao Paulo à du prendre l'autobus ce matin pour León puisqu'il a le genoux enfler...et selon les conseils du médecin....3 jours de repos! Donc, il va nous attendre (Maman, son amigo et moi) à León! Malgré le fait que nous avons pas revu nos fameux amis Français ni Québécois...nous en avons trouvé des nouveaux pour y compenser!
Sur ce...je vous souhaite tous une belle fin d'semaine! Nous sommes de retour au Canada dans 3 semaines!!! Au plaisir de vous voir!!!
Nadine
xx
PS...La situation des hommes tout nus....ne s'est pas améliorer!! Je n'ai jamais entendu autant de variation de bruits de caca ni d'odeurs de ma vie!! DÉGEULASSE!!!!!!!!!! OUASH! J'ai hâte de seulement devoir partager une salle de bain avec ma soeur! Maintenant que j'y pense...c'est beaucoup moins pire! hihi
Alors..depuis mon dernier message...j'ai un peu perdu compte des kilomètres...et du temps! Nous sommes présentement à...oh boy...long nom...je ne me rappelle plus...Tortillas de....? Tornillos....? Yo no sé! Entonces...en tout cas. Nous sommes seulement 80 km de León...la prochaine grande ville sur le camino! Yaaaapii! On planifie d'y être lundi...puisque dimanche tout est fermé de toute façon! Après Burgos...c'est la Maseta!! LES PLAINES DU CAMINO!! Yesssssss! Comme à Winnipeg!! hihi
Ah ouii...je n'ai plus mal au pied...pas de tendinite...plus d'ampoules!! FIESTA!! hihi Mai j'ai un peu mal à la hanche...mais solamente un poquito! (Je commence à non seulement parler franglais...mais c'est rendu franglanol!) Les derniers jours ont été pas mal relax...on marche plus vite parce que le relief est plat...mais on arrête de marcher assez tôt parce qu'il fait très chaud à partir de 11h. Alors je passe les après-midi à boire du Coke (oh non....) sous le soleil! Le grosl luxe! hihi On me dit qu'il fait froid au Canada....ici? Fait CHAUD! Combien? Aucune idée...j'ai perdu la notion du temps, température et pas mal tout les trucs quotidiens! Vive les vacances!!
En chemin...nous avons maintenant adoptés deux compagnons de voyage...deux Brésiliens...Thiago et Joao Paulo! Nous ne savons pas jusqu'à quel point qu'on va pouvoir voyager avec eux...puisque chacun à son propre camino/itinéraire...mais nous espèrons être à Santiago le 6 juin! Nous passons notre temps à rire...et d'essayer de communiquer en espagnol...puisque c'est la seule langue que nous avons en commun. Ils doivent traduire du portugès...en espagnol...y moi du français/anglais....en espagnol....et de l'espagnol au français pour maman! J'ai aucune idée comment on fait...mais on est capable de se comprendre et de bien s'amuser! Malheureusement, Joao Paulo à du prendre l'autobus ce matin pour León puisqu'il a le genoux enfler...et selon les conseils du médecin....3 jours de repos! Donc, il va nous attendre (Maman, son amigo et moi) à León! Malgré le fait que nous avons pas revu nos fameux amis Français ni Québécois...nous en avons trouvé des nouveaux pour y compenser!
Sur ce...je vous souhaite tous une belle fin d'semaine! Nous sommes de retour au Canada dans 3 semaines!!! Au plaisir de vous voir!!!
Nadine
xx
PS...La situation des hommes tout nus....ne s'est pas améliorer!! Je n'ai jamais entendu autant de variation de bruits de caca ni d'odeurs de ma vie!! DÉGEULASSE!!!!!!!!!! OUASH! J'ai hâte de seulement devoir partager une salle de bain avec ma soeur! Maintenant que j'y pense...c'est beaucoup moins pire! hihi
jeudi 21 mai 2009
The meseta
We are now on the meseta, a part of the camino that some people skip because 'there is nothing to see'. I think there is a lot to see; it reminds me of the Canadian prairie. I realized, though, that Nadine's education as a prairie girl was deficient when she wanted take a picture of wheat, and when she didn't know the difference between wheat and hay!
A lot of people have been injured and gone home. Tendonitis seems to be a big problem. We have been walking with the Brazilians the past couple of days; one of them saw 2 of his friends go home because of tendonitis, and the youngest one now has fluid in his knee, and will need to take the bus to Leon tomorrow. Touch wood, Nadine and I are ok for now. The blisters are healing nicely, and the backpacks feel as if they are getting lighter. We have also met quite a few people who have been walking for quite a while. Several French pilgrims started in Puy, so a month before us; today, we met 2 young Swiss girls who left their home on March 24th. Today, I met a man from Victoria. There are also a lot of people doing the camino by bicycle, but the trail is so rough, it is very difficult. I saw one perosn fall, and another with multiple scratches lacerations on his legs.
The churces here are incredible. Tiny villages have 3 and 4 medieval churches; in many instances, medieval pilgrims came back and built chirches. In some ways, they are more beautiful than the big cathedrals; even though simple in decoration, the lines and proportions are amazing.
The race for albergues has taken a lull. A lot of people have left (many Europeans do the camino in stages) and the next wave in Leon has not yet started. Apparently, a German comic writer wrote a book about the camino a couple of years ago, so there are a lot of German pilgirms and would-be pilgrims. The latter are on German bus tours that drive them and drop them off 3 or 4 km from the destination for the day. They arrive at the albergues earlier than the others, and take all the places. As you can imagine, they are not very popular. I figure that if the race to the albergues picks up again, we will just stay in pensiones or hotels (although that day in Vianna when we couldn't find a place, all of those were full too and I later heard that some people slept outside).
In spite of minor issues, we are having a grand time. I think I am now a walker for life.
Gisele
A lot of people have been injured and gone home. Tendonitis seems to be a big problem. We have been walking with the Brazilians the past couple of days; one of them saw 2 of his friends go home because of tendonitis, and the youngest one now has fluid in his knee, and will need to take the bus to Leon tomorrow. Touch wood, Nadine and I are ok for now. The blisters are healing nicely, and the backpacks feel as if they are getting lighter. We have also met quite a few people who have been walking for quite a while. Several French pilgrims started in Puy, so a month before us; today, we met 2 young Swiss girls who left their home on March 24th. Today, I met a man from Victoria. There are also a lot of people doing the camino by bicycle, but the trail is so rough, it is very difficult. I saw one perosn fall, and another with multiple scratches lacerations on his legs.
The churces here are incredible. Tiny villages have 3 and 4 medieval churches; in many instances, medieval pilgrims came back and built chirches. In some ways, they are more beautiful than the big cathedrals; even though simple in decoration, the lines and proportions are amazing.
The race for albergues has taken a lull. A lot of people have left (many Europeans do the camino in stages) and the next wave in Leon has not yet started. Apparently, a German comic writer wrote a book about the camino a couple of years ago, so there are a lot of German pilgirms and would-be pilgrims. The latter are on German bus tours that drive them and drop them off 3 or 4 km from the destination for the day. They arrive at the albergues earlier than the others, and take all the places. As you can imagine, they are not very popular. I figure that if the race to the albergues picks up again, we will just stay in pensiones or hotels (although that day in Vianna when we couldn't find a place, all of those were full too and I later heard that some people slept outside).
In spite of minor issues, we are having a grand time. I think I am now a walker for life.
Gisele
mardi 19 mai 2009
Bits and pieces
Ah, to be young again. Nadine took a couple of my prescription anti-inflammatories, the ones for my shoulder tendonitis, and we took it easy for a couple of days (i.e. walked 20 km, not 30) and her pain is totally gone.
We are now on the meseta - the part that is supposed to be flat and boring. So far, it looks like the foothills of Alberta, except greener, and it reminds me of home - love it.
We haven´t seen any Canadians (or Quebecois) for the past couple of days,maybe they´ll catch up to us now that we are going slower. Last night, we had dinner with three Brazilians. One spoke a bit of French, we all spoke a bit of Spanish, and in between the Portuguese, Spanish and French, we were able to understand each other. The people we meet are one of the highlights of the trip.
Camino animals: on this trip so far, we have seen cows, donkeys, horses, sheep, roosters (heard a lot of early am roosters), a green snake slithering through the vines (which a Frenchman later told us was 'une vipere' i.e. a poisonous snake),large members of the beetle family, a long green lizard that scampered across the road and scared Nadine, and lots of dogs. Spanish dogs are the best behaved I have ever seen. They don't look so great; in one village in particular, the mutts looked part wolf; but they rarely bark, and will approach us in a friendly manner. I wish Canadian dogs were equally well behaved.
The weather has been beautiful - it rained only twice, and was cold one day. We are very lucky. As Nadine said today - some moments you wonder why the $%%&/ you came on this %/&(% trip, but overall, it´s pretty neat.
It would be perfect if our sweethearts were with us. Fortunately, Randy will be taking three weeks holidays when I return, and we will arrive in Victoria on the same day. I'm pretty lucky to have such a supportive partner, and I really miss him.
Gisele
We are now on the meseta - the part that is supposed to be flat and boring. So far, it looks like the foothills of Alberta, except greener, and it reminds me of home - love it.
We haven´t seen any Canadians (or Quebecois) for the past couple of days,maybe they´ll catch up to us now that we are going slower. Last night, we had dinner with three Brazilians. One spoke a bit of French, we all spoke a bit of Spanish, and in between the Portuguese, Spanish and French, we were able to understand each other. The people we meet are one of the highlights of the trip.
Camino animals: on this trip so far, we have seen cows, donkeys, horses, sheep, roosters (heard a lot of early am roosters), a green snake slithering through the vines (which a Frenchman later told us was 'une vipere' i.e. a poisonous snake),large members of the beetle family, a long green lizard that scampered across the road and scared Nadine, and lots of dogs. Spanish dogs are the best behaved I have ever seen. They don't look so great; in one village in particular, the mutts looked part wolf; but they rarely bark, and will approach us in a friendly manner. I wish Canadian dogs were equally well behaved.
The weather has been beautiful - it rained only twice, and was cold one day. We are very lucky. As Nadine said today - some moments you wonder why the $%%&/ you came on this %/&(% trip, but overall, it´s pretty neat.
It would be perfect if our sweethearts were with us. Fortunately, Randy will be taking three weeks holidays when I return, and we will arrive in Victoria on the same day. I'm pretty lucky to have such a supportive partner, and I really miss him.
Gisele
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