They lied.
I'm beginning to think that the Spanish people here love to fool the gullible touristas with promises of "You'll be fine! It is nothing! No problem!"
There were steep inclines and descents. There were rocks.... tons of them. There were long staircases with slippery steps on which my poles could not find purchase.
But there were also beautiful fields of grape-seed in full bloom, waves of barley fields, olive groves, vineyards, old cemeteries, old churches, smiling people, and happy pilgrims. If it weren't for the pain in my knee, I would be loving this.
But there were also beautiful fields of grape-seed in full bloom, waves of barley fields, olive groves, vineyards, old cemeteries, old churches, smiling people, and happy pilgrims. If it weren't for the pain in my knee, I would be loving this.
But because of the pain, is was another agonizing day. I met up with Cathy from Chicago. She was taking it as slowly as I was, so we became walking buddies. In one town, we met a group of middle-school aged children who were walking with their families. One young lady befriended us and asked if we would help her practice her English. We were happy to help her, with the stipulation that she also teach us Spanish. We agreed and walked about 7 km together. It was a nice diversion. Then we approached a long slippery staircase, her parents called to her to catch up with them so they could assure her safety. They went ahead and Cathy and I were left alone again.
We limped along together and the heat began to take a toll on us. This part of the Camino winds through miles and miles of farmland, but no shade. It was a long way in the hot sun.
Cathy met some people she had begun with and we parted. I found the Casa Magica and it was indeed magic. There were two other female pilgrims and two males. The youngest pilgrim was a former navy nurse and was walking the Camino between her active duty and beginning college to get her Nurse Practitioner Degree.
The other woman was a Spaniard from Madrid who has walked 4 different Caminos. She was hale and hearty and a real hoot!! The men left the hostel to go to a bar for supper and I didn't see them again. We three women shared dinner at the hostel where Miguel cooked a fabulous three course meal for us. We downed a couple of bottles of wine and shared our experiences both on and off the camino. The older woman went to bed and the other nurse and I got into a discussion about public health and the lack of services for mental health in the US. We talked for hours. It was a nice evening with stimulating conversation. Oh, she had also served in the Peace Corps previously. I've actually met quite a few former Peace Corps volunteers.
Long day, good dinner, happy me.... Good night!
Cathy met some people she had begun with and we parted. I found the Casa Magica and it was indeed magic. There were two other female pilgrims and two males. The youngest pilgrim was a former navy nurse and was walking the Camino between her active duty and beginning college to get her Nurse Practitioner Degree.
The other woman was a Spaniard from Madrid who has walked 4 different Caminos. She was hale and hearty and a real hoot!! The men left the hostel to go to a bar for supper and I didn't see them again. We three women shared dinner at the hostel where Miguel cooked a fabulous three course meal for us. We downed a couple of bottles of wine and shared our experiences both on and off the camino. The older woman went to bed and the other nurse and I got into a discussion about public health and the lack of services for mental health in the US. We talked for hours. It was a nice evening with stimulating conversation. Oh, she had also served in the Peace Corps previously. I've actually met quite a few former Peace Corps volunteers.
Long day, good dinner, happy me.... Good night!
I'm glad to see you are still hanging in there. The adventures sounds amazing.
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