Category: 2018 Camino

After that 34 plus Kilometers you can gather that I was SO grumpy. It was quite a lovely small city really with a castle and pretty monuments on every square. Its just that, even though you stop and refresh yourself every couple of hours at sweet inns where food and drink is always available almost 24/7…9 hours on the road is too much for my old heels. It does make you reflect though.

What struck me was how everyone wants to leave their mark everywhere. I think I must have been born a chromosome short because I don’t have that need. I almost with that I had something of my mum’s to leave at the Iron cross…and so many people prayed and were reflective and knelt down…me? I saw a lovely green stone and thought ,

”Well, everyone is in my heart so they are all in this green stone.”

I couldn’t pass anywhere without someone leaving their mark. There was graffiti on every sign, little piles of stones that people made  as they passed, ribbons tied around trees and twig crosses on every lonely rocky path…everyone’s hopes and dreams…man even builds cathedrals to make their mark…I will have to find that missing chromosome.

God it was dark, and I followed my little app through two squares, silent of children now and down at least 50 steps to the Camino!! There is a saying that what you take from it you have to give back…so you often find that people have left bread or water they do not want…or a jar of cream.

As I leave the city, ahead of me are 5 Spanish men. One of whom sings all the time and raises his phone in the air to take constant pictures of his group. He is a joy,  and I decide that they have to be my PACEMAKERS out of the city. They walk quite fast and at one time the singing guy trolls out, ‘Hey Jude’!!

He stops to take a photo and I pass him but he catches me up to say something jolly in Spanish. I say to him,

”Non, Io inglsie..,a Liverpool…football, Beatles!!”

He is thrilled and hollers to  all the others. They smile but they are on a quest. I swear to you that they stop  at every chapel…where are their wives? they must love them.?

I stop at the next bar some 2 hours down the road. They stop too and we hail each other. This little pattern goes on all day which was lovely…but boy! They walk fast!!

Eventually, ahead of then I pass a wine Casa…for the first time since Rioja I have passed so many vineyards, there were none across the meseta. They were not as large and extensive as extensive as Rioja but smaller …and its harvest time. I pass a van and look beyond in the field at at least 6 people talking and picking grapes. I raise my stick and they holler,

’Buen Camino”

So here I am outside a vineyard house called…GODELLA!! Or something. I take on board the GOD thing!!!

I have to take a photo but Mr. Happy Spanish man insists on taking  my photo!!! I hate photos of myself…I’m so critical, but how can I refuse…I nod and the picture speaks for itself.