Obviously I´ve never run a marathon, but if I had, I would think that during the duration of the race I would be longing to get to the finish line. Not so here. Ever since I reached the halfway point, and even before that, I have had no desire to arrive in Santiago as I´m just having too much fun. This trip has been even better than I had anticipated. I love the people, the landscapes, the villages, the food, even the snow and rain. It reminds me of Christmas when I was little. I loved Christmas so much and the whole month of December was so exciting. Baking Christmas cookies; getting packages in the mail; making snowball candles; Christmas Caroling; parties at school; the advent calendar; getting Christmas cards; Christmas shopping: making Christmas ornaments--I loved it all. And Christmas Eve and Christmas morning were amazing and then in the afternoon we would go to our neighbors´houses to see what presents they received....and then, Christmas afternoon or evening I would feel just so sad that it was all over. For the last week or so, this is how I think that I will feel upon arriving in Santiago. Everyone else seems eager to get there except for me...and Sang Kyoung --she feels the same as I do.
Anyway, we are continuing to have a good time. I believe I last wrote from Sarria and from there we walked to Gonzar--I think about 18 miles. "We" is now Catherine, Ina, Sang Kyoung, me and new friend, Carlos. Carlos is young and from Portugal and speaks English very well and is incredibly witty. We are always laughing with him. The best part about Gonzar was that it was just the 5 of us at the albergue. We had a fun time. It is so much nicer when there is a small group. Today we walked another 18 or 19 miles from Gonzar to Melide. The albergue here is another story. As we get closer to Santiago, there are lots more people joining in. We call them the "newcomers". Today at the albergue there are probably over a hundred people. It´s not so fun. Both of the last two days featured beautiful weather and again, beautiful scenery. It has been just great. We have seen a lot of cows, sheep, and chickens. Today, I saw a newborn calf (or as Ina called it, "a fresh new cow") drinking its mother´s milk for the first time. We also saw some adorable, tiny lambs bleating at us. We´ve seen people driving cows down the road. As you can guess, it is pretty rural here. Things are really great.
We are hoping when we get to Santiago we can meet up with some of our other friends who are either ahead of us or behind us.
Anyway, we are continuing to have a good time. I believe I last wrote from Sarria and from there we walked to Gonzar--I think about 18 miles. "We" is now Catherine, Ina, Sang Kyoung, me and new friend, Carlos. Carlos is young and from Portugal and speaks English very well and is incredibly witty. We are always laughing with him. The best part about Gonzar was that it was just the 5 of us at the albergue. We had a fun time. It is so much nicer when there is a small group. Today we walked another 18 or 19 miles from Gonzar to Melide. The albergue here is another story. As we get closer to Santiago, there are lots more people joining in. We call them the "newcomers". Today at the albergue there are probably over a hundred people. It´s not so fun. Both of the last two days featured beautiful weather and again, beautiful scenery. It has been just great. We have seen a lot of cows, sheep, and chickens. Today, I saw a newborn calf (or as Ina called it, "a fresh new cow") drinking its mother´s milk for the first time. We also saw some adorable, tiny lambs bleating at us. We´ve seen people driving cows down the road. As you can guess, it is pretty rural here. Things are really great.
We are hoping when we get to Santiago we can meet up with some of our other friends who are either ahead of us or behind us.
9 comments:
Snowball candles? Do tell...my Christmas' of yore seem so dull in comparison.
Seriously, tho...newborn calves, bleating lambs - it sounds like you are in the middle of Charlotte's Web! We miss you in Virginia...intersession is plugging along. Stay safe, KG
Laura Camino and Catherine Andar (I just made up a pen name for
CW) I too, am sorry to see your walkabout come to an end. Say it ain't so. You could turn around and then next year say you have to do it again because you never got there. Well, think about that one. Miss you around the Terrace. Stay safe. Have fun. (Sounds like I'm talking to my girls!) See you soon.
When you return there must be a party, but instead of watching many hours of Sense and Sensibility or a miniseries, we need a day on the Camino. This blog has been phenomenal, but I want even more when you are home!
Well, it´s funny that you mention doing it next year as we have talked about doing the Portuguese route next year--not the whole thing--just from Oporto as it only takes a couple of weeks.
Potts! I, too, am sad that the camino is almost over. Que lastima, no? I am still in awe of all that you've done and I can't wait to hear more about it when you get back. We could have a tapas/sangria HH when you guys get back. Can't wait!
Geek, don't stop walking!!! I'll start working over time to fund you. I think others will chip in as well. Your blog has become as addictive as Guiding Light in High school. Will beth ever marry phillip? will Jose ever finish the walk? Will the Sang Kyoung's parents ever find out that she's gone walking? How will we, the worshippers of the blog, go on without your constant pilgrimage? There must be more to the walk!! Stay I tell you - Stay!!
I said Jose when I meant carlos. sorry. I misblogged.
Laura,
Thanks so much for giving us a vicarious journey via your blog and photos. It was so very interesting. I agree with your friends (whose posts themselves were entertaining!) -- it's going to be hard to give up this daily adventure. And, I also agree that a book is in order! (or at least a long travelogue article)
Best wishes, Michele (the sister-in-law one!)
I meant to say "Hasta la vista!" (BTW, do Spanish keyboards have the upside down exclamation point & an easy-to-use tilde?) MGT
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