It was another beautiful day of walking. Going up the hills is tough but the views down to the sea can´t be beat. Going down the hills is tough too--I can feel it in my knees so I try to follow the advice of physical therapist, Sang Kyoung, who told me that I took too big of a stride. So, I walk in baby steps going down hill. It is harder to keep up with the goats that way but I manage. (I do have photos of said goat--of course, you can´t tell how big he is so he just looks like a regular goat--I´ll try to post some pictures later). The walk today went down a steep hill into the village of Orio. The steep main street was lined with beautiful old houses dating from the 16th century and some from the 15th. I was pretty impressed that this little village had the wherewithall to put historic markers on the buildings (written in Basque, Spanish, and even English). It made it much more intersting to read about each of these amazing structures. The day was probably 70 again but a little less breezy and I would have preferred it cooler--especially on the two occaisions that I got lost and ended up walking an extra mile or two. I am now in yet another beautiful seaside town, Zarautz. I was here years ago where I stayed at the youth hostel where I met some young Germans (I was young too). One of them, most notably, had the middle name Adolf. I´m not making this up. Another convinced me to go to Pamplona for San Fermines (running of the bulls) where I ended up sleeping in the park. Oddly enough, I just might be staying at the same hostel although it doesn´t look familiar. These seaside resort towns are pretty spendy and even the hostels cost a lot. On the upside, it is 7:30 p.m. and I¨m the only one who has checked in to my 4 bed room so I think I might have my own room for the night which will be great.
Last year, the sage Norwegians told us that the 2nd day of the Camino is the most difficult. Last year I had no problem on the 2nd day. Today I feel completely exhausted. I had a short nap though and maybe I will catch my second wind.
After arriving I showered, washed clothes, and went and had a pretty good lunch at a restaurant. I walked along the seaside promenade and around the old historic center of this cute town. None of it looks familiar to me at all though.
Last night at the hostel in San Sebastian the two French couples invited me to share with them the dinner that they prepared. It was really nice of them and I enjoyed it. I love how even though they are in a hostel and are preparing quick and easy meals, they still have a first course, second course, cheese course and dessert. God love the French. Since it is technically, a youth hostel, I did meet some youth. A very nice girl from Slovenia was there (yes, LAM--she knows of your cousins´Falcon Crestesque wine empire)for a week as she is taking an entrance exam/audition for a music school. She plays the guitar. There was also a Scottish girl who was adorable and had a wonderfully sweet and, suprisingly comprehendable, Scottish accent. She could go to the U.S. and be a t.v. star. She is traveling around spain until the money runs out. She hadn´t traveled to the U.S. but back before she was born, her father visited often due to his career as a body builder. She hopes that he and her mom will join her in Bilbao to go the Guggenheim museum as he is now an artist. The other walkers are still all French and Spanish people with the exception of Giuseppe who is, shockingly, Italian. He looks to be well into his 60s and is very friendly. He will remember my name, he says, because both his mother and daughter are named Laura. I have not encountered any of the crowd at the albergue yet today--it could be that they are all scattered in other rooms. It could also be that it is expensive enough to warrant people traveling together to opt for a pension and have their own room. Who knows?
Today´s fashion report: In addition to the giant hat, I wore shorts for the first time (knee length--not the first time in my life but the first time on one of these spain walks)and for the first 5 hours of the day as I looked at my shadow with my shorts and my giant hat, I thought that I looked like an Australian boyscout.
Tomorrow I walk to the town of Deba--it might be quite small so not sure of the internet access.
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