Blisters are for suckers

So, in my previous Caminos, I always felt for the people who had blisters but at the same time, I kind of thought that blisters were for suckers...chumps who had not prepared well or who did not have adequate footwear. I had prepared so well for my first Camino and I never had any trouble...only a couple of tiny blisters and only when I walked something like 24 miles. On the Camino Frances, our evening entertainment invariably started with looking at Raul's feet. He had horrific blisters the likes of which I had never seen. Huge silver dollar sized portions of flesh were either missing or hanging off his foot by a thread. He had to go to the medical clinic 2 or 3 times for professional care. I tend to think that he was one of said chumps. But maybe I am too. I'm mystified as to why, now, I have these blisters appearing and not going away. I guess generally if you get a blister, you change shoes and then opt NOT to walk 15 miles the next day. But anyway, they are not so pleasant. Today I woke up, and for the first time in any of the walks I have done, I really felt like just not walking. But, I got up and walked and the first mile or so was not so great, but then it improved and I was so glad to be there. If I had the blisters in combination with bad weather, bed bugs, dog bites, etc. I might have thrown in the towel. But, man alive...it is so beautiful here. The weather is amazing. It is cool and crisp in the a.m. but sunny and the sky is so blue. The road today was pretty good too...mainly flat, wide, packed dirt farm roads which are about the easiest thing to walk on. And despite some foot pain, I just enjoyed being out there on such a nice day....looking at LOTS of olive trees and LOTS of vineýards and LOTS of red dirt as that´s about all I saw today but it was nice. So, ´'m glad I persevered. Tomorrow I might try walking with my sandals (mom, they are the Columbia sportswear ones that fit you but I kept instead and I have to say that I'm glad I have them).
Char--so far, no wacky new friends. I seem to be alone here although they tell me there are a few people a day ahead of me.

CCW--if you were here, you could carry Clare in your pack and I could help out by carrying your stevia packets

Leef--send me an email with your blog link...can't find it and want to keep abreast of your cambridge activities

BT-finished the last of my valentine´'s day good chocolate with chili--like a true spaniard, I ate it in a baguette...when I worked at the summer camps here in spain the kids' official merienda (snack) provided by the dining hall was a chocolate sandwich...a chocolate bar in a baguette.

Must run, Joe Mantegna look alike who runs the place is letting me use his computer while he studies his lines for the local theater group and I think the typing is annoying him.