Camino De Santiago - 1

I was always liked the idea of travelling around the world and see the other countries, meeting different people and eating various delicious food from local cuisines. I’m not sure where this thirst for adventure or better say traveling come from but as my Mom once told me, I’m like my grand grand, grand …. dad who went to England and worked as the property manager in language of today. He was looking after the properties and livestock for some lordship. I think that I have some of this gene in me and that is what makes me to travel as much as I’m family man and value highly the family and stability of family home. However even in the relationships I was seeking adventure and travel, not necessary in that order but as everyone who was or is in relationship can say that each relationship is adventure on its own.

However the real awakening and pleasure of travel started at Camino De Santiago. This journey was too short as I had only fourteen days annual leave in one go but I managed to walk approximately half of that,  from beautiful ancient city of Leon to Santiago De Compostela and then Muxia to Finisterra. I took flight to Madrid and hit the road immediately, actually hit the rail road in the nice clean and fast Spanish speed train to the city of Leon. I have to say that I like to travel on the train and after French TGV, Eurostar this was another lovely experience. Socket for charging your best buddy aka mobile at every seat, refreshment service and some kind of TV  plus smartly dressed Spaniards and some of the gorgeous chicas too. Journey so nice and comfortable, that I had time to write my journal, back in that day it was handwritten by pencil in my travel diary, now it is written on a laptop. Anyhow at least I have some journal, so that I can rely on it, when my memory will not work properly. So town called Leon aka Lion in English, has the some sort of the characteristics  of Lion, massive city walls, old strong looking stone buildings and feel of the pride in the streets. Walking on the proper cobble stone streets, looking around and soaking the history, which is seeping out from all the walls, streets and filling the surrounding air. Amazing place to be at and for me to start the Camino with energy of Leon as I want to get those four hundred kilometers in fourteen days. Seen others peregrino aka pilgrims on the streets and in the hostel aka albergues is motivating and uplifting as I realized that I never walk alone, no matter where I will be.

 Morning is here, I packed my backpack put the shoes on and with smile headed out on the road. Early morning start makes the day better as well as cafe con leche and tostada con huevo as breakfast in local bistro to fill the tank with energy much needed when you are out walking on the road in the sun. Not real coffee lover at the time but my oh my, that toast with eggs and second toast with strawberry jam is heavenly. Also that is the staple breakfast diet of peregrino on the Camino since not much else is open in the early hours of the day as I observed. Well as they say when in Rome do as Romans do and when on Camino do as others Caminos do 😊 Walking in the early morning is somehow good for my soul as the silence  of town is pleasant. Walking slowly through the town I heard  as it is  waking up for another day. Window shutters creaking as they are open, doors adding to the cacophony of the gentle morning symphony of the sounds of morning. Rooster  announcing the new day  in distance , what can be heard over the noise of footsteps of all the peregrinos who are appearing from the alleys, streets and doorways of hostels, hotels and cafes. Suddenly I found myself in this human chain of fellow walkers who are either before me, alongside me or behind me as everyone is going in his own tempo. The way is said to bring everyone who needs it and when it needs it. Well it could be true as I needed a good long walk to get all the emotions our as well as get good workout. I have hiked previously, thus I was accustomed to walk long walks in the nature as much as the Camino French Way is more like path walk at least from Leon onwards since the path is comfortably even surface so no hidden surprises of dips, holes, or other traps of weary traveler. The change of scenery from town and cobblestone road to tarmac road and finally to the countryside gravel path is slowly bringing me towards nature and closer to my desire to be alone in nature.  Since my time here on this path is limited by annual leave days from the employer I decided to get some head start and walk as much as I could in the first day on the Camino and hence have time cushion for the end so I could slow down and relax walking or have some day off at Madrid on the way back home. In my prep materials aka maps I knew that French way is the easiest and also most popular way so the amount of albergues and cafes / restaurants would be sufficient and there is no need for panic as where I would sleep or eat. As I increased my tempo to get some distance more and more walkers were left behind as I seems to race them. Nevertheless I was able to enjoy the surrounding nature as much as it were plain, sun scorched yellow ish plains of low laying ground. As  I looked on the watch and lowering sun I pushed harder and changed the easy slow pace flip-flops for sandals and realized that I sign of proper peregrino appeared to me. It was small barely visible but I felt its presence immediately and it was increasing with every step. Bastard blister on both feet. What does not kill you make you stronger, someone once said. Well blister cannot kill you but let me tell you, that you feel it every step and more after twenty kilometers when you know that the Astorga what was my aim is another twenty km further. As pure mad and determined donkey I pushed through and left behind all the peregrinos and also good mood since my water supplies vanished in the heat of the day and there was no sign for another water point. Thought of how to drink water from cactus came to me as well as any other survival techniques but thankfully I saw water point ahead and could refill the camel bag in my back pack. However the refilling must be fast as if I stop now, I will not be able to move again as my legs lost will to walk on thirtieth kilometer. I see church tower of Astorga in front of me. Suck the last energy from who knows where I pushed on in near run pace missing other peregrinos as I saw myself in shower and in the bed afterwards. Arrived to Albergues and got into line for check in, bit angry and tired but as the anger dissipated I realized that only by feeding on that pure anger I was able to complete fifty two kilometers in one day from Leon to Astorga. Here I’m, laying on my bottom bunk bed finally resting, when the guys came in and one of the m turned to me and said hi in funny accent “they were Australians” as  I learned later. We struck conversation and they mentioned that they saw me on the road to Astorga but apparently I was in no approach mood “like bull in the bull fight” so they let me pass, for safety and security reasons. I told them that I’m sorry for my rude behavior but that I came from Leon and their reply was, sure we too. On which I said that I came from Leon today, upon hearing this, their mouth dropped and eyeballs popped out like in cartoon as they said that they did it in two days as it was very tiring for them. That is how I become friend with three Australians, Bob, Courtney and Liz on my first day on Camino De Santiago.