Alan and I are taking our second break of the Camino. We have walked 17.5 days of the 33 days laid out in our guide book. We are just over halfway to Santiago!
Many of our days have the same rhythm. We usually wake up around 6AM. (That is, if the go-getters who rise at 5AM or before allow us to do so). We pack up our sleeping bags and pillows. We eat breakfast at the Albergue (hostel), if it is provided. This means coffee and bread, which is not the most empowering breakfast for an American backpacker. If breakfast is not provided, we find a super market to purchase yogurt and donuts, and make our own coffee. We start walking. Our first week was more hills. The second week has been very flat. We take breaks and eat our snacks. It varies, of course, but we can usually count on passing through 1-3 very small towns in the morning. We eat lunch around 11:30AM. This is usually bocadillos (sandwiches). We choose jamon y queso, chorizo, or tortilla (omelette), which is served on half a baguette. We walk some more, going through another town. Usually we arrive at our destination between 2-4PM. For days 12-16, the weather was very hot and sunny, so we would get up earlier to finish before the heat of the day. We find an Albergue with beds, and check in. Gracyn spends the afternoon with her feet up, reading. Alan usually explores the town and reports back. If the Albergue is serving a pilgrim's dinner, we do that. This means a group meal with plenty of vino. Not too many shenanigans for the tired pilgrims after that. Once the lights are out, at least one person snores uproariously all night, and sleep is questionable. Then we do it again.
Depending on where the towns are, and which towns have beds, we walk between 20-32 km. Two days ago we arrived in Terradillos de los Templarios, but all beds were taken, so we walked 3 km farther to Moratinos. There is something of a race for beds. The private Albergues or hotels take reservations, so those are snatched up. The municipal Albergues do not take reservations...thus the early risers. Alan and I don't want to be competing with the other pilgrims.
We are mostly in the country, surrounding by incredibly green fields of wheat, or vineyards, plenty of flowers. Every day is lovely. The folks who left St. Jean together have synced up- we see people we know or recognize every day and chat with them or eat meals with them. It feels like a group effort, a community of friends. Everybody knows each others' aches and pains. "Hey, how are your feet?" is a pretty common question.
I take pictures of Alan and me each morning, so you can find those in our albums. Here are some of my favorites from the first half of the journey. We plan to arrive in Santiago on June 2. Pray for us, please.
Many of our days have the same rhythm. We usually wake up around 6AM. (That is, if the go-getters who rise at 5AM or before allow us to do so). We pack up our sleeping bags and pillows. We eat breakfast at the Albergue (hostel), if it is provided. This means coffee and bread, which is not the most empowering breakfast for an American backpacker. If breakfast is not provided, we find a super market to purchase yogurt and donuts, and make our own coffee. We start walking. Our first week was more hills. The second week has been very flat. We take breaks and eat our snacks. It varies, of course, but we can usually count on passing through 1-3 very small towns in the morning. We eat lunch around 11:30AM. This is usually bocadillos (sandwiches). We choose jamon y queso, chorizo, or tortilla (omelette), which is served on half a baguette. We walk some more, going through another town. Usually we arrive at our destination between 2-4PM. For days 12-16, the weather was very hot and sunny, so we would get up earlier to finish before the heat of the day. We find an Albergue with beds, and check in. Gracyn spends the afternoon with her feet up, reading. Alan usually explores the town and reports back. If the Albergue is serving a pilgrim's dinner, we do that. This means a group meal with plenty of vino. Not too many shenanigans for the tired pilgrims after that. Once the lights are out, at least one person snores uproariously all night, and sleep is questionable. Then we do it again.
Depending on where the towns are, and which towns have beds, we walk between 20-32 km. Two days ago we arrived in Terradillos de los Templarios, but all beds were taken, so we walked 3 km farther to Moratinos. There is something of a race for beds. The private Albergues or hotels take reservations, so those are snatched up. The municipal Albergues do not take reservations...thus the early risers. Alan and I don't want to be competing with the other pilgrims.
We are mostly in the country, surrounding by incredibly green fields of wheat, or vineyards, plenty of flowers. Every day is lovely. The folks who left St. Jean together have synced up- we see people we know or recognize every day and chat with them or eat meals with them. It feels like a group effort, a community of friends. Everybody knows each others' aches and pains. "Hey, how are your feet?" is a pretty common question.
I take pictures of Alan and me each morning, so you can find those in our albums. Here are some of my favorites from the first half of the journey. We plan to arrive in Santiago on June 2. Pray for us, please.
