Hoppy and Gimpy

Hello all,

sorry it has been a bit we have been traversing mountains and crossing oceans...okay perhaps not oceans but today was a wet one for sure. our first rain day, ugh! lucky it was rather flat and really level path, not our usual situation generally speaking. we have been battling the "feet" issue. both Viviana and i are suffering a wee bit. we gave in and posted what we were carrying for our Italy portion of the trip along to Santiago. it took everything to let go of that tent but after yesterday, our backs, feet were beyond recognizeable. i even went to the red cross where they provide free care for pilgrims. after much entertaining the nurses over my display of oragamy with band aids and duck tape, truly a special thing to behold apparently, they were in totally histarics (sp?). we posted forward 6 kg which is what some people are just carrying to give you an idea of what we were foolishly doing to our bodies. today was a light one for sure. the difference is significant and we are grateful to have the burden taken away.

now that i have managed to entertain the local medical community i feel that it can only improve. i have to say our nightly encounters with the symphany of noses is beyond anything human. the albergues are mixed gender which means, men with the inability to breath properly through their noses...what up with that? if i shove the ear plugs any further in i just might hit something fleshy!

the term "fuzzy balls" has a special place in my heart now after laying on a lower bunk. i am seeing and experiencing more than i would truly like but all apart of the fun, right...?

on a very positive side we are meeting amazing people who inspire us to see and do so much more. every imagineable nationality is here. the mixture of languages all being spoken at once since no one knows each others language 100%, is just crazy and wonderful all at once. we see the same group we started off with in France. we check in since everyone has some issue or other. the feet ritual is a given. every pilgrim has to take extra care of their feet and each has their own way of dealing with the pain, or whatever is going on. to be united by our feet is bizarre, yet makes complete and utter sense since it is what we are all here for...the journey via our feet....

hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow as we wander on our way.

Adios,
k