Hey all,
today we walked for 10 hours and our feet are killing us. Yesterday we were in so much pain it was hard to walk to dinner let a lone attempt to walk to the internet room to blog. We are having a great time when we can feel our feet that is. Today we walked through vineyards and wonderful natural pathways. Unfortunatly the wonderful pathways were paved over by the government for the pilgrims to have an easier path to walk on. Little do they know the paved paths cause tremendous pain to those of us whom are walking 10 hours straight. The time is running out so I will sign off by saying the minute we can find an internet cafe I shall upload the blogs that detail our walks and share in our experience more. stay tunned fellow travelers I shall return shortly.
Ciao!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
St Jean Pied de Port
Day 3 St Jean Pied du Port
As we drove into St. Jean Pied de Port the scenery was breathtaking. We spent most of the ride getting to know Heather the woman we met online at a Santiago forum. As we pulled into the town and jumped off the bus it hit me. What the hell were we doing? Tomorrow we were going to embark on a journey of 28km with packs that already weighed a ton. Looking around at the other pilgrims I then began to compare rucksacks. Was mine too full, did I carry to much, could I possibly dump something out, and of course the all important were we completely nuts to sign up for a journey like this? A resounding Yes, Yes but too late, if you had to and no you both are not nuts, well not completely. We pulled our packs on and hiked towards the pilgrim’s office to sign in. Some say it is just in case you go missing, others say it is to keep a tab of all of those who finish the journey or at least where they leave off.
The hike up was steep through narrow cobble stone streets. We collected our passports, gave our names, addresses and next of kin (kidding) and listened to them as they said “your packs are way to full”. Well hello Mr. Obvious! Our next stop was to drop off our oversized bags at the albergue and get acquainted with our new home for the day. Then it was time to explore the beautiful town of St. Jean Pied du Port.
SJPdP is absolutely wonderful. It is a walled town surrounded by mountains. Wherever you turn you can see cobble stone streets, stone and wood work and a wonderful *church*.
We all decided to enter the church to light a candle for the journey that was to come. This was the first time I have entered a church in 15 years let alone knelt and said a prayer.
After out tour, 2 cafés we headed home to enjoy the Pilgrim meal served at our albergue. It was fantastic. We all had to tell a little bit about ourselves, where we were from and why we were doing this. The meal was great, we had some wine and local cider and then headed off to bed.
Tomorrow we climb a mountain!
As we drove into St. Jean Pied de Port the scenery was breathtaking. We spent most of the ride getting to know Heather the woman we met online at a Santiago forum. As we pulled into the town and jumped off the bus it hit me. What the hell were we doing? Tomorrow we were going to embark on a journey of 28km with packs that already weighed a ton. Looking around at the other pilgrims I then began to compare rucksacks. Was mine too full, did I carry to much, could I possibly dump something out, and of course the all important were we completely nuts to sign up for a journey like this? A resounding Yes, Yes but too late, if you had to and no you both are not nuts, well not completely. We pulled our packs on and hiked towards the pilgrim’s office to sign in. Some say it is just in case you go missing, others say it is to keep a tab of all of those who finish the journey or at least where they leave off.
The hike up was steep through narrow cobble stone streets. We collected our passports, gave our names, addresses and next of kin (kidding) and listened to them as they said “your packs are way to full”. Well hello Mr. Obvious! Our next stop was to drop off our oversized bags at the albergue and get acquainted with our new home for the day. Then it was time to explore the beautiful town of St. Jean Pied du Port.
SJPdP is absolutely wonderful. It is a walled town surrounded by mountains. Wherever you turn you can see cobble stone streets, stone and wood work and a wonderful *church*.
We all decided to enter the church to light a candle for the journey that was to come. This was the first time I have entered a church in 15 years let alone knelt and said a prayer.
After out tour, 2 cafés we headed home to enjoy the Pilgrim meal served at our albergue. It was fantastic. We all had to tell a little bit about ourselves, where we were from and why we were doing this. The meal was great, we had some wine and local cider and then headed off to bed.
Tomorrow we climb a mountain!
Monday, April 19, 2010
survival of the fitest
Hey all we made...sorry we have been trying to get on but mucho problemas! we are on our 3rd day of the camino.....it hurts to think let alone walk for 13 hours straight. our first day was a killer, we made it in at 13 hours 2 minutes just getting over the mountains into Spain, just as it was getting dark...scary stuff. we barely had time to fart let alone get into bed before the lights were out.
The next day took us 11 hours or so to get to Larrasoana. The views everything were lovely. so much to say and so little time since the internet is counting down as i write this....sorry.
The third day we are now in Cizur Menor, only 6.5 hours. why you might ask..? no mountains and rather flat compared to the first day but still lots of ups and downs....that will never end i fear, and we got up before the darn rooster started...craziness!
My little feet have seen better days...losing a toenail...might have a funeral for it...not sure, seems sad though since it has been with me for awhile, ah well.
We will write later but the time is ticking on the coin we had to put in...no wifi to use here unfortunately.
Please send positive vibes for my feet since they seem rather angry at me right now.
Adios,
Kimberley
The next day took us 11 hours or so to get to Larrasoana. The views everything were lovely. so much to say and so little time since the internet is counting down as i write this....sorry.
The third day we are now in Cizur Menor, only 6.5 hours. why you might ask..? no mountains and rather flat compared to the first day but still lots of ups and downs....that will never end i fear, and we got up before the darn rooster started...craziness!
My little feet have seen better days...losing a toenail...might have a funeral for it...not sure, seems sad though since it has been with me for awhile, ah well.
We will write later but the time is ticking on the coin we had to put in...no wifi to use here unfortunately.
Please send positive vibes for my feet since they seem rather angry at me right now.
Adios,
Kimberley
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