I am crazy. Camino round three? Maybe in a few years.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I Miss You, Camino
I'm sitting at my desk, I have been staring at my computer for the last 8 hours, there is 50cm of snow outside and the shoes I'm wearing will barely get me across the parking lot, let alone a whole country.
I miss you, Camino.
I miss you, Camino.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I am writing this from a cubicle. How depressing.
I have been putting off the wrap-up entry for some time. It's not that I hate writing. I just really don't want to admit it's over.
Since the beginning of our trip, I have been telling Becky that the hardest part of the Camino is maintaining the lifestyle and the "living-in-the-present" state of mind. We even came up with a catchphrase: Maintain the Spain.
I am extremely happy to report that we are doing just that! Becky and I have signed up to play on a soccer team together (What's more Spanish than that?) and have taken steps to keep on rolling with the Mediterrannean diet! :) It's lovely. I've even learned how to make Tortilla de Patata (google it.)
The state of mind is a harder thing to maintain, if not, impossible. When I was walking the Camino, I felt so at peace and so happy with myself. Now that I am back to "real life", I feel self-concious and slightly depressed. Just being honest.
All in all, I hope to someday combine my home life with that state of mind. To be honest, I think it has a lot to do with ridding your life of materialism. We'll see.
Hopefully, this isn't the end of my escapades.
-J
PS: Thank you to everyone who paid attention to our journey and gave us supportive feedback. It was very nice to hear from you when we were abroad. We missed you so much.
PPS: I am wearing my Camino shoes right now. :) Heeheehee.
Since the beginning of our trip, I have been telling Becky that the hardest part of the Camino is maintaining the lifestyle and the "living-in-the-present" state of mind. We even came up with a catchphrase: Maintain the Spain.
I am extremely happy to report that we are doing just that! Becky and I have signed up to play on a soccer team together (What's more Spanish than that?) and have taken steps to keep on rolling with the Mediterrannean diet! :) It's lovely. I've even learned how to make Tortilla de Patata (google it.)
The state of mind is a harder thing to maintain, if not, impossible. When I was walking the Camino, I felt so at peace and so happy with myself. Now that I am back to "real life", I feel self-concious and slightly depressed. Just being honest.
All in all, I hope to someday combine my home life with that state of mind. To be honest, I think it has a lot to do with ridding your life of materialism. We'll see.
Hopefully, this isn't the end of my escapades.
-J
PS: Thank you to everyone who paid attention to our journey and gave us supportive feedback. It was very nice to hear from you when we were abroad. We missed you so much.
PPS: I am wearing my Camino shoes right now. :) Heeheehee.
Monday, September 15, 2008
7 Weeks Later
Now, I don't know how many of our loyal readers will still be checking this blog, since Jess and I have both returned safely from Spain, but I thought I would post an update just in case anyone still cares. It has been a little over 7 weeks since I returned to "real life" and I must say, much of the Camino has stayed with me in day to day life. At least once a day, I have Camino flashbacks, when this happens I force myself to remember the scenario or place that flashes through my brain. It always puts a smile on my face to remember some of the highlights of the adventure. The seashell from my backpack is proudly displayed in my bedroom, and I am way more proud of my Compostela, than of any of my diplomas! I made a lot of promises to myself while walking the Camino, but the main one is to never forget the experience. I'm terrified that one day it will fade to the back of my mind and I have pledged to keep it as fresh in my memory as possible!
For anyone who was curious whether or not Jess and I would still be friends after spending those 6 weeks together ( I know some of you had bets going!), you can rest assured we are better buddies than when we started. In fact I need to give another great big thanks to my travel/walking buddy for being so great the whole time! I definitely couldn't have done it without you Yessi!
We'll keep you all posted with details as to where the next adventure will take us! Any suggestions?
For anyone who was curious whether or not Jess and I would still be friends after spending those 6 weeks together ( I know some of you had bets going!), you can rest assured we are better buddies than when we started. In fact I need to give another great big thanks to my travel/walking buddy for being so great the whole time! I definitely couldn't have done it without you Yessi!
We'll keep you all posted with details as to where the next adventure will take us! Any suggestions?
Friday, July 25, 2008
Proof!
Sleeping outside the albergue!
Dirt city.
Me celebrating at Cape Finisterre. No, there is no cigar, it was too wet!
Surreal to see ZERO kms left.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
One Day From Finisterre
I am 14 k.m. from the ¨end of the world.¨
After I said my sad goodbye to Becky in Santiago (see below), I immediately began walking to Finisterre.
The first day of walking was relatively easy, apart from a section of very steep climbing. After spending a few hours sitting by a river I found in a beautiful, small town, I made it to Negreira at 5:30 p.m. I should have been hastier because the hostel was full.
I slept outside that night. That´s right. I´m tough. In the company of a few fellow pilgrims. I put my backpack behind me, laid my sleeping bag at the front of the hostel, and put my purse in my sleeping bag. It was a horrible sleep, but I survived and it was an interesting experience. I have a photo to post later. FYI -- the coldest part of the night in Spain is 5 a.m.
I also have to mention that the showers (all women) did not have walls or doors -- just a big room. Whatever.
The second night was not much better. I got a bit lost and ended up walking about 40 k.m. in the blistering sun, only to arrive in Olveiroa to find the hostel full yet again. I slept on a gym mat in a barn-esque area of the hostel, which reeked of cow poop and was full of mosquitos. The good part about that was that I was forced to go out and party at the bar across the street, and I ended up meeting a lot of new, interesting pilgrims and local folk alike.
Tonight, I am in Cee. I am also sharing a room with two Germans at a one-star pension, which might as well be a Hilton considering the last few nights I´ve had.
People say that the beginning of the Camino is life, the dry Meseta signifies death, and the last, green bit in Galicia is rebirth.
I call the walk to Finisterre, CHILDHOOD. It is absolutely beautiful. It is very tough, as you are always walking up and down mini-mountains. Two blisters have emerged on my right foot, but I reached the ocean today and it is incredible.
Tomorrow, my Camino will end. I think I will head back to Santiago with these crazy Germans to celebrate once I finish.
- J
After I said my sad goodbye to Becky in Santiago (see below), I immediately began walking to Finisterre.
The first day of walking was relatively easy, apart from a section of very steep climbing. After spending a few hours sitting by a river I found in a beautiful, small town, I made it to Negreira at 5:30 p.m. I should have been hastier because the hostel was full.
I slept outside that night. That´s right. I´m tough. In the company of a few fellow pilgrims. I put my backpack behind me, laid my sleeping bag at the front of the hostel, and put my purse in my sleeping bag. It was a horrible sleep, but I survived and it was an interesting experience. I have a photo to post later. FYI -- the coldest part of the night in Spain is 5 a.m.
I also have to mention that the showers (all women) did not have walls or doors -- just a big room. Whatever.
The second night was not much better. I got a bit lost and ended up walking about 40 k.m. in the blistering sun, only to arrive in Olveiroa to find the hostel full yet again. I slept on a gym mat in a barn-esque area of the hostel, which reeked of cow poop and was full of mosquitos. The good part about that was that I was forced to go out and party at the bar across the street, and I ended up meeting a lot of new, interesting pilgrims and local folk alike.
Tonight, I am in Cee. I am also sharing a room with two Germans at a one-star pension, which might as well be a Hilton considering the last few nights I´ve had.
People say that the beginning of the Camino is life, the dry Meseta signifies death, and the last, green bit in Galicia is rebirth.
I call the walk to Finisterre, CHILDHOOD. It is absolutely beautiful. It is very tough, as you are always walking up and down mini-mountains. Two blisters have emerged on my right foot, but I reached the ocean today and it is incredible.
Tomorrow, my Camino will end. I think I will head back to Santiago with these crazy Germans to celebrate once I finish.
- J
One Night In Paris
You thought that when I got home, I would stop posting on this blog.......but you were wrong! I can't stop, I'm addicted to it! And so, I will proceed to tell you about my trip home, there are some good highlights that are worth mentioning.
My last day in Spain, I got up and left the hostel with Jess in the morning, we walked to the town square together before she continued on to Finisterre. Having to say bye to her was tough, it made me realize that I really was leaving! So after some big hugs and a few tears from me, I sent her off to continue the adventure that is the Camino, and I headed off to find a coffee. Little did I know that a wonderful surprise was in store for me.
I don't think we have mentioned them before on the blog, but since about our third day of walking, we ended up seeing this Korean family everyday. They always stopped in the same places we stopped, and we always passed them at least once a day while walking. We didn't speak any Korean, and they didn't speak any English, so we used big smiles and lots of waving as our way of communicating. There was a mother, father, aunt and a nine year old daughter, she was the best! Whenever we would see them, she would be the most excited, and usually greeted us with hugs. Anyway, they became welcome regulars on our Camino, and about 2 days before we reached Santiago, we lost them. We figured they would catch up and appear when we least expected, but when we hadn't seen them by the time Jess left for Finisterre, we accepted that we wouldn't see them again. This is where the nice surprise comes in; when I was sitting having my coffee that morning, they walked right by the cafe I was sitting in! I ran out the front door and yelled out to them as they passed by, and was greeted with the usual cheerfulness and big smiles that they had become known for! It was great to see them one last time before leaving Santiago! I feel like something would have been missing if they had never turned up again!
After my coffee and fix of Korean cheerfulness, I walked around a bit and did some souvenir shopping for the support crew back home. When I had finished, I figured I would walk around and find a taxi to the airport, but instead a taxi found me. I was coming out of the last store, and was nearly run down by a taxi, so I hopped in and was on my way home! I'm sure it was just the fact that I hadn't been in a car for 6 weeks, but the drive to the airport felt particularly dangerous. The driver was about 89 years old, and drove about 150km an hour. Yikes! But I arrived in one piece, and got myself checked in, and about an hour later I was on my way to Paris.
My plan was to stay in one of the hotels in the Paris airport, because I arrived around 5pm and was leaving for Montreal the next day at 1pm, so it wasn't worth it for me to get a taxi all the way into Paris, just to turn around and come back. Here is where the plan went a bit sideways....upon further inspection, the only hotels in the airport cost a minimum of 550 euros a night. So obviously, I did not stay there. My pilgrim training told me just to find a "comfortable" spot and sleep in the airport, so that's what I did! In true pilgrim style I whipped out my sleeping bag, used my backpack as a pillow and got at least a few hours of decent sleep! By the time 10:30 rolled around and they let me check in for my flight I was one happy pilgrim, it was time to go home! After a very long flight, and a quick tour through Canada Customs, I was very happy to find my parents waiting for me at the airport. A few huge hugs later and we were rolling down the highway back to Ottawa.
When we arrived at my house, I was thrilled to see that Chris and Derrick were there to surprise me, and I was informed that everyone else would over shortly! What a great surprise! I missed everyone so much, and it was so great of them to give me such a warm welcome home! A few faces were missing, ( Devon, Jen, Lindsay, Liv and Barbara, can't wait to see you guys! ) but the evening was great. I went to bed early, and was up and off to work this morning! Business as usual! I did find that I appreciated every little thing about being home though, for instance, my shower, my bed, my clothes, everything!
It is good to be back!
My last day in Spain, I got up and left the hostel with Jess in the morning, we walked to the town square together before she continued on to Finisterre. Having to say bye to her was tough, it made me realize that I really was leaving! So after some big hugs and a few tears from me, I sent her off to continue the adventure that is the Camino, and I headed off to find a coffee. Little did I know that a wonderful surprise was in store for me.
I don't think we have mentioned them before on the blog, but since about our third day of walking, we ended up seeing this Korean family everyday. They always stopped in the same places we stopped, and we always passed them at least once a day while walking. We didn't speak any Korean, and they didn't speak any English, so we used big smiles and lots of waving as our way of communicating. There was a mother, father, aunt and a nine year old daughter, she was the best! Whenever we would see them, she would be the most excited, and usually greeted us with hugs. Anyway, they became welcome regulars on our Camino, and about 2 days before we reached Santiago, we lost them. We figured they would catch up and appear when we least expected, but when we hadn't seen them by the time Jess left for Finisterre, we accepted that we wouldn't see them again. This is where the nice surprise comes in; when I was sitting having my coffee that morning, they walked right by the cafe I was sitting in! I ran out the front door and yelled out to them as they passed by, and was greeted with the usual cheerfulness and big smiles that they had become known for! It was great to see them one last time before leaving Santiago! I feel like something would have been missing if they had never turned up again!
After my coffee and fix of Korean cheerfulness, I walked around a bit and did some souvenir shopping for the support crew back home. When I had finished, I figured I would walk around and find a taxi to the airport, but instead a taxi found me. I was coming out of the last store, and was nearly run down by a taxi, so I hopped in and was on my way home! I'm sure it was just the fact that I hadn't been in a car for 6 weeks, but the drive to the airport felt particularly dangerous. The driver was about 89 years old, and drove about 150km an hour. Yikes! But I arrived in one piece, and got myself checked in, and about an hour later I was on my way to Paris.
My plan was to stay in one of the hotels in the Paris airport, because I arrived around 5pm and was leaving for Montreal the next day at 1pm, so it wasn't worth it for me to get a taxi all the way into Paris, just to turn around and come back. Here is where the plan went a bit sideways....upon further inspection, the only hotels in the airport cost a minimum of 550 euros a night. So obviously, I did not stay there. My pilgrim training told me just to find a "comfortable" spot and sleep in the airport, so that's what I did! In true pilgrim style I whipped out my sleeping bag, used my backpack as a pillow and got at least a few hours of decent sleep! By the time 10:30 rolled around and they let me check in for my flight I was one happy pilgrim, it was time to go home! After a very long flight, and a quick tour through Canada Customs, I was very happy to find my parents waiting for me at the airport. A few huge hugs later and we were rolling down the highway back to Ottawa.
When we arrived at my house, I was thrilled to see that Chris and Derrick were there to surprise me, and I was informed that everyone else would over shortly! What a great surprise! I missed everyone so much, and it was so great of them to give me such a warm welcome home! A few faces were missing, ( Devon, Jen, Lindsay, Liv and Barbara, can't wait to see you guys! ) but the evening was great. I went to bed early, and was up and off to work this morning! Business as usual! I did find that I appreciated every little thing about being home though, for instance, my shower, my bed, my clothes, everything!
It is good to be back!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Last Day
Today is my last full day in Spain, and as excited as I am to come home and see all of you and talk your ear off about the Camino, it is also quite sad to say goodbye to the country that has taken care of me for the last 6 weeks! Tomorrow I will be flying from Santiago to Paris, and then on Tuesday I fly from Paris to Montreal, and then back to Ottawa! So today I have to play the One Last game; one last glass of wine, one last Spanish coffee, one last picture of a beautiful cathedral, etc.
I also have to say how much I am going to miss being a dirty pilgrim. I didn´t walk 20km yesterday and therefore felt as though I accomplished nothing! I´m already having walking withdrawl! The other thing I am going to miss about being a pilgrim, is the aspect of it that makes it socially acceptable to look like a hobo all the time!. I have been wearing the same 2 shirts for the last 6 weeks, ( yes, they were washed often ) , I can´t remember the last time I brushed my hair, I have forgotten how to use makeup, am constantly covered in dirt or sweat or both, and yet everyone expects this from pilgrims so there is no problem! Going back to a life where you are expected to be presentable most of the time is going to be quite and adjustment!
Although, I am very much looking forward to my first shower in my own bathroom! It´s going to be the best welcome home present ever!
Enough of the silly-ness, I have to be off to get my fix of everything Spanish! This may be my last opportunity for Internet access until I get home, so if that is the case, I´ll see you all in a few days!
I also have to say how much I am going to miss being a dirty pilgrim. I didn´t walk 20km yesterday and therefore felt as though I accomplished nothing! I´m already having walking withdrawl! The other thing I am going to miss about being a pilgrim, is the aspect of it that makes it socially acceptable to look like a hobo all the time!. I have been wearing the same 2 shirts for the last 6 weeks, ( yes, they were washed often ) , I can´t remember the last time I brushed my hair, I have forgotten how to use makeup, am constantly covered in dirt or sweat or both, and yet everyone expects this from pilgrims so there is no problem! Going back to a life where you are expected to be presentable most of the time is going to be quite and adjustment!
Although, I am very much looking forward to my first shower in my own bathroom! It´s going to be the best welcome home present ever!
Enough of the silly-ness, I have to be off to get my fix of everything Spanish! This may be my last opportunity for Internet access until I get home, so if that is the case, I´ll see you all in a few days!
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