Like every adventure, the good times dominate memories whilst the harsher reality fades in insignificance. We set off on Camino round two with a longing for an uncomplicated life. A life stripped bare; one of walking through hamlets, exploring the countryside and enjoying a vino tinto or two. Ahh, how simple.
The mind is a clever thing. Protecting sanity and giving society the ability to repeat hardships. If memories of giving birth were razor-sharp, mankind would be extinct for sure!
The reality of the Camino memory did not take long to kick in. The exhaustion of jetlag combined with daily 20 km + hikes, very quickly became apparent. The body ached, feet were sore (Lea got 2 blisters) and fatigue was very much at the forefront as our bodies adjusted to a new way of life.
We were quick to forget that sharing a dorm with 10 or more pilgrims was no pajama party! The snoring, farting and rustling of our albergue mates gnored into our slumber. Thanks to St James for fatigation and our ear plugs for ensuring a decent enough sleep. Even though an average pilgrim carries the bare necessities, repacking your pack each morning was a chore. Especially if you decide to depart earlier than your dorm mates. Trying to be quiet as a mouse as you haphazardly grab your gear and head to a common area to pack your bag properly.
Pilgrims usually start their day early, and most times this means walking by torch light and enjoying the dawn, 5 or so kms into the day. The Spanish population arise late, enjoy a siesta and then stay up until the wee hours. This can cause conflict in the routine of the average pilgrim. Looking to replenish energy levels was sometimes stressful as we passed through sleepy villages mid morning in hopes that a bar or cafe would be open for business and serve us morning tea! By mid afternoon, when your days journey is done, the locals have closed shop and are enjoying their nanny naps. In the smaller hamlets, you can be hard pushed to find a snack let alone, well earned bevvie! Most days, you are well and truly ready to Snuggle in your sleeping bag by 7.30/8 pm. But, alas that is when all the fun began. Many places didn't open their kitchen until 8. So, quite a few evenings found us picnicking on carb loaded boccodillas and a bottle of vino from the supermarket, followed by an early retirement!
Our recollection from our first Camino was walking through the country side and enjoying the fragrant, fresh air. Reality bit as we sometimes found ourselves roadside with fog and car fumes assaulting our senses.
Abulations could also be a concern along the way. Every morn before embarking on the trail, Lea would fill her pockets with loo paper, just encase of an emergency off trail pit stop. Needless to say, came in useful!
Forgotten too were the aches, pains, weight loss ( ok, that is a good thing) and injury. Makes a pilgrim wonder why the hell are they doing it. The camino is certainly not a bed of roses, it is a challenging trek of hardship that takes you out of your comfort zone and dumps you into a world of survival of the fittest.
All that being said, would we recommend walking the Camino?
The answer is unquestionably,
Si 👣
The mind is a clever thing. Protecting sanity and giving society the ability to repeat hardships. If memories of giving birth were razor-sharp, mankind would be extinct for sure!
The reality of the Camino memory did not take long to kick in. The exhaustion of jetlag combined with daily 20 km + hikes, very quickly became apparent. The body ached, feet were sore (Lea got 2 blisters) and fatigue was very much at the forefront as our bodies adjusted to a new way of life.
We were quick to forget that sharing a dorm with 10 or more pilgrims was no pajama party! The snoring, farting and rustling of our albergue mates gnored into our slumber. Thanks to St James for fatigation and our ear plugs for ensuring a decent enough sleep. Even though an average pilgrim carries the bare necessities, repacking your pack each morning was a chore. Especially if you decide to depart earlier than your dorm mates. Trying to be quiet as a mouse as you haphazardly grab your gear and head to a common area to pack your bag properly.
Pilgrims usually start their day early, and most times this means walking by torch light and enjoying the dawn, 5 or so kms into the day. The Spanish population arise late, enjoy a siesta and then stay up until the wee hours. This can cause conflict in the routine of the average pilgrim. Looking to replenish energy levels was sometimes stressful as we passed through sleepy villages mid morning in hopes that a bar or cafe would be open for business and serve us morning tea! By mid afternoon, when your days journey is done, the locals have closed shop and are enjoying their nanny naps. In the smaller hamlets, you can be hard pushed to find a snack let alone, well earned bevvie! Most days, you are well and truly ready to Snuggle in your sleeping bag by 7.30/8 pm. But, alas that is when all the fun began. Many places didn't open their kitchen until 8. So, quite a few evenings found us picnicking on carb loaded boccodillas and a bottle of vino from the supermarket, followed by an early retirement!
Our recollection from our first Camino was walking through the country side and enjoying the fragrant, fresh air. Reality bit as we sometimes found ourselves roadside with fog and car fumes assaulting our senses.
Abulations could also be a concern along the way. Every morn before embarking on the trail, Lea would fill her pockets with loo paper, just encase of an emergency off trail pit stop. Needless to say, came in useful!
Forgotten too were the aches, pains, weight loss ( ok, that is a good thing) and injury. Makes a pilgrim wonder why the hell are they doing it. The camino is certainly not a bed of roses, it is a challenging trek of hardship that takes you out of your comfort zone and dumps you into a world of survival of the fittest.
All that being said, would we recommend walking the Camino?
The answer is unquestionably,
Si 👣
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