Tryp Santiago Santiago de Compostela

We travelled through thick fog over and through the mountains on typically heroic Spanish roads. They cut through mountains and build viaducts over the valleys. We drove through and around weary looking Pilgrims to our campsite which was on the Camino de Santiago. It was closed. After some interesting encounters with some locals, one old man practically ran away when asked for directions, we found this camp site.

The centre ...

... Then, after his run, he wanted to have a drink with us... but we left before he got back from his shower. Unfortunately, Saturday night... he recognized us. He brought us cava and sangria and then came and sat down with us, saying nothing and jumping up every few minutes to check on other tables. He again brought us a big plate of food, and more drinks when we finished the first ones. After about 45 minutes, we had found out only that he was from Brazil but was ...

... than it sounds (as it always is with them), because one place was too crowded, another too expensive, another didn't have good looking wines, and so on. Finally, we settled on a table in the back of a restaurant, where I got a bowl of Galician "caldo", a delicious soup made with spinach and white beans typical of the region, and we split a bottle of white wine. By the time we finished there, it was around 1am and my leg hurt, so Maureen, Liz and I headed back to the hostel.

... Born To Be Wild was played. Later he also played This Life as a request. Unique moment as well: I got upset with Springsteen… never thought that would ever happen. Want to know why? He held up the sign and said (to the one who requested it I guess): “I’ll play this because you’ve been to so many shows”. Excuse me? This is the Working On A Dream Tour, right? This Life is on that album, right? Sigh…

But there it ...

... stars." The leaders of the time did whatever they could to make the city into a great city of pilgrimage on par with Rome or Jerusalem. In the Middle Ages, half a million pilgrims a year flocked to the cathedral from all over Europe. Most of them went over the Pyrenees. Oftentimes, they donned the traditional garb of cape, long staff, and curling felt hat adorned with scallop shells, the symbol ...

... perhaps, more diverting than we found it to be. It was great...but walking gets old. Don't get me wrong, I regret it not at all. Anyway, I recommend it, sure. It is probably the cheapest travel route in Europe. If you decide to go, check out the Ataritouchme pod on it: there are many useful recommendations for the trip - most of which I heartily second.

Almost one month I'm finally starting to fit in now. My piso feels like (temporary) home, we cook in our underwear, have dance parties and fashion shows in the hall, and watch american dubbed in spanish movies all in a twin bed (or sometimes 2 pushed together). We have a regular hangout where the manager knows me by name and loads us up on free vino and tapas. I have a gym membership and see the same faces there ...

... coming to Santiago there have been places called Albergues along the trails where the pilgrims have been offered free room of board. Back then they even got a small portion of bread. The portions of bread are gone, but the Albergues remain, and we stayed in huge dormitories with anywhere between 30 and 70 other pilgrims. The trails are also marked with yellow arrows that keep you going the right direction in times of doubt ...

... remet up with some Australians who introduced me to an English guy who's been traveling for a year. We pubbed all afternoon and then we went on rides at the fair. We continued pubbing all evening, watched fireworks, and listened to the big band Latin jazz band in the park.

The Aussies disappeared, and Rob and I met some locals who took us to discoteca after discoteca (but they, with their Spanish lisps, called them "puffs," meaning "pubs"). We finally went home at eight in the ...