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First day on the Camino!
Entry 4 of 27 | show all | print this entry |
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Santa Catalina de Samoza
Thursday, 1st of May 55 dg. F., but it feels like 65! I am surrounded by Spanishness! Isn´t that the best--being in Spain, the mother country of the language you love, the people you find so fascinating, speaking the language you have spent a good number of years trying to perfect (but never ever hoping to)? So, here we are--Dick and I, Len and Jean, finally together. And today was the day we started the Camino, a great day--beautiful blue skies, temperatures of maybe 60 dg. F., and crickets! You know it is peaceful when you can hear the crickets during the day. We hiked a short 10 km. to Santa Catalina and found our truly fabulous (first for three of us) albergue--clean, tidy and wth a great restaurant!
But first let me tell you that I veered off the trail about 2km. to an old, perfectly restored village which is home to a group of people called the Maragatos, about which litle is known. More mysterious than ever, more exciting to explore. Tiny, narrow streets, old, old buildings housing the people and what look like familial restaurants and places to put one´s head, a main plaza, a church with several stork nests and stork parents in residence--all too quaint and well-preserved. After many photos and much oohing, I walked the trail alone, completely alone to where I met up with my fellow pilgrims, and encountered along the way low stone walls, tilled land and Blue Fender´s butterflies (which are protected in Eugene, OR and which need a very specific habitat). I was at peace.
We arrived at our first albergue early, found clean bunk beds (of course I am on top!) and settled in. A glass of red wine, a glass of beer, a plate of shrimp fresh from the Atlantic (heads still on--these are the gambas or medium-sized, beautiful). Now, we are on the trail. Now we are livng. Oh, what is that I hear in the background? Hombres, Spanish hombres playing cards and talking at each other, loudly, just like they do. Adn it is fun; it is who they are; they are shouting their numbers! Yo, siete! Me, I have 7! Let the game begin! Well I have sun to worship; birds to identify; other pilgrims to become acqauinted with. We pilgrims are busy-relaxing, feeling, experiencing.
More thumbnails ...
Where I stayed:
El Caminante (The walker), un albergue
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