So apparently there is a lot of walking on the Camino. Since our first day September 4th (12 days ago) we have walked 200km (over 120miles for our English system friends). All on foot with all our stuff on our backs. The rain, the hot Spanish sun, the wind on the top of the mountains, the mud as we slide down those mountains.... we have walked. We have 590km to go, but I feel like we are hitting our stride. The packs don't seem as heavy, which may be because we are getting used to them or maybe cause I made some additional cuts (do we really need clothes?). Some days are short with only about 15km and other days have been too long with 30km. But each day we find out something new about ourselves and each other.
We walk a lot through the countryside, our favorite moments are seeing a little village coming up on the path. They mean a café con leche or lunch or a shower and a bed.
We have walked through countless of the sweetest towns all with their churches right in the center-always the highest point. They are so clean and bustling unless of course, you come in during siesta. I've never seen anything like it, an entire town, every store locked up and shut down, everyone is at home asleep in the middle of the afternoon- except you. And it reminds you that you have been doing it wrong your whole life.
We have crossed bridges. This one is Puente La Reina or Bridge of the Queen. It was built for the safe crossing of the pilgrims a long time ago. Spain wanted to welcome the outsiders and help them to feel their Journey was a significant one. Providing them with a safe path then and now. I honestly wasn't sure how Spain felt about all these dirty backpackers walking through their towns and cities, but we have felt nothing but safe, welcomed, and provided for since our arrival.
We have walked on paved roads (some very busy), gravel paths, dirt trails, stone walkways and then my favorite the old Roman Roads (below), which I loved until Jake reminded me they were built by slaves.
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