Camino de Santiago No. 3: Walking To Zubiri
So, last off, I was walking along with my two new friends. We were doing quite well, walking along at a good pace, and I was finally mastering the use of my walking poles.
We stopped off at a little bar in Viskarret, a tiny vilage not conssiting of much but the aforementioned bar, where we rested and ate bocadillos and drank hot coffee. After the bar, we took off again,keeping along at a nice pace-but frankly, it was much too fast for me. I felt like I didn´t have time to see anything at all-only time to concentrate on the walking and using the poles and watching for traffic and looking out for slippery rocky bits.
I was grateful when my two companions decided to continue on without me. I slowed down considerably, taking breaks as I needed them. I scribbled in my drawing book, wrote notes in my journal, and enjoyed the absolutely breathtaking views.
Many people on the camino stopped and talked to me-but I found that if I walked with someone else, I concentrated not on the surounding beauty, but on having a conversation. So I usually would just send them onwards with a wave and a smile, perferring instead to have my part of the trail to myself.
One thing that really struck me as I walked was how fast everyone was going-many people only had a defined amount of time to either complete the entire walk, or to complete one stage of it. It seemed a bit competitive as well, and people´s conversations were often about how much one was carrying, and how light their load was; how fast someone was; and so on. Hardly anyone talked of spiritual things, or even historical things along the way. Rarely did anyone seem to stop and relax, or breathe in the absolute beauty of the countryside. I found this somewhat astonishing.
Many people seemed to be walking the walk as a walk; as something to check off one´s list as having done; and so on. Although I am aware there are many different ways to do the Camino, on this first day alone, I became aware of the exhausting pace people tried to keep up with-and this colored my perception of the Camino greatly.
I was feeling somewhat disenchanted with the whole experience, when I met a wonderful woman and her sister, who were doing the walk in memory of their mother. Just walking with these two incredible souls, who were very observant about the plants and wildlife along the walk as well, rejuvenated my spirit considerably.
At about this time, the Camino began to decend into Zubiri. The booklet I had brought along about the Camino had said ¨The camino descent into Zubiri is difficult in bad weather…¨Well, the weather was getting worse by the moment. In fact, it had not stopped raining the entire day, and only seemed to be getting worse.
The descent was difficult for many reasons: It was very steep; it was very rocky-a sort of slippery slate; it was muddy; and I had to concentrate so much not to slip and fall, that I barely looked up to see what was next. The rain made everything slick and wet, and the mud on my boots soon covered the lower half of my pants, as well.
I saw three people fall along the way. Everyone was always very nice and helpful to each other, and when someone fell, everyone stopped and helped the person.
I finally fell myself.
Falling down, especially at the start, had been a worry for me. I do not have the best ankles for various reasons, and so I was worried that they would not be strong enough to handle parts of the Camino.
Still, I wasn´t expecting to fall so soon. I basically twisted my right ankle quite badly.
There was no choice but to keep going, and so keep going is what I did. I was in tears, as I was thinking about what this would mean for my Camino journey, and whether I was an idiot to attempt it at all. Other people who had also fallen on their first day were going thru the same thing, and it was impossible to cheer anyone up-we couldn´t even take off our shoes to look at our injuries in the pouring rain and mud anyhow.
The walking poles I had bought the week before saved me. I was able to actually walk all the way to Zubiri-a total of 15 miles journey within the first day-in spite of having an injury.
When I finally got to Zubiri, I gratefully hpbbled to the refugio in the center of town, took off my boots and socks, and surveyed the damage to my ankle. It looked better than I thought it would-sort of purplish and swollen, though, which wasn´t promising. It hurt like hell.
I wrapped it, elevated it, iced it, and lay on my bunk bed thinking about my dream of doing the Camino de Santiago. Maybe I would not be able to do it. Maybe I should just stop. Maybe it was insane with my ankles to attempt it.
I think what made it especially difficult was that I was surrounded by people who were really into doing the whole thing, or most of it, as quickly as possible. I sort of felt idiotic that I was already injured, and not wanting to keep going. Many other people were starting to arrive at the refugio at this point, and they were unwrapping their bandaged feet, ankles, knees, and toes..popping pain killers, even.
I was so tired from all the walking and the stress of having to figure out what to do next, that I fell fast asleep. When I awoke, I went outside, only to find my two friends that I had started out with(the Australian woman and the the Englishman) waiting outside. They had arrived hours before, and were talking about meeting for dinner. We agreed to meet a bit later, and I showed them my very ugly ankle.
Everyone gave me alot of advice on how to treat it, and I followed all of it. The main thing I decided to follow was the advice of a man from Madrid, who told me that ¨my Camino is my Camino¨, and that I should just skip any difficult parts(parts that my ankle couldn´t handle). He gave me alot to think about-and he had great maps of the Camino as well, which we spread out on my bunk bed. He helped me figure out a better route, with no major downhill parts and so on.
How grateful I am to this stranger-no doubt because of him, I´m still on the Camino.
By dinner I was in much better spirits-and the dinner itself was really lovely. The Englishman had a Spanish wife, and so had been living in Spain for many years-his Spanish was impeccable, his mastery over the menu a gift. We had the most extraordinary meal, a true Basque meal, of a salted cod and potato cold salad and tiny red peppers stuffed with salted cod so creamy and delicate it melted in my mouth.
Walking back to the refugio was not as pleasant, the town of Zubiri(like many others) seems to been taken over by modern apartment complexes, which are of brick and quite undistinguished. The old parts of the town were not near the refugio, and so the town did not seem to have much charm.
This time, the refugio was a pleasant place to sleep-only 24 people to a room! By some miracle, we had no snorers. Or perhaps I was so tired that I slept thru them all.
Gigi
Tags: 1
illuminate.gigi
I am extremely inspired along with your writing abilities as neatly as with the structure in your weblog. Is this a paid subject or did you customize it yourself? Anyway stay up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to peer a great weblog like this one today..|
Hi there very cool website!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally? I am happy to seek out a lot of useful information right here within the publish, we’d like develop extra strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .|
Its fantastic as your other articles : D, appreciate it for posting . “To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice.” by Kahlil Gibran.
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
As soon as I observed this internet site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
hello!,I really like your writing very much! percentage we keep in touch more approximately your article on AOL? I need an expert on this space to resolve my problem. May be that is you! Having a look forward to see you.
CPA Network…
Casino Affiliate…
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up. “The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.” by Albert Einstein.
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
I am not sure where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful information I was looking for this info for my mission.
Very quickly this web page will be famous amid all blogging viewers, due to it’s fastidious posts|
Terrific article! This is the type of info that should be shared across the net. Shame on the search engines for now not positioning this publish higher! Come on over and seek advice from my web site . Thanks =)|
I’ll immediately seize your rss feed as I can’t to find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me recognize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.|
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice day!|
Why people still use to read news papers when in this technological world all is presented on web?|
Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Cheers|
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Hello, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
I see something really special in this website.
But a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great pattern .
limousine hire brisbane…
brisbane chauffeur services…
I went over this web site and I conceive you have a lot of great info, saved to bookmarks (:.
I really enjoy reading through on this site, it has got fantastic posts . “Wealth and children are the adornment of life.” by Koran.
screen printing…
cold laminator…
Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to know a lot approximately this, like you wrote the ebook in it or something. I believe that you simply could do with some p.c. to drive the message home a bit, however other than that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.|
I read this piece of writing fully regarding the comparison of latest and earlier technologies, it’s remarkable article.|
With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any ways to help reduce content from being ripped off? I’d truly appreciate it.|
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information specially the last section 🙂 I deal with such info much. I was seeking this certain info for a very lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck. |
Asking questions are in fact pleasant thing if you are not understanding something totally, however this article gives good understanding yet.|
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again!
But wanna input that you have a very nice web site , I like the pattern it actually stands out.
I’m writing to make you understand what a amazing encounter my wife’s child developed studying yuor web blog. She picked up plenty of issues, including how it is like to have a great coaching mindset to let folks without hassle know precisely certain complicated subject areas. You truly exceeded people’s desires. Many thanks for distributing these great, safe, educational and also unique thoughts on this topic to Tanya.
I just wanted to type a small comment to express gratitude to you for all of the lovely solutions you are posting on this website. My considerable internet look up has now been honored with wonderful facts and strategies to write about with my friends. I would assume that we site visitors are very endowed to live in a fabulous network with so many wonderful individuals with insightful ideas. I feel very much lucky to have come across your entire website page and look forward to tons of more fabulous minutes reading here. Thank you once again for all the details.
Dead pent subject matter, appreciate it for entropy. “He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.” by Michel de Montaigne.
I really like your writing style, fantastic info, thank you for putting up :D. “I will show you fear in a handful of dust.” by T. S. Eliot.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!|
Hello there, You’ve performed an incredible job. I will definitely digg it and for my part suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this web site.|
Superb blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get feed-back from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!|
If some one wishes to be updated with most recent technologies afterward he must be visit this website and be up to date all the time.|
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road. Many thanks|
You have observed very interesting points ! ps decent site. “‘We’re always lucky,’ I said and like a fool I did not knock on wood.” by Ernest Hemingway.
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?
Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely fantastic. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it wise. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
popular free ads websites…
Free Classified worldiwide ads…
Thank you, I have just been searching for info about this topic for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure in regards to the supply?
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was searching for! “…obstacles do not exist to be surrendered to, but only to be broken.” by Adolf Hitler.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came to “return the favor”.I’m trying to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
You have brought up a very wonderful points , regards for the post.