I found an internet cafe today - the first one since I left home. All the rest have been in the albergues.
It started out as a sunny day. I had a wonderful time walking - I am choosing to walk mostly alone these days. I do like my own company. One is also more receptive to one´s surroundings and other people. Also it allows me to slow down when I want, - smell the roses, meet others at coffee breaks and so on. I find myself more willing to stop and smile or chat with the old guys working in the farmyards, take photos, etc. I walked with a wonderful German girl for an hour today, then when I wandered the town I ended up chatting with 2 Danish women and sitting in their room in the pouring rain. Then I carried on and found this cafe.
I am savouring the moment - I love the walking, I feel so fit, I love stopping for morning coffee and chatting with others. I love the sense of becoming familiar with a whole community of walkers. People are losing their ethnic stereotype and all of the individuals are smiling and connecting even without language. I love eating in all of the little restaurants - dark wood or granite, small, very busy staff and just so great. I really don´t want it to end in some ways. 35 days of walking is amazing averaging 25km per day. At times I walked very quickly trying to get to the destination and enjoy the rest of the day there. There was also alot of pressure on the albergues for places to stay. Now the albergues are closer together and there does not seem to be the same pressure. I feel myself slowing down and just loving every moment of being out as a wanderer.
Each albergue has been a unique experience - some more memorable than others. For instance today is a very small place - 15 beds, lots of space, lots of hot water, a kitchen - if you want it, a small back garden and a restaurant next door for this evening. The owner has paintings from the retired british police officer who is settling up the valley that I chatted to this morning. I so easily meet and mix with the people everywhere.
I am thinking of what walk I would like to do next. There are lots of choices and I love it so much. I wonder if Clive would ever be interested?...and others. What an awesome world out here....so big and so small.
I can hardly keep the days straight and they all run one into another. However I will record a few details of the past week most recent memory first.
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