I thought I would use this post to comment on a couple things that might not warrant a full post on their own. I hope you find them interesting.
FOOD. Many friends have suggested I would lose weight walking over 700 kilometers. I probably won't as they food is quite good. And they love their bread in Spain so many items come with a side of bread. Very good bread.
Common breakfast items are chocolate croissants, tortillas (which are a potato and egg dish often with either cheese, ham or onion in it) or a bocadillo (baguette sandwich usually with excellent cured ham or maybe cheese or dried chorizo - no mayo, mustard or any other condiments) and of course either espresso or cafe con leche (espresso with hot milk). Usually we grab a coffee as we leave in the morning about 7am and then after walking two hours stop for some breakfast/lunch combo.
Lunch stops are at little bars that serve the above items as well as salads (usually with tuna and hard boiled egg), some times pasta or paella and little tapas (sometimes called pinxos). These commonly include croquettes of various types (often with a bit of ham in them or sometimes mussels), skewers of various types (a common one has olives, an anchovy, and maybe a small hot pepper - I love these).
Most places we stay, and almost all albergues offer a "pilgrim's menu" for dinner. This is served in a big room and it is a great time to meet new friends or get caught up with someone we might have met days ago. These meals tend to be substantial. First course choices typically include a salad, pasta, stewed beans with chorizo or a local favorite garlic and egg soup. Mains are often stewed meats, a grilled meat, tuna or cod cooked in tomato and red pepper sauce or fried white anchovy. Always with bread and always with fries. Almost always delicious. Red wine is always included but water may be extra. A small dessert is also provided.
GRAFFITI
In the account of Cain and Able in Genesis, God marks Cain in some fashion so that, though guilty of murder, others will not take revenge on him. And it seems we have been marking things ever since.
Of course I expected to see the usually graffiti here as at home, highly stylized words in paint that I cannot read on bridges and structures. And certainly there is plenty of that here. When I can decipher the lettering it is sometimes about Basque independence or something political. However, most often it is something profound like, "Ed from Ohio was here" or "Marco loves Lucy". One slogan had me mystified for many days. On the small, official Camino marker signs placed every 500m or so, I have noticed the saying, "CYMRU AM BYTH". It always appears in black marker, in the same style and is clearly the work of one individual. This is the work of maybe the most dedicated graffiti artist in history since he wrote it on every sign over the last 300 kilometers, perhaps more. Finally, I used Google translate and discovered it is Welsh and means "Wales for ever".
Personally, I was raised with far too much respect for property to vandalize it. Although, if pressured, I might admit to participating in a group activity of this nature in my youth. Don't tell my mother.
Generally, this business of graffiti, marking every sign, building and object in some fashion is annoying to me. However, there is something fascinating about the need we all have, in one way or another, to leave our mark, to alter things, to put our own touch on them, to say "Bob was here".
PEOPLE
We have met people from so many places. While on Camino I've chatted with people from the following countries: Canada, USA, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Canary Islands, Sweden, Luxembourg, Korea, England, Ireland, Czechia, Croatia, Romania and I'm sure I have forgotten a few.
We've had opportunities to offer parental advice to a young German girl who was asking for guidance. To offer encouragement to a young, single dad who has a tough life. Interestingly, he is not at all religious but has entered as many churches as possible because he finds a remarkable peace in them. With tears I shared some thoughts with him and told him I will pray for him, and he seemed pleased to know it. We have a new Korean buddy who might come visit us in Canada and a delightful friend from the Netherlands who we meet every few days and hug like old friends.
As much as I am here for quiet reflection, there have also been wonderful encounters. Some, though brief, have left an impression on my heart. I suspect some of those we met would say the same. The saying goes, "The Camino gives you what you need", and this has been true in terms of both solitude and community.
Hmmmm….. the food sounds yummy …..just not sure what a gluten free dairy free person would eat!
ReplyDeleteThe "sandwich and deer" looks suspicious. Looks more like beer than deer to me. Just sayin.
ReplyDeleteThanks for having an open heart.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the food and the experiences!
ReplyDeleteA