Thursday, September 26, 2019

Who Knows

This evening we’re on top of the world! We’re in a tiny little village (Foncebadón) on the second floor of a hostel near the highest point on The Camino. We can see Astorga in the distance where we stayed for the last two nights. https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18HdEZ-luolSv8_hbv0JEPiudzqS7jHF4

As Chuck said in his blog, often things happen that you never expect. For instance, a few days ago as we were walking down a deserted country road we saw a man sitting in the drivers seat throwing his fishing line out the window and into the ditch. He’d fling his line back into his car with what appeared to have been frogs! 

And, while walking down the hill into Astorga an eccentric older gentleman was playing his Spanish guitar. He made up a delightful, but goofy song about Americanos Peregrinos! https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yEpj3fZmM-P_VDBdSYwd3wN7LmNMwGZC

That guitarist reminded us of the woman earlier in our walk who was sitting under a tree on a small stool serenading pilgrims with her accordion. https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1s3FYcuGr29027GHGUPETufGww9FjkyoZ

We are often amused by single shoes sitting beside the road. Did the walker have a blowout? And, how about pharmacy vending machines which sell knee braces, feminine products, and drugs among other items! https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jf0H-clZeKiLOJf7o_8wcx44uCZ9jVb8G

We’ve run across an archery meet in the middle of nowhere, a crawdad with claws snapping ready to defend his road, and a farmer’s tractor flinging cow poop in his field (as well on the pilgrims walking on the trail)! 

One of the things I’ve seen and fallen in love with is play equipment for adults in or beside children’s playgrounds. What a great idea!https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SQwHlrXr8lD88YFUU5qDf1ydG6MQ1_DE


We are now walking in a new region. We’re back in the hills and mountains, currently in Maragato which has a distinctive and rich cultural heritage. Chuck is an adventurous eater, so he ordered a traditional Maragotan meal a few days ago. First came a platter of five meats (blood sausage, and four other indistinguishable meats).  He thought he was finished when the second course arrived which was a very large plate of chick peas, boiled potatoes, and cabbage. He could hardly dent that course when the next course arrived. It was a bowl of broth with a few noodles. To top it all off a pudding was then served. Needless to say, he won’t be ordering that again!

We climb to Cruz de Ferro in the morning to leave our stones. Then we continue on to the town of the Templar’s Castle. Who knows what we’ll encounter on The Way!

Buen Caminohttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1soCcwFugrD4VyupzFHSuGf6bd35Be2E1









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