Sleeping with Spaniards.

It’s only happened once…so far. Spanish women are fun, impossible to understand, and a laugh a second.  That is reason enough to spend a fun-filled night with them. But, so is a lack of private rooms at your local aubergue. These are such women with my lovely daughter…

   
   
Too much fun. The lovely gal on the left side of this last pick spoke English well. She was my connection to the others when Brianna was not around. Very nice women on a great trip. 

We all slept in the same room due to the packed town of pilgrims. We all ate, washed clothes, relaxed, and chatted in common spaces or sidewalk cafes as needed. It was an experience. First and last. 

You see, Brianna and I have been putting all of our energy and sweat into the Way. The walk. The hike to Santiago from Leon, Spain. 300km of the 800km Camino Frances that demands 5-6 weeks of hiking. 

I’ll make no apologies for needing comfort after our days on the Camino. We paid 10€ for our first private room and 20€ for our favorite aubergue experience and 55€ for a remarkable B&B in the smallest village. Other private rooms with clean beds and killer baths have all been in that range , averaging us about 35€ per night. Well worth the 15-20€ per night for securing our stuff, clean everything, total privacy, quiet naps, peaceful overnight sleep, and NO BEDBUGS.  Yes, Yes, those are an issue in cheap hostels and aubergues on the Camino. 

Not worth it. Budget accordingly or just camp outside. Either way. Avoid those critters. Ridding them from your person, clothes, and backpack is quite the ordeal. 

From where we are now, it’s Camino paradise @ 45€ + 20€ total for both 3-course dinners with vino. Not bad….

   
    
 
Yeah. I get that look a lot. Regardless, this idea of hers has brought us here. Fun. Challenge. Laughs. Endless memories. Cultural education for me. My first and best trip to Europe yet. 

Gracias, Brianna. Mucho gracias, señorita. 

She’s off to bed now. 4.50€ and my nightcap awaits me…

 
Viva Spain!

Viva Brianna!

And Buen Camino!

Cheers !

Ode to Larry. My new South African friend. See you in Belize someday.

Imagine a funny guy. A balding guy. A joke-telling guy. A guy who ran a profitable ranch with 5,000 head of cattle. The same guy that was stripped of his investment in property by the Zimbabwe government with no appeal nor recourse. $5 million or so gone  forever, along with his life. 

Just add a little salt to his wounds. His wife leaves too. What does Larry do?  Hike the Camino in Spain, head to Ibeza for kicks, and go explore the “walking with lions” business potential in Belize. I love it. Here’s Laurence, Larry to me…

   
   
He does like those big beers. Who doesn’t?  2€ and you have a German-style jug of beer. Great deal. 

So, on our last night in one of our hippie villages, La Faba, I picked up a 1.50€ bottle of local white wine as Larry was checking out the cattle farm. 

   
Then we saw each other..

 As I ascended the village hill to watch the premature sunset over a tall mountain, Larry came up to my place on a stone wall. We chatted. Cheers!  

And We forgot the sunset as we headed back downhill. 

We were stumbling just fine until we heard the voices of the sweetest family we knew from Barcelona. We popped in during their communal serving of dinner… 

   
…and the old man in-charge showed us the door. Another couple of jugs of beer later, and we were chasing cattle. Well, Larry was…but, a couple of nights before…well…..to be continued…this video from our second night past Leon says it all. Laurence tells his joke  we laugh and proverbial chips fall…

Warning:  keep tender ears away from this video!

  
I can’t wait to catch up in Belize. Or wherever. 

Buen Camino, Laurence!  And cheers!
  

Viva Camino. Viva REALLY good times.

I cannot quite put the last 36 hours or so into adequate words. But, I will try. 

Brianna and I trekked into our next village early, per usual, and scarfed up the perfect room with perfect hosts named Christina & Stephan. He’s a police officer in Belgium and she’s retired from her social services career. But they are so darn funny…look for the blonde on the left and laughing guy on the right….

  
…and the guy with way too much vino tinto here too…

  
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Life is to damn short. I get it   

Last night was classic in so many ways. One video of myself and Laurence from South Africa will prove it…

Warning:  do not watch this if you are uber-moral, carry distain for late-night conviviality, or have a child near you. If you are a free-thinker or like those…ROLL TAPE!

  
Quite the night and, to everyone’s surprise, I jumped into go mode and we hit the Camino trail early for us. We passed a few, found our family of four, crossed into hippie land….

   
 
…and it was good. Nice people who live here…

   

Not what I was expecting from my guide bible, but sweet, welcoming and nice. 1€ for refreshment and we were on our way.  
The remainder of our walk went by pretty fast and we were soon gazing down on Astorga. 

   
    
 
Fortunately , historic agua stations are everywhere on the Camino. 

Astorga is a beautiful town of 12,000. More Milan is style and attitude. I even put on my standard white shirt to cover up the sweat in front of the Sunday cafe’ and church crowd. 

   
    
 
A few kilometers later and we find ourselves in a little village of 50 called Murias. The aubergues were not to my liking or inattentive. Thus, a sweet B&B will do…

  
Our señora host was wonderful and did our laundry for us. A mom for a day she was. Gorgeous home and better that many B&B’s back home. 

As for nightlife, well, let’s just leave that we found the hub of it next door. A cafe, bar, and restaurant that serves up delicious meats, octopus…

  
And many $3 bottles of casa vino tinto. 

Much more to share, but we must go now. Much more I need not share. 

Buen Camino!