Under the plum trees: Traveling through people's travels

Had a great sleep even if the albergue was not really that great.

Two giggly German women were at the restaurant when we were. Well they were not giggly until I met them in the albergue. They had started in a Porto a day or two after me. They slept late.

I saw the Matts in the am, but German Matt was away when I headed out His plan was to walk to Pardon and then take a bus home. He had been to Santiago before.

I went out for coffee and croissant - pricey in the big city. I saw the Italian Matt as I was putting on rain gear. I was wearing an extra inner layer as well today... Grey skies.

Italian Matt and I said goodbye and he headed south to Lisbon. I told him to make sure he stayed at Fernada's.

Away by 0830 hrs. ..

Stopped here to fill up water. I don't like trying to find my way out of cities...

Really on the road by 0900 hrs.

Now that is a sky train!

As much as it's important to realize that people are all different. It took me a couple of days to realize it's okay for my feet to be different. It's okay if one boot is tied tighter than the other. Me and my OCD are learning... (CDO... Letters in the right order).

Nice paths this morning. Through a park of sorts. I saw a couple of local people walking.

You know I don't think this trail would work in North America. (I am working on my cynical outlook as well). You see, I think people would mess with people by messing with the arrows. But here in Spain and Portugal this trail has been here forever ... It is so culturally important that people don't mess with it.

... And you know if the yellow arrows led me off a cliff.... I would probably find a way to climb down.

Okay here is another aha .... This is really the wizard of oz. I am following the brick road and the yellow arrows. Others are on the road too... In search if brains and hearts and why am I here .... Trying to find my way home I guess....

On the plane to Switzerland I watched the movie Oz. ...About a not so good show magician ends up in oz as the wizard and scaring off bad witches and saving the people of oz ... with smoke and mirrors.

Sometimes I think that is what I do with my job. I am not a great oz... I just show people they have what they need to solve their problems. ... Okay I am simplifying a little much here.

Too much thinking...

Oh look a restaurant... A place to rest...

I ordered a muffin and a coffee which came with a little biscuit and a little piece of chocolate. Really nice woman.

I thanked her for the chocolate and asked how much for another piece and she gave a couple more free.

Simple things...

Now if I took the highway ....

Nope to the left here!

So I stop to take a picture of a window with all these greeting in many languages.

And a man sticks his head out and asks if I will come in to talk ... with his class...

They are doing a project... It's a kindergarten class!

I tell them where I am from and they will look for it on the map.

I am instructed to send an email and a picture back when I have reached Santiago. How fun. Cool teacher!

I walk away with a nice smile...

It's a good morning. My feet don't even hurt that much.

I think she is is picking the kale...!

This lady is raking and making piles...

Someone has cut back the vines and added piles if manure to help these grow.

There is that fast highway.

I like my path better....

Even if it's asphalt

So I am walking toward a man in a bright orange reflective coat. He stops me and asks me for my credentials. I start digging out my passport as I ask him if he is police. He has pocket pants like ambulance workers and high cut boots ... Kinda of a uniform. He says no, stamp... I stop digging for the passport and produce my Camino credential. He stamps it asks me where I started, where I started today and where I would stay tonight. He write this stuff on a clipboard.

The stamp looked official and I decided he was a park ranger of sorts. As my walk appeared to be through a park.

Look at the highway way up there..

I ate my peanuts saved from my tapas in Ponteverde and an orange from yesterday.

Back on little roads...

Sheepies....

It almost looks like these are full caskets here .. And lots...

You see if you have sheep, they will eat the dead stuff so you don't have to cut it down.

I decided to stop for a sandwich and coffee... This walking does make you hungry you know. It was a store too and I bought a chocolate bar!!!

The woman did not seemed too thrilled...

Then I hear people behind me. I think it's the German women. I wait, but I t's not them. They look like pilgrams though ...

I say hello, hola and they walk by. I am grumpy for awhile...

I try and take a picture and my phone says enough pictures!! I spent a couple of minutes cleaning up my phone so I have room for more pictures!! I have 10 more days until home!!