About Me

To make a long story short, I love to travel. I enjoy exploring new and exciting places, experiencing different cultures, and envisioning myself as a local. Ever since I first visited Europe in 2010, I have been infected with the travel bug, which although it can be a good thing, can be a real pain in the butt because I constantly have itchy feet. Aside from travelling, I have a passion for teaching and working with childen. In writing this blog, I hope to share my travel experiences with family, friends, and anyone else out there who may happen to come across my blog. My moto is that you only live once and that you should take advantage of every opportunity thrown your way. Life is too short to sit around doing nothing, and with that said, I am off to see the world!

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk being called sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But they cannot learn, feel, change, grow or really live.
Chained by their sevitude they are slaves who have forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is truly free.
- William Ward

Sunday, 17 June 2012

And 294km later...

...I have finally completed 1/3 of the Camino de Santiago!! Wow, it's almost hard to believe! The past two weeks have been long, tiring, and an emotional roller coaster, but, that is all a part of the camino. Now before I talk about my walk into Burgos, I have a few other things to discuss. About two days ago as I was walking into Villafranca (an ugly truck stop town) I lost my guidebook somewhere on the trail. At first I was frustrated because things weren't going my way, but I kept telling myself that on Sunday when I arrived in Burgos there would be a bookstore in which I could buy another guidebook. However, yesterday I met an older couple from Australia, Shannon and Chris, and while we were talking about experiences along the camino, I brought up that I had lost my guidebook. Anyways, while we were sitting at dinner yesterday night, Shannon and Chris introduced me to Stephan from Austria. And like it was meant to be, when I told Stephan I had lost my guidebook the other day, Stephan said he found a guidebook walking into Villafranca...IT WAS MINE!! I couldn't believe it! This just goes to show that in life we are meant to meet certain people. If I didn't stop to talk with Shannon and Chris, I wouldn't have met Stephan, and I wouldn't have gotten my guidebook back! Like I have said many times before, the camino always provides. Now, today was a special day. Today is the day I completed 1/3 of the Camino de Santiago! The walk this morning started off beautifully. 10km through rocky hills with a layer of fog over the tree line, creating a mystical atmosphere. But, as I entered the outskirts of Burgos, the last 10km were along busy highways and through streets that smelt of urine. By 11:00 I arrived in central Burgos and I stood awestruck beneath the cathedral. It is soo huge and the spirals are really decorative and medieval looking! After the cathedral in Seville, the Burgos cathedral is one of the largest and most beautiful cathedrals throughout all of Spain. After sitting in the central plaza for a while, I decided it was time to check into my hotel. Because I am 1/3 of the way through the camino, I am treating myself to a private room for a change! The hotel is beautiful! I was so excited to have my own personal space and jus be able to sped my belongings out without fearing they might get lost or taken by someone else. Also, it was nice to had my own CLEAN bathroom without toothpaste on the sink! Oh, and I have actual towels and sheets on the bed; and I'm not in a bunk bed!!!!! It is amazing the little things that you cherish after walking the camino and sharing a room with hundreds of people. I was so happy the hotel had a bath, so when I finished organizing myself, I soaked in a nice warm bath for three hours! It felt absolutely amazing! Because today is supposed to be my day to relax and celebrate, I spent most of the day in my hotel room just enjoying the solitude. But its funny because whenever I heard people in the hallway, I thought they were going to come into my room, but then I realized that this is MY room, MY space, MY sanctuary! I watched tv for a while, read my book, snuggled under the covers of a nice warm bed, and just enjoyed the peace and quiet. Around 6:30 I decided to do a little bit of walking around town. I hopped on the tourist train to get a feel for the city. While I was on the train there were a bunch of little kids waving, smiling, and dancing at me...I couldn't help but laugh and feel like I was an exhibit. Later I met up with some regulars I had seen on the camino and we bid our farewells because while they move on tomorrow, I will spend a full day in Burgos. And then FINALLY I went for my celebratory dinner. I found a very nice restaurant with an appealing menu (even though I couldn't understand it). But I told myself I wasn't going to eat off the pilgrim menu; tonight's dinner would be special! Five courses of the best food I have had so far my entire trip! I started with this black rice dish with chorrizo, and then a salad, roast lamb leg, a cheese tart, a very potent (45% alcohol) spirit, and finally a hot cup of coffee; all together with a bottle of really good white wine. It didn't matter to me that my meal cost €30, I AM 1/3 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO! I think I deserve to treat Mysore to some luxury. It was a lovely evening filled with many laughs. And I am so soo excited to sleep in a double bed in my private room tonight! My alarm is in my bag...tomorrow I sleep in. Hope you are all having a great time back home! Bye for now :)
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)