Friday, September 27, 2013

Leon


exceptional albergue in Calzadilla last night

Hola from Leon! Today we have taken the bus here, jumping ahead two stages so that I can rest my foot for a couple of days. We have missed a couple of stages through the Meseta (the plains) but at this point we are thinking strategically for what will get us to the finish line.
 
Here is the strange phenomenon of time on the Camino. There's a sensation of time travel here that is like nothing else. We travel along within this bubble of people where everyone walking within a day before or after us is known to us. It's our 'present'. The day our friends came from the UK, they drove us back to Burgos, which was at that point about three stages behind us. Suddenly, we didn't recognize any of the pilgrims around that area. When we chatted with them and explained that we had come back three stages, they looked at us as if we were these mysterious time travelers! "Wow-you're from our future! What does the future hold for us? How is the walk, the albergues..." It was so weird. Yesterday our friends drove us back to catch up with Mike again and as we passed pilgrims walking, we began to see people we knew again until eventually we found Mike and we were back in our own bubble again.
Now today we have taken a bus and jumped two stages ahead and suddenly we're in the future and there are tons of pilgrims but we don't know anyone. By the time we leave in two days, our bubble will have caught up again. It's pretty weird. 
We knew a lot about what to expect regarding the walking, the albergues, and the food here. The friendships we are forging are a pleasant and touching surprise. 
xx
rain in Leon today 

Eeeeeeuuuu!!

3 comments:

  1. Indeed the friendships are the best part. When people ask my favorite part of the whole thing, I always say "the people." I got injured and had to leave "my group" on day 3. It was for the better, though--the saying that "strangers are just friends you haven't yet met" proved true over and over.

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  2. Wonderful photos, Lauren. Glad you are resting your foot. All is well here.

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  3. Well written, Lauren. It really gave me a sense of that aspect of your adventure. I sure could be happy drinking a glass of vino in that little outdoor cafe, looking out at that beautiful cathedral.

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