Trip Wrap-Up

Lol, I feel like I'm back working again, calling this post a wrap-up. Thought it might interest you to know what I'm thinking and feeling though after 2 days back from my trip.

Bay area was so hot the first day I was back! I was sweating like a pig in my wool base layer. Grabbed an in-n-out burger after I landed, hehe. Mmm. So much better than either the McIberico or other burgers over there. It feels like spring here. I see flowers on the trees. So weird hearing people speak English, especially the cyclists. When I hear the Latinos speak it's also a bit strange because they have a different accent, but still more normal than English, heh.

I think I've gotten used to the lack of personal space. Now, it feels weird and standoffish when friends don't embrace or kiss me. Lol.

BODY
My knees and feet are still really overused and worn. Glad my roomies are both med students (almost doctors, they're so close to finishing!). One said the pain and swelling was due to repetitive stress, but that my feet should be back to normal in a month or so. My feet kind of fit in my shoes, but the front part is a little expanded and are a bit tight in my shoes.  I still can't walk normally because my feet hurt and when I'm off them, then start walking, it's still somewhat painful in the beginning. I still can't easily bend my knees either. My body is stooped like I'm still carrying the backpack on my back. I need a massage.  Because I want to keep off my feet, I think I want to start swimming to get a workout. I'd rather run or walk, but my other roomie and bff suggested I do something low impact. Gar, I really want to get some physical exercise. It feels weird eating so much and not having much physical activity. Yes, I weighed myself after getting back and I did lose about 5-10 pounds. Heh, not a ton...not that I had too much to lose, but anything is good!

MIND
Airport and plane ride with so many people was a bit crazy. On my flight back I sat next to a mom and the cutest 9m baby girl ever. She was sooo good and didn't really cry. Not sure why I coincidentally get sat next to babies on my long hauls in the beginning and end of the Camino. Driving was a bit of an adjustment and when I went to volunteer teach, the motions I made were much more psyhologically deliberate. I feel a lot more focused - I think it's because of the Camino.  I feel that I have changed a bit in both mind and body. I know that I need to take some more time to reflect on my experience and to process everything. Answers may come slowly, but patience is a virtue. :)

HOW WAS MY TRIP?
People ask me this. What do I say? Excellent. I learned a lot. The Camino is a school of life and I carry the Camino in my heart. A winter Camino is very special. It is a great time for self reflection because there aren't many people as you walk.  I'm not sure if I'd want to do the entire Camino Frances again, but there are some sections I'd do in a heartbeat. Other Caminos  would be very interesting. Back to reality though. I feel like I'm ready to face reality and take on the world.

THOUGHTS ON WALKING THE WINTER CAMINO ALONE AS A WOMAN
I think as a young woman in her 20's travelling and walking alone, there are both greater risks and greater rewards. People usually say that you need to be careful in the big cities, but honestly, I felt more at risk in some small towns because there are so few people around to help you if you run into trouble, so having your wits about you at all times is important. Just because you're on pilgrimage and in the 'Camino bubble', doesn't mean that the outside world can't harm you. The winter pilgrims are mostly a decent lot, choosing to walk the camino in potentially more arduous conditions. It's the non-pilgrims I worried about.

Day 12 Burgos

Today started out well with my other companion from the albergue Manuel buying and bringing me hot chocolate. So nice of him! I insisted on coming along with him to get my hot chocolate but he wouldn't hear of it, slamming the door closed quickly so that I couldn't get out of the dormitory in time (I'm slow, my legs only go so fast) and running off to the bar by himself to get himself a coffee and me a drink. Woods were also great in the beginning for walking and I could smell the fresh air. It was so warm that I could see the dew on the grass (usually there is frost in the morning). I met a nice old man on the way who told me he had walked the camino over 10 times, and then we proceeded to talk for probably half an hour about faith, God and the Camino. At 84, he wanted to walk the Camino one more time, but he said that his friends tell him he's crazy. Hah. He told me that the Burgos municipal albergue was very good, so I considered Burgos more seriously. However, I didn´t want to walk one more day during the night. I had already walked 3 nights in the dark. It was no fun. I really didn´t want to walk in the dark anymore after the sun set, which is around 6pm. He gave me kisses on the cheeks as a good bye.

I was thinking of stopping in Ajes because I was a little tired and it was already 2pm, no way I could walk 25km in 4 hours, when I met a Basque bicyclist named John. He stopped to talk with me at the entrance to Ajes, letting me know about the perverted hospitalero and what he had seen the day after because he knew I had been in the albergue there the day before him (and John had seen me in Santo Domingo...apparently I´m known as the korean girl who speaks castellano).  He made sure to immediately report this hospitalero to the association so that there would be no more harassment and that he would be removed. Blah, I was so digusted and full of anger about hearing this, and what had possibly happened to all the unsuspecting, vulnerable lady victims (including myself) in the last few days (since the hospitalero would only be there 15 days then his volunteer time is done at the albergue), that I had to continue walking. I couldn´t stay in Ajes with all my anger bottled in. So I walked 25 more kilometers to Burgos. And boy were those km painful. At times, I was yellling, banging my walking stick from disgust, just angry. Then I became sad there are people in this world who choose to do bad, evil things. Then, I just really wanted to reach the Burgos Cathedral, so that I could rest, the intense anger a more distant memory than the immediate pain of my feet. I got into the albergue at 8:30pm - wouldn´t have been able to find the albergue if not for John standing outside smoking. Yay, mi amigo! I launched myself to give him a huge hug because I was so happy to see him, meaning I had reached my stop for the night. Bed at last.

WARNING FOR LADIES
I was very very angry and a little scared to hear about the hospitalero who was volunteering at the albergue I had spent the night alone. FYI, this is a very rare case. Most hospitaleros are very nice, kind, safe and welcoming. Apparently this hospitalero was not. He was a pervert and peeping Tom. Because the camino had been so good to me thus far with many blessings, I was just nice to everyone and dropped my guard, esp since I assumed a hospitalero would be a person I could trust. Boy was I wrong. So, just make sure to be cautious when you´re travelling alone, and if something doesn´t feel right, make sure you leave the place since it could be your instincts kicking in. Trust your instincts. I didn´t listen to my instincts that time and felt a little creeped out by the hospitalero, and now I regret not just leaving as soon as I felt a little strange and unsafe. I had assumed the hospitalero was just overly friendly. He did however say some creepy things when translated into English, but I thought that perhaps it was just some culturally different expression. Looking back, it probably was just plain creepy no matter what language. Don't ever let others make you feel unsafe.