Santiago de Compostella

Ultimate satisfaction is knowing that you have just walked approximately 760km by foot over a period of 27 days. Absolutely wild, there is no other way I can describe how amazing it felt to walk into Santiago today and receive my Compostella or certificate acknowledging my trek clear across Spain.

So Just to recap, A is where I started, B is where I am and where most people will call it a trek, but C will ultimately be my final destination. I was originally planning to take the bus for 100km to the coast but I figured, hey I´ve come this far and I have the time so why not go for the full Monty. where am I? (I finally figured out how to put a link properly, lol)

I am beginning to reflect on the time I have spend here, for the most part it has absolutely flown by, you keep blowing through village after village so quickly you can barely remember there names 1 day later. (I call them villages because you can literally have 50 people living there, maybe 75 if you count the chicken and the cows).

The journey has been 2 fold, on the one hand you have my personal time in which I have reflected and thought about my life and what I want from it. You ask yourself common questions like, what is my purpose here? What am I meant to do? And finally how will decision A or B affect the rest of my life?

On the other hand I have thoroughly enjoyed the people I have met. The people on the Camino have been hands down the most generous and giving people I have ever met of anywhere I have ever been (that's no small statement). I will give you an example, One night at a small Albergue (hostel) we were 6 people and decided that we would all cook dinner together (pot luck). An older Australian couple, an older Korean man, a Canadian Lady and myself. the Iranian Illyad, who was a cook in Denmark decided he would cook for all of us and refused to let us help him.  I must say, that is still to date the best meal I have had when on the Camino, I think I instantly gained 2 Kg, ahah.

Overall, the stories and heart ships we have all shared has touched me in a significantly profound way that I believe is a major reason why pilgrims will gain so much from this experience. An overall great experience to say the least.

Until next time
-Jonathan 

So close...

Here I am early morning ready to get this day started. The only difference is that today is only a 5 km walk until Santiago. The sun is beginning to rise and the road begins to call. However, this is not the end of the road...after Santiago I will continue the die hard path for the last 100km until the west coast of Spain. This will bring me to Finisterre the real end to my Camino. Not much time to take it all in...

Time to get going
-Jonathan

Rabanal del Camino

Hi,

So here is an interesting map showing exactly where I started and where I will be going.

http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=st-jean+pied+du+port,+france&daddr=fromista+spain+to:Rabanal+del+Camino,+24722+Santa+Colomba+de+Somoza+to:santiago+de+compostella&geocode=FcSRkgIdexvt_ylNv1OkZdVQDTHAxoJVGGUGHQ%3BFTrzhAId3cG8_ymb49MZ1cxHDTED4JqXlkUfUQ%3BFcg2iAId4Beg_ykDmxOfHlE3DTEg-mvuCYcFCg%3BFb9NjgIdAZh9_ynD0alwRv4uDTFETI2l4-mnJQ&hl=es&mra=ls&sll=42.86488,-4.895865&sspn=7.423347,14.040527&ie=UTF8&z=6

A) is where I started the walk
B) is where I was the last time I blogged
C) is where I am today
D) is where I will finish my journey

Today was very tough, there were no albergues where I really needed one so I had to push a little further and did 37km (I usually do 30ish). This is much more then I am used to, the last 5km were absolutely brutal. The good news is that the weather has been absolutely amazing. Dry heat along with the lack of clouds makes so hot but enjoyable days. After all, it could be raining, in which case my shoes would be soaked and I would definitely be cursing all the time.

I have been doing the last couple of days with Mr. Lee from South Korea, he is University Professor only 1 year away from retirement and he is trying to figure out the next step in his life. I am fascinated by Korean culture and think I will have no choice but to visit when I am in the area. So far the Korean people I have met have been very hospitable and welcoming. I guess this has been my first real encounter with an Asian aside from a buddy I made from Singapore.

One day at a time, I can feel myself getting closer to the end and it will be truly rewarding.

-Jonathan.

Leon Spain

I am here in Leon Spain and have stumbled upon some unlocked WiFi which is very rare. Overall things are going extremely well. I have seen many churches in Europe and I must admit this church in Leon ranks as my number 1. Well this and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Today I stared at the church from the outside and was moderately unimpressed. I walked in and BAM! More stained glass then I could ever imagine. Absolutely magnificent...

Until next time
Jonathan

Before and Camino

Good News,
I have finally been able to get a hold of a computer so here is my before picture. Let´s see what my after picture will look like in roughly 10 months.

The Camino has been going pretty well lately. It seems as though everyday I find a new blister on my feet. The good news is that they are pretty small. The majority my aches and pains in specific areas has now seemed to generalize itself. So the list goes, my heel, hip, both big toes and now the pinkie toes...It´s absolutely unbelievable how walking on average 30 km per day can destroy your body.

I will usually wake up around 6:00am and begin packing my final things, after a quick breakfast I am out the door of the albuerge and have begun my walk for the day. Usually by 2:30pm I arrive at my new albuergue. Albuergue´s are places that Pilgrims will stay which will be quite cheap between 3-7 Euros per night in order to help them along the journey. So far we have been well cared for. Today was an especially tough day since I walked 35km. As soon as we get to the albuergue I shower and wash the clothes I used that day by hand. Then as they dry on the clothes line I will usually read or take a short nap. Seeing as how we all get up so early, these are quite common. 

We usually eat later around 8:00pm. Most places have Pilgrims menu which are about 10 Euros and offer 3 courses and wine/bread included. Let me tell you they are incredibly satisfying. From time to time, a bunch of us will make dinner together. So far I have been fortunate enough to meet people from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, even South Africa (I know she was travelling during the world cup, what was she thinking).  The fun part is that you get to meet a bunch of people from a variety of different backgrounds. One was an Italian mother doing the Camino with her 11 year old  son. Another was a father(80ish) and son(50ish) son doing the Camino together. They had actually left from Holland and finishing in Santiago. It is absolutely amazing finding out who awaits your and stories that you will hear in the next town. This has been the most rewarding part. This walk gives you the chance to truly think about life and where your place is in it.

This is a picture along my trek at sunrise.

On another note, let me tell you it was pretty wild here when Spain won the World Cup.  Friends of mine in other cities told me they got champagne on the house at the local bar (I however was not so lucky,lol). Viva Espana!

I have a little less then 500km left to walk, an absolute uphill battle. It´s always one day at a time.


Today I am in here.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=es&q=fromista,+spain&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Fr%C3%B3mista,+Palencia,+Castilla+y+Le%C3%B3n,+Espa%C3%B1a&gl=ca&ei=w-Q9TIfjLcLuOYyvgZEP&ved=0CBgQ8gEwAA&ll=42.286961,-4.42955&spn=0.248905,0.438766&z=11

Until next time.
Jonathan.

Camino de Santiago

I am officially 7 days through my trek to Santiago.
For those of your who don´t know, about the Camino de Santiago here is a bit of background info.

I have been diligently trekking 25 km per day with my 22lb backpack. Let me assure you it is no easy feat, despite what you CrossFitters might think. It requires an unbelievable amount of mental toughness. I truly believe that. I have no doubt that overall this will make me a stronger person in every sense of the word. So far the north of Spain has been absolutely breathtaking. The weather is dry and hovering around 32 degrees Celsius.

 A typical will  begin with waking up at 6:00am and having a quick breakfast. By 6:30am my backpack is packed and ready to go. I will generally be done walking by around 2-3:00pm in the afternoon. By that time the sun begins to be unbearable. Let´s just say I am roasting nicely.  I will sometimes take an afternoon nape to recuperate from the 8 hour trek. I will then have a huge supper since It´s impossible to eat enough day to day. My legs are always ridiculously sore. . So far I have not been able to upload and pictures but I will try to get a couple just to touch base.

I am planning to finish the trek in approximately 30 days which is actually quite fast.
Hopefully the Montreal summer is treating you well.
Thanks,

The Paris Conflict

The first leg of my trip has begun with Paris. Two and a half years later I still seem to have this love hate relationship with this city. On the one hand no city can match it's beauty, however the people sometimes leave much to be desired. Not to mention getting around Paris by map is no easy feat...simple roads that cross at 90degrees are nowhere to be found...it can very frustrating when your still jet lagged.

Nonetheless I met up with old exchange friends of mine Caroline and Sebastien. It was great to share a pint 2 1/2 years later. Wild how time flies.. Tomorrow I am off to St-Jean pied du port to begin el Camino de Santiago de Compostella. More on that soon...