July, 2015
Browsing by Month
DAY 13: Laredo – Güemes: THE WAY The Eagles Fly
The day started with a ferry ride. All of us climbed the damp wooden plank that dug into Laredo’s sandy beach and then swung our backpacks over onto the dark blue vessel of the waters. Santoña, the sister city of Laredo loomed ahead in a cluster of amber coloured stoneRead More
DAYS 10-12: The Friends We Make Along ‘The Way’
Different faces flashed in my mind corresponding with coloured backpacks in a rapid fire. Some young, some old, but all smiling. I looked to my left and then added another face to my time roll. Just as we had been leaving Portugalete, the final annex of the city of Bilbao,Read More
DAY 8-9: No need for Bells and Whistles!
We were already 5 kilometres down a secluded paved road path that spat sneak peak views of an unmistakable mark of civilisation below, when a realisation hit us hard. As hard as 10 kilos of swiss cheese rolled down a mountain. The sprawled out city stretching out in front of
DAY 7: Racing to a Red Light
The day dawned as the hottest so far on our journey, a searing 39 Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) adding to the rusty glow the wilting forest trees emanated. It was only 8:00am but already my hair stuck to my back, a limp and drooping figure. I wasn’t only dripping with sweatRead More
DAY 6: Walking in Bolívar’s Origins
The mountains that loomed from behind the mining town of Markina-Xemein glistened in the morning sunlight. I was watching the track ahead, waiting and wondering when the path would take that first sudden and deadly turn and reveal its true steep nature. The strange thing was, it wasn’t happening. Instead,Read More
DAY 5: Blood, Sweat and Smiles!
The day’s early morning indigo light danced in through the mahogany window panes that were situated to our right. I rubbed my bloodshot eyes and looked around. White bunk beds surrounded us and all were empty. I shook my head in disbelief. It was 7 am, the earliest time we
DAY 3 & 4: Rediscovering Rejuvenation
I woke to find my bones limp and jiggly, the pressure of yesterday’s arduous walk breaking the barrier of dawn and manifesting into the blistering hot day. ‘It was no secret anymore’ I thought. None of us had been prepared for the un-breaking and unbending powerful will of The CaminoRead More
DAY 2: “Ganbatte Kudasai!” The Gift of Optimism
Being optimistic is something I always like doing. I prefer feeling good to bad, being positive, not negative and being constructive rather than destructive. Who doesn’t? However on our first day on the Camino de Santiago del Norte we hiked 33 kilometres through harsh terrain and conditions with extremely heavyRead More
