Evan's Spain adventure

Here I am 14 kilometers from Santiago, what a trip. It seems that the closer I get to Santiago the more people pile onto already thin trails. They have make up and clean equipment, freshly minted pilgrims. Now, I don’t mind their presence at all. The only thing is at times the trail gets congested and it’s tough to pee. Some trail mates ascribed feelings of annoyance, the whole “true pilgrim” thing(Uhhg). So, we talked about it. I think everyone is just are here for different reasons. Some are more interested in having the paperwork (Compostela.) Others are more interested in the experience of the walking. I have heard from many that they wouldn’t really care about getting the pape twirl. Neither is wrong, we’re just after different things. I think it’s very much like school. A lot of people are just after the degree and just want to get by and finish. Some are there because they know it’s the journey that makes the difference, it’s something beyond the paperwork.

The path the last few days has been gorgeous, which was a great surprise! I was thinking it was going to be all developed when we got near Santiago, but instead it’s been well forested. The air is so fresh, and the woods are packed with some of my favorite plant, the eucalyptus. This exemplary flora offers a break from the sun and it fills the air with fine mist, it’s a minty smell you can taste.

The days are moving slowly by, like drooling honey into oats. Are they sweet, the weather has been absolutely perfect. The hot air makes illusions in the distance. As crumbling buildings no longer hold mystery. Great pools of water offer no reflection, but a shadow. I lean into a squat, staring closer and think, “maybe I’ll have to wait to Santiago.”