a day in the life of a peregrina.















loading up and setting out. the pack should ideally weigh no more than 10 - 15% of a pilgrim's total body weight. mine was about 9 kilos, a little on the heavy side, but that included lots of snacks and drinking water. after the first couple of weeks you don't notice it anymore, anyway.














coffee break at a roadside cafe/bar. there is little difference between the two in spain. many times I saw snifters of brandy being served along with cups of joe. the spanish, bless their hearts, seem to think that a cup of cafe con leche and some bread with jam and butter constitute 'breakfast.' hence all the snacks I carried in my bag.














hydrating at one of many fountains along the camino. I drink water like a fiend, so I carried several refillable water bottles in my pack. you never know when you might encounter a long stretch without a fountain, especially on the meseta. it astounded me how little water some pilgrims drank...in some cases, less than a liter a day.














following the yellow arrows. sometimes you come across a split, where those on foot ('a pie' in spanish) go one way, and bicycles go another. I like this picture because it looks like there is pie being advertised further down the road. pie? I love pie! apple or rhubarb?















taking a break and putting the ol' boots up.

















negotiating traffic jams. here's a typical scene from cow-choked galicia.














finding the next albergue. always a sight for sore eyes...and feet.














stretching.














attending to blisters. hypodermic needles, which are readily available at any pharmacy in spain, are used to first drain the blister, then to inject betadine solution into it to disinfect and dry. here my friend leslie's heel gets the treatment from the hospitalero (person in charge of the albergue).














laundry.














journaling.














researching the next day's route (which, if done on your back in bed, invariably leads to the next item: a siesta).













making dinner. this is sometimes a solo effort, sometimes a group effort. we would often make a big pot of soup or pasta, with bread, wine and dessert, for two or three euros a person.
















the finished product, with friends.


I'm still in holland, and fly to sweden tomorrow! the weather here is gray and damp -- just like seattle. hope this finds everyone v. well --

stroopwafels (waffle cookies with caramel filling) and hugs
cindy