El Inicio

[laughingstone]

Got into Jaca today after a beautiful chartered busride through the foothills of the Pyrenees. Spent some time lightening up my backpack so it's of maneagable weight for my journey.

Thanks to Erin Rapacki for teaching me that cardinal rule of backpacking a while back!

I will spend some time tomorrow shipping the stuff I don't need and picking up my credencial, or Pilgrim's Passport, from the iglesia. It will be stamped along the way and gain me admittance to the special albergues that only host peregrinos. I paid €10 for a one night stay.

I know I should only stay one more day because I just discovered the bakery.

Also, all the pilgrims in my albergue are French. I taught myself to say ¨first day¨so I could say something to them. Oh, and ¨good¨. Bon!

When I start my journey day after tomorrow, I´ll just follow the scalloped shells. This is the centuries old emblem that has marked the way for the pilgrims.

Comments

[auros]

I can definitely see you on a pilgrimage -- a journey of supplication and transcendance.

[laughingstone.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm not sure about the supplication part. Its religiosity turns me off.

But it looks like the original word is from the Latin supplicare, to implore. I do like that sentiment.

There are a lot of people doing this walk for different reasons. I heard a story about one woman who came with her boyfriend and realized she was a lesbian.

I don´t expect that will happen to me!

There is some deep aspect of imploring to my journey. I´m imploring through play and enjoying the beauty of the adventure as it unfolds. :)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

It sounds wonderful... Good journeying! :)

[laughingstone.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[bluesyncopate.livejournal.com]

The rationale for doing a LOT of things might be summed thus: "But there was a bakery!"

..remembering that moment when carried things become more of a burden than a comfort. Learning to let go... as a lesson it's equally useful inside a (real) backpack or that metaphorical we-live-we-die sort of way. Heavy, man. Like, literally heavy.

I like the word "albergue".

[laughingstone.livejournal.com]

Yes, so true.

When I packed for this trip, I had to pack for two trips, the city experience and the backpacking experience. But I realized, you actually can't do that. Each are completely different experiences. Each has its own requirements.

I think there's something more forming around the idea of adapting to ones environment. For me, releasing the extra stuff and weight feels so good. Feeling unencumbered is very important to me in life. I´m not sure why...

[chrisamaphone]

hey, this is kat's friend chris! i wanted to let you know that i am interesting in hanging out if you're up for it, maybe at a coffee shop this afternoon or sometime on friday.

i don't have a working phone, unfortunately, hence the lj comment. but you can reach me by email: cmartens at andrew.cmu.edu

[laughingstone.livejournal.com]

Chris,

Where do you live? This is my last day in town. I'm staying in the Latin Quarter, next to the Notre Dame. I'd love to meet with you but you you think you can meet me here? I've been walking around everywhere for 2 days and am feeling somewhat tired.

Write me back!
Molly

[chrisamaphone]

sure, i can meet you there! i'm actually planning to go to a meetup.com event at 8pm in that area; i'd be into getting a drink/coffee with you beforehand.

actually i have a phone that *should* work now: +33 06 85 35 20 55

[laughingstone.livejournal.com]

As it turns out, my phone has insufficient minutes, so it's not working. Meeting up beforehand sounds good. Can you email me at sordidsprinkles at geemail dot com and I'll send you my address? There are plenty of places around here.