Isnochys

15. Juli
26.2 km
9h
5 beer+++

I Have Seen Everything Now…
A, M and O stayed in a garage/shelter last night..in La Laguna. They really look tired!
🙂
SO, let’s move on to Galicia!
(Pictures)
Ines(I) joined us from this day on..later I heared a funny story about her.
When they walked through Ponferrade, they lost her in that city..later that day, O phoned her, where she is(16h in the evening):
„I am still in Ponferrada [30km away] .. I had an appointment for a epilation“
What? On the camino?
No way!
:))

Last time, I had to take those pictures all alone..but not this time!
:))
Up to Galicia
Alto San Roque
Alto do Poio
And here we meet this „International Christ Youth Group“ walking this way, for better international relation- and prayship or shit.
Sure, the walk in groups..every nation seperated..it’s easier for them to talk that way..could have told you this before..:))
#massive fail

So, after 9h, we reached the alberge in Triacastela.
I couldn’t imagine, how I did 10 km more, last time..I was in really good shape at that point..not like today..always last.
But not in the alberges;)
Here, I had one final moment.
An older lady, pilgrim, walked in..with an harp in her luggage.
Yes, harp.
Harp.
As in music instrument, to be played at weddings.
That’s it..I’m done!
Now I can die a good man, having seen absolutely everything.
But that’s not all. A young couple from Houston, Texas, needed for their wedding an Harp.
And this old lady is from .. drumroll.. Houston, Texas.
Awesome!

Some Impressions:
Teddy + Ente in Galicia, Galicia, Way after O Cebreiro, more Camino, more Galicia, Galicia, O Cebreiro, Alto do San Roque, Pilgrims, Love on the Camino, H and G, Up to Galicia, Again Galicia

14. Juli
23.8 km
9h
4 beer+

A, tu es a cabron!
What a morning..what did I do last night?
who..when..where..why..what?
I..Ican’t even begin…I can’t remember..what?
This was one of my hardest mornings.
No..didn’t have an hangover..
No Headaches, nothing..
I was just so tired!
Wherever I had the chance, I tried to get some sleep..
In bars, restaurants, fountains, etc.
But why are you making all those jokes about me?
What did I do yesterday?

But again thanks to Holly, I made it up to La Faba..total exhausted.
And she is making dinner!
Hooray!
On the way, we talked a lot.
And another soul brought to the german side of life
:))
I just love to surprise people, and it is easy as german to impress them;)
Yes, I know some foreign bands..like Beatles:))
Sesamestreet?
Yepp!
Gummiboot?
What?
🙂

The way up to La Faba is really hard..and again, Holly pushed me up.
But here in that alberge there are too many germans..real ones.
Always complaining and shit:
„We are walking the camino like our son last year..but he told us now, he often took the cab..“
„And than, we were in that village, no alberge, just a little room, next to the church, primitive toilet..no showers..and we had to pay 2 euros.
So, we complained..and then the preist took our money, spit into his hands and threw it in front of us onto the floor..“
Awesome!!!
I would have paid, to see such things!
And germans are very noisy..
I don’t like them!
I think, tomorrow, Holly and me, we have to look for better countries on the camino;)

Some Impressions:
Georg and Holly, Danger!Danger! High Voltage!

13. Juli
30.2 km
6-12h
2 beer(++++++)

Veinte Euros!!
There are storys, where you only have two options. You could try to quiet them down..or tell them, that there be legends!
I think, this day is one of those story producing days.
Starting early in Molinaseca, the room was already empty, I walked peacefully to Ponferrada.
Took some pictures there from the castle..and moved on.
At Compostilla, I heard one voice:
„Jorge!!“
A, stayed in Ponferrada and here we meet again. First, we went into the next bar, for „desayuno“, breakfast.
After an oppulent meal, hot chocolate and Cola, back on the Camino, we started talking.
Absolutely hilarious!
Me, „hablo solo un pocito espanol“, and A, „que? no ingles!“
And one of the first things he showed me was his new mobile phone.
for only „veinte euros“
amazing!
:))
His father gave him updates, where good bars were. He works for the renfe, I think;)
So we had to stop everywhere and drink here some and there some.and exchanged stories.
I would have stayed in Cacabelos, but A urged me, to go on.
Up the hills to Villafrance. where we met H.
With more hilarity, A retold our stories, which took a lot longer that time:))
Arrived at the alberge, we were desperately searching for beer.
The place for beer is obviously the marketplace.

So we went there.had a burger and two beer..and were about to leave..
But than we had to entertain guests.
Dropping by, more and more known pilgrims sit with us, drank a beer went on, us still sitting there, more guests, more beer and „ron cola“ which ist „Cuba Libre“ in spain.
from 14h to 20h we sat and drank..
And fast back to the alberge, dinner awaits.
At that point, I was bit drunken.
I can’t remember using the shower, but H and Kim, australia, ensured me the next day..yes, I used the shower..
During dinner, I went down into the cellar, to get some drinks, sure H will tell you another story, but whom to trust?
:))
As you can see from those pictures here, 2h am .. I was really pissed.
Can’t even remember what funny stories I told..and repeated. but that’s not my fault:)

And so the next day awaits with pure horror..

Some Impressions:
Ponferrada, Castle Ponferrada I, Castle Ponferrada II, Castle Ponferrada III, Castle Ponferrada IV, View to Castle, Villafranca, Market with guests, A and guest, crazy pilgrims, Georg and Alvaro, drunken pilgrims, Georg and Alvaro

12. Juli
26.1 km
6.5h
4 beer++

Cruz de Ferro!
But first things first..
Spain is world champion de footboolll.
congracilaciones!
I heard this shocking news this morning..but it was so quiet tonight!
Doesn’t matter, I had to go on.
Up to Cruz de Ferro, and down to Molinaseca.
Going up,up and up, I was talking to myself..complaining about the hard walk..when suddenly 2 voices appeared:
„George, you are getting slower!“
H and Betty, running up the hill, dragging me with them.
And entertaining me all the way up..telling storys, singing, talking and chating..
No, I am so comfortable being a sourpuss..don’t change me.
Ah, Cruz de Ferro. Finaly, I can put the big heavy stone down.

Walking afterwards seems to be easier, I think.
But even then, I had to break up with H.
I realized, she walks to fast..and is vegeterian..this won’t work!
But thanks anyway, H!
Wouldn’t had this much fun on the way.
Downhill, I was alone again.
And go very sentimental..als those nations, together in peace..this sounds like crap..but it isn’t

In the alberge, for the first time on that camino, I stayed in another one, as first time.
Here I met M and A again, he had to move on to Ponferrada, coz here were no ATMs..6km walking for money..that’s hard..
They have met Oscar (O), spanish guy, living in germany .. and working for „1. FC Nürnberg“ ..yes, that german soccer team..

I had dinner together with a british ex cop.
Told some amusing stories, how to catch prostitutes..:))

But nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared me for what expected me tomorrow….

Some Impressions:
Clouds, Flowers, Goats, Cruz de Ferro, Stones, same Stones, more Clouds, Camino, Molinaseca, Bridge, Mountains

11. Juli
20.2 km
5h
2 beer++

World Cup Final!
But important things first.
The way from Astorga up to Rabanal seems to be flourishing for business ideas.
Last time (read my book) Tato and I had this idea of Kebab and Tacos on the Camino.
This time, I got an Idea for a smartphone app for donativos.
You don’t always have spare on the way with you..but always your mobile.
Take a picture of the donativo stand and automatically money will be transfered to given bank account.
Needs some improvements, I know, but nice idea.
The albuerque in Rabanal is maintained by british..elderly people..the kind of persons, I would whisky drink with..
And another famous pilgrim enters the stage:
Holly(H)
Having lost A and M, she’s quite the backup I need.
so this evening, I will watch the final with her.
And Gilberto.
A guy from mexico.
seems to be from Guadelajara.
To be precise: Colima..

Now Way!
Awesome.
Had a really good chat with him during the game, about his hometown..and where I stayed, which clubs I visited, etc.
Then I had some beer
And then some more.
This game doesn’t seem to end.
I am tired.
I go home to the alberge [I have to look up, how to write this word] with H.
It’s so quiet..did they lose? did they win?
No cars on the street..no shouting..I think, they lost the final..
Ok, I go to bed now!

Some Impressions:
Camino, Mountains, Rabanal, Alberge, More Alberge, Socks

10. Juli
32 km
9h
2 beer ++

Totaly exhausted.
Did take the longer route..nearly collapsed on the way. No sports is no good on the camino.
Actually I would have stopped in San Justo de la Vega. But here I met A again(picture). And Marie(M).
So drunk some beer with them and walked on to Astorga.
Here were a lot of empty beds. Last time, it was so full.
Today is Germany against Urugay.
„Schlaaand“
Which is the correct pronunciation of „Germany“.
Some spanish guys were shouting for urugay, when they realized, that I am german.
Funny.

Drinking alcohol definitely helps to ease the pain..
and building up good companionship.
I start to think in english again.
It’s hard to say something in german and not sound silly.

Some Impressions:
Crazy Pilgrims, Puente de Orbigo, Camino, More Camino, Even more Camino, San Justo de la Vega + Astorga, Chocolate Museum(?) Astorga, Palais, Cathedral, Palais, Cathedral, Cathedral during night

9. Juli
21,7 km
4h
1 beer ++

I Am Back!
What a glorious feeling.
My first day of my second Camino.
And my first beer on the Caminno.
Nothing has changed. Within my first steps..the pain was back.
Pain everywhere in my feet.
My head is empty.
But beat the time from last Camino, 1 hour short.
What a joyride..but I don’t think, I am able, to keep up that speed.. have to walk slower.
And now..Mahou .. a good beer, drinkable. But what isn’t after such a walk?
Only 1 beer for me, this has to be enough.

This time I am not alone in the room.
[This is, where Alvaro(A) enters the stage]
You can hear here the clattering of the storks.
On the way, under a bridge, there was a graffiti:
„Warum liegt hier eigentlich Stroh?“
[try to google it, if you don’t get it;)]
Last time, I discovered here, that oil is deadly for flies.. but here are so many flies..I don’t think, they used this recipe.
My spanish has to be improved..those spanish people don’t speak any english..couldn’t remember having difficulties the last time..

Here are some impressions:
Cathedral in Leon, Shadow, Way to Villar de Mazarife, Storks, More Storks, View east