Overwhelmed

Yesterday was all about getting from Barcelona to where we were starting the Camino in Roncesvalles, a village in the Pyrenees mountains. I hadn't slept a wink the night before because of dad's snoring - which he refers to as merely "deep breathing" - but which actually sounds like someone doing a bad impression of Darth Vader on a megaphone. 

After traveling since 8:30 a.m. we finally reached the Aubergue at 6 p.m.and got a bunk bed in a room with roughly 100 other people. I foolishly thought I'd be able to go to bed and get some much needed shut-eye around 9pm but nope - the room swarmed with people zipping, buckling and velcro-ing backpacks, people snoring loudly, people slamming doors, flushing toilets, shouting, arguing, and talking on their cell phones, and hanging their laundry on every surface possible. 

As I lay there with a pillow over my head and an earplug stuffed in my non-infected ear, unable to muffle the cacophony, I thought: what have I gotten myself into!?!?! The thought of quitting did enter my mind just then. I recently struggled through 2 intense years of school - maybe I should have gone to Puerta Vallarte and lain on a beach instead of spending lots of euros only to subject myself to masses of smelly humanity and the grueling slog of 20 km a day walking. 

SO.... Just in case you got the impression that this blog is going to be another social media platform full of fake smiles and rainbows... It's not! The Camino is already challenging me pretty intensely and my dad has already asked my mom to pray for him to know how to handle me. Hopefully we can paint a realistic-ish picture here of both the highs and lows (and in-betweens) of this journey. 

Today I woke up (well, more like I was woken-up by volunteers turning on the lights in the dorm singing Alleluia - for reals) and I told dad "I'll give it a week". After walking all day in the rolling mountains and hills of the Spanish Pyrenees, I think I'm back on board with this (slightly crazy) trek. 

We did it!! Our first day on the Camino - Roncesvalles to Zubiri! 21km :D

More impressions of Barcelona

Gaudi's shitter!! For real!

Ok the rest is serious...

Water fountain in the gothic area

Homage to some revolutionary martyrs

Gothic architecture 

Keeping up

Hailey 

has great energy for travel and it is hard for an old gaffer like me to keep up with her. I am usually ten steps behind her as we walk. I feel like a Saudi Arabian wife walking behind her husband!

We visited a house where Gaudi (the famous architect of Sagreda Familia) lived. There was a model of what this magnificent church will look like if they 

ever finish it. They have been working on it for over 100 years! and here is the Hailey-monster about to devour Sagreda Familia:

There was a big demonstration in Barcelona yesterday as Catalonia wants to separate from Spain. It's like Quebec and Scotland. Lots of people wearing Catalonia flags

Barcelona - maravilloso!

Spent the day touring this amazing city with 5 km of beaches, famous artists, Gaudi's Sagreda Familia ( Holy Family) church 

exceptional markets 

cultural districts (Gotihc area)

At first I wasn't too impressed - Lisbon was prettier at first sight, but Barcelona grew and grew on me. It's on the Mediterranean and surrounded by mountains!

Spectacular architecture everywhere! This city has it all!

Lisbon!

Lisbon was gloriously beautiful - the streets made of mosaic bricks - undulating patterns in cream, black and white.

The weather was perfect when we left the airport and explored the old part of the city with its castles and arches near the sea. We enjoyed fresh fruit as we strolled towards the large square beside the sea.

Grandiose monuments and gushing fountains were the centerpiece a of every open space we came upon.

Our visit was very brief as we had to get back to catch our plane to Spain, but Lisbon, I think I'll be back! 

Now we are very tired but we made it to Barcelona!! 

We are hitting the hay early tonight so we can start exploring Barcelona early tomorrow. Our air bnb host is very friendly and he lives right at the point in the city where the old city meets the new. Gaudi's Familia Sagrada is 30 mins on foot. This is the view from my bedroom window: 

Small bumps but on our way....

We're in the Pearson airport ! Now this is feeling real! I have a pretty bad ear infection (I''m chronically prone to them) and Dad had a cold a few days ago, so please pray for our health and that my eardrums don't explode mid-flight! (Half kidding). I almost had an all-out war with Sunlife trying to get travel insurance, and am still not entirely sure I'm covered despite the fact that my plane to Lisbon takes off in 2 hours.  It seems the folks at Sunlife don't like to email insurance info - snail mail only - but can't wrap their heads around the fact that I'm a Quebec resident temporarily residing in Ontario for work.  It seems like almost everyone wants to know where and when I'm settling down or want to skip over the chapters of my life journey to the final chapter where I'm supposed to have a permanent address. This world is not set up for Nomads - just look at how it's (mis)handling the flow of refugees (Harper, I'm looking at YOU!). I guess bumps along the way are just part of the adventure - that's how I'm choosing  trying to look at it ;)

COUNTDOWN

Only 2 days until we are on our way! I am starting to get nervous! I have been listening to a lot of Spanish but not speaking it to another human being. I have a fear that when i do my lips will get all tied up!