I was having a bit of a pitty party today. I will be finished with the Camino soon, and well, I still haven't gotten my life figured out yet. Big surprise, eh? I didn't sleep well last night, wondering where I have gone wrong, and why I can't seem to be successful in my love life. I feel like I have had my fair share of heartache, so why again? I was hoping this trip would give me peace from those feelings, but they linger on. Sometimes I get angry at the camino for not giving me peace, and sometimes I get angry at God for not making this journey more spiritual. I go to mass, but alas, I don't speak Spanish well, so it ends up being an exercise of kneeling, sitting, standing, and having no clue why. I guess it would help if I knew anything about the Catholic Church, or if I had ever been to an English speaking mass before. I guess I'm a bit ill prepared. Ok, I agree....this pitty party is not the best party I have ever gone to.

Then something happened. It started raining. Hard. This is the first real rain I have had while hiking the trail. I have plenty of time left to finish this hike, and I could have easily stayed in the town I was in, under a roof, drinking some fresh squeezed OJ, and eating an ice cream bar (a very acceptable afternoon snack. Quit judging). However, this party of mine was going downhill fast. I decided to put my cute new raincoat on, and go out in the rain. I hiked the next 13 km in sloshing wet shoes, and rain dripping off my hood. Helen, Paul, and I hiked near each other, but individually alone, at a fast pace, passing many other soaking wet pilgrims. By the time we got to the Albergue, we were soaked, pruned up everywhere, and I got my first blister. All my kind pilgrim friends got a lot of joy out of my blister since they have been plagued with them and I have had none. I named it "pebbles", because it's the pebbles I didn't want to stop in the rain to get out of my shoe, that created it. We caught up with one of my best pilgrim buds, Kat, who got ahead of us when we took an alternate route. I was very happy to see her! I was also so happy for a hot shower and dry clothes to change into. I was happy! If I had stayed out of the rain, in the town I was in when it started, I probably would have cried my day away. I'm so glad I walked in the rain. You know how when life gives you lemons, you are supposed to make lemonade? Well, I discovered that when life gives you rain, you should make prunes (out of your fingers and toes). I guess the Camino did help me today.

 

A couple days ago, we took an optional detour route that added about 7km to our hike. We stayed at a restored monastery just a bit off the main trail, in Lucío. Because of the detour, adding extra length to the hike, and the fact that this place is also on a different path off the trail, many people pass it up. Me, Paul, and Helen had the entire place to ourselves. It's a beautiful building, clean, and luxurious. What an amazing place to stay, and for only 6 euros! Future pilgrims should make note of this, and not miss it. A lady who lives next door to the monastery with her son, cooked us a lovely meal, family style, in their home. This is one if the best meals, and most memorable experiences I have had on this trip.

We stayed here, so that we could visit one if the oldest and largest monasteries in the western world. We arrived at 8am, had a long breakfast break, and waited to take the first tour at 9am. The Benedictine monastery in Sarria has 14 monks who live there full time. The grounds are beautiful, as well as the endless murals painted in the hallways. Well worth the wait, and the extra 7km walk! We were lucky to have a tour guide who also spoke English

 

 

The camino trail has been most beautiful lately. I hope it stays this way through the end!