St. James Way

53rd Hiking Day

On the way from Astorga to perhaps Foncebadón. The landscape is getting more interesting again. Hills and vast forest areas determine the picture. This morning in Astorga I smoked a cigarette alone in front of the hostel and admired the bronze pilgrim with his suitcase. BTW: met Chester this morning. Had to leave the hostel for three hours and wants to check in again at 11 am. Shall I tell you something? Let's just all be happy. Seek and you shall find. I have no control whatsoever. But I haven't felt like that yet. Just be a good guy. By the way, I wasn't in the Gaudi Museum but I tasted some vermouth and Tapas with Adriana and Monica. Who would have thought? I felt really comfortable. I was given so much and I am grateful for the day. In the evening we had to cook pasta and chicken under high pressure. Kitchen closed at 10 p.m. Started eating at 9:30 p.m. Will I ever see my bottle of wine again?

And as luck would have it, I stopped in Santa Catalina de Somoza in the same bar where I occupied the Albergue last time. Though in terms of importance almost unworthy to write it down here.

And it's all for me grog, me jolly jolly grog. All for me beer and tobacco [All for me Grog - Dubliners]. You may not be able to solve the great mysteries of life with this song, but a good song it definitely is.

Be content with what you have. You were given a vermouth today, you have cigarettes, you can buy beer, you have time and enough money to walk the Camino. I'm sad because everyone else is in the other Albergue and is cooking together. But that seems to be an important lesson for today. Be sad if you want to. But have faith in God and just let go. You can't capture anyone, you can't force anything and you will never be completely alone. Just let go.