111 Kilometers Later...

My parents and I, and the rest of our tour group made it to Santiago de Compostela today! Here is a photo of us with our Compostela Certificates... 

I still have to update my blog on the last three incredible days of my Camino pilgrimage, but that will have to wait until tomorrow, as I am very very tired and in need of a long shower and some fútbol-watchin time. 

My week walking The Way of St. James: days 1 and 2

Day 1 of my El Camino pilgrimage began with the group leaving the small town of Sarria after having a light breakfast. When we began our walk, it was cloudy and a little rainy. I was so glad to have remembered to pack a pair of leggings and a light rain jacket/windbreaker. It has really come in handy. It was not a very hot day, which we were grateful for, but the sun came out later on and the breeze kept the temperature comfortable. 

We walked 23 kilometers total, and we went through many different types of terrain, including woodlands, rocky paths, cobblestones, and dirt roads. The path led us uphill, downhill, near streams, along roads, and across bridges. Every moment was an adventure and every twist in the path brought a brand new view. 

Above is the Kilometer marker where we began our pilgrimage. Each kilometer that we passed, counted down. Eventually, we will get to Santiago de Compostela!

The scenery was really beautiful this day. There was always something lovely to look at. The path that we were on was almost always along an ancient-looking, layered stone border hedge... does that make sense? 

Where we walked, it was also very green and lush. It reminded me a lot of Ireland and Scotland. The path was also surrounded by beautiful wildflowers. 

We stopped at a few places along the way, just to grab a snack, rest our feet, and use the restroom. My family and I had packed some snacks to carry with us, but we did not need them today because there were plenty of places to stop at. 

In order to keep pilgrims on the right trail, the path is marked with yellow arrows and scallop shells, which decorate markers and signs. The scallop shell is a symbol of El Camino, since the ridges on the shell all end in one place, just as all the different routes of the pilgrimage end in Santiago de Compostela. Each pilgrim carries a scallop shell with them while they walk. Mine hangs off the back of my backpack. 

We ended our day by crossing the bridge over the reservoir and heading into Portomarin. This little town greeted us with a long stair climb to get to our hotel. We were so relieved to be in town, and we rewarded ourselves with long showers and a nice dinner of lamb and potatoes.

Day 2:

We woke up this morning and had a very European breakfast of bread, brie cheese, jam, and fresh squeezed orange juice. We then headed out into the fog and left Portomarin behind. Today's walk was about 21 km and we ended up in Palas de Rei. 

It was a bit warmer today than yesterday, but I started out wearing my jacket and leggings. I later changed into shorts and was very glad to have brought my hat and some sunscreen. We had our backs to the sun the entire day, so I was also glad to have packed a bandana to tie around my neck to keep the sun off of it. I felt like a Boy Scout.

Today's trek was much different from yesterday's, which really surprised me. It was still beautiful, but we passed through many small, industrial towns and the path was very hilly. We also spent a lot of time walking on and along somewhat busy roads, as seen below:

We were able to start out a bit earlier than our first day, which meant that we were around a lot more people during our walk. We were able to make some new friends from all over the world: Australia, the US, Switzerland, Germany, and parts of Spain. It is just incredible how El Camino brings all different kinds of people together. 

When walking or biking along The Way, pilgrims greet each other by saying "buen Camino," which means "have a good walk," or "blessed walk." It is a wish that everything goes well for each pilgrim while on the Camino. 

With my feet very dusty and silly keen tan-lines, I ended the day really looking forward to a shower.

Transit, touchdown, and my first day in Spain

Well, after being in continuous transit for essentially 48 hours, and transferring through four different airports and long plane rides, my parents and I finally made it to the Santiago de Compostela airport this afternoon, Spanish time. We settled into the familiar, and homey European ways that I have been missing; yes, I have even missed the perpetually smokey smell of the streets that never really washes out of clothes, lungs, or memories.
We decided to have a snack at the airport, before taking a taxi to meet up with our El Camino tour group:

Above is a slice of "torta de Santiago" which is a cake made of almonds. It is a specialty in this area and it was delicious! We also had some yogurt, which came in tiny glass jars.
Here are some photos of our few minutes of exploring Santiago de Compostela from on top of a hill:

We took an hour and a half long taxi ride to Sarria, which is where we will be beginning our 100 kilometer walk. Our first day on the pilgrimage is tomorrow! I am both excited and nervous. The drive from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria really showed me just how long we will be walking in the next five days. 

Sarria was a lovely little town with very few people in it. We explored just a little bit and had a great fish dinner all together. It was important for us to get back to our hotel early in order to rest up for the long and challenging day that we are sure to have tomorrow! On top of walking around 15 kilometers, we will be battling severe jet lag!

Wish me luck!

Preppin' for Spain

Packing for this two-month long trip is a bit tricky... I am bringing one medium sized suitcase, a backpack, and my medium-sized purse. 

I am about to be very honest right now: I am a chronic overpacker. When I went to study abroad in London for three months last year, I brought one huge suitcase, a carry-on bag, a backpack and a purse; mind you, it was winter, so I had boots and scarves and coats. 

This time, I have tried to really limit myself on what I am packing for this, essentially, two-in-one trip. For the first half of my time abroad, I will be doing a lot of moving around, and for the second half, I will be staying in one city, for the most part. Not to mention that the entire first week will be devoted to hiking 100 kilometers in the summer heat. 

Here are some of the things that I am packing for El Camino: 

 

I have a great backpack that I bought from L.L.Bean, which I will be using as both a daypack for El Camino and a school/travel backpack for the rest of the trip. It is super light and sits comfortably. Pilgrims who do the "real" version of El Camino carry their entire lives on their backs for however many months they are hiking, but since we are going with a tour, there is a bus who will be carrying our suitcases and my family and I only need to take what we want on us for the day (thank God). Perhaps, in the future I will do the entire El Camino pilgrimage, since next week will be just a taste of it.

I invested in a great pair of keen hiking sandals. They are so comfortable! Unfortunately, I could only fit into the kid sizes (I wear a size 5), so I went for a classic brown color, as opposed to the teal women's sandals that I had originally wanted.

I am bringing a total of two pairs of running shorts that I will be wearing while hiking, since they are my favorites and are super comfortable and easy to wash. I am also packing four non-cotton shirts for hiking in. Three are short sleeved v-necks, and one is a tank top. I know that sunburn is basically inevitable, but I can at least try to keep it off my shoulders for as long as possible, since there is where I burn the most. 

I will also be able to use these clothes after El Camino, which is really great. 

A few other things that I am taking for my time on El Camino are a water bottle, bandanas, a hat, and sunblock.

Now, for the rest of the trip, I wanted to pack clothes that were flexible, easy to pair with each other, and light since it gets so hot in southern Spain. 

I have noticed that I own a whole lot of navy blue, gray, and creme colored articles of clothing, so I stuck to that color scheme. I will be able to add a few pops of color to my outfits with jewelry and a few pairs of colorful shorts. Essentially, my entire wardrobe (for the trip) can be mixed and matched to create a whole bunch of looks. Hopefully, it won't look like I am wearing the exact same outfit in every one of my photos. 

I am bringing along my trusty thrift shop purchased purse, which fits all the necessities in it, looks classic, and is rather hard for thieves to pry open, since I sometimes have trouble opening it myself. 

Very recently, I was able to purchase something that I have wanted for a very long time: a Panama Hat! Mine is from J Crew and it is the "natural" color.

Theodore Roosevelt made the "Panama Hat" cool when he wore it while checking out the Panama Canal. My good friend, Ernest Hemingway also wore this style hat on his big game hunting trips to Africa. And now, my name can be added to the list of people who made the Panama Hat awesome.

In addition to the above stated objects, I am taking a journal (which is an absolute MUST for anyone going on the trip of a lifetime YA HEAR?), some notebooks and normal books for schoolwork and project notes, one swimsuit, one pair of jeans, one windbreaker/rain jacket, one sweater, two little cover up sweater things, pjs, two belts, techy essentials, batteries, four pairs of shoes, and cosmetics.
Learning from my past travel mistakes, I am also taking a locker lock (cause ya never know), a hand mirror (for perpetually poor lighting in hostels, hotels, and accommodations), a jackknife (tucked away in my checked bag while flying), and an extra camera card.

I am not 100% done packing, but I am working little by little and hoping that I do not forget anything. I know that the next two days are going to be very long and full of moving around, but I love traveling and I cannot wait to get to España.

“In order to write about life first you must live it.”- Ernest Hemingway

10 Things I've learned from my Summer job

  

Yes, I know, this photo has nothing to do with summer jobs, as I am not a farmer... This is a great looking head of cauliflower though, isn't it? 

     The summer after my freshman year of university, I applied to possibly a million local places, just to find a job to fill the three month-long void of school until mid- August. I had turned 18 just before my freshman semester began, which increased the number of places to which I could apply to (I had a very hard time finding any kind of job before I turned 18). I eventually heard back from the huge clothing retail store that I have now worked at for the past three summers. 

     When I first began working, I was always nervous to deal with both customers and new co-workers. There was also a lot of new skills and lingo that I had to pick up quickly, as well as the knowledge of EXACTLY WHERE EVERY ITEM OF CLOTHING WAS PLACED IN THE ENTIRE STORE, since customers expect sales associates to be able to pinpoint the specific pair of high-waisted shorts that they had seen in another one of the chain's stores, two weeks ago. Have I mentioned that my store is the size of a department store, and that people of all ages flock to it, since it sells a wide variety of clothes for cheap prices?

Well, without further ado, here are 10 things that I have learned from my summer retail job:

1. There are some very very rude people on this Earth who will find you, even when you are hiding in the most desolate part of the store. The will not smile, they will not ask nicely, and they will not say "thank you."

2. Sometimes you have to put on a smile and be very very nice and very very patient with these very very rude people. Just remember that you are being paid to do so. 

3. I now appreciate the art of a good fold (SANS folding board, thank you very much). 

4. Customers seem to go out of their ways to mess up tables that you have just immaculately folded, and knock all hanging clothes to the ground as they pass by... it is really a sight to behold. This is my mandala. 

5. Life really is just one big game of memory... whether it is remembering exactly where that light pink maxi-skirt is hiding since it is the last one in the store and a thirteen year old is in dire need of it, to remembering who exactly asked you to find the technicolor dream harem pants.

6. Do not mix work and gossip... It will never end well. 

7. Keep calm and carry on even if it is Saturday afternoon, and you are the only one working in the fitting room (doing a three-person job) and a large group of middle-school girls just walked in, each carrying bags heaped with bright clothes and all you can whisper is "six at a time" with eyes like a deer in the headlights. 

8. Every shift that is worked is equivalent to a certain amount of money and the amount of money that I make in a hectic eight hour shift, can be gone in just one 30 minute trip to the grocery store... or on a pair of socks from Anthropologie. 

9. I do not make enough money to live on at this job, and luckily, I do not pay rent, I am not supporting a family, and I do not need to take on another job... but the fact is that some people do. When I am finished working an 8 hour shift, I go home and rest; I put my feet up and watch some Netflix... but I know that some of my co-workers who I spent my last shift with will have to go to their other jobs in just a few hours. I have a lot of respect for them. 

10. This is not my career... I will do not have to do this for the rest of my life, and I am so thankful for that.   

     Although I am not overly fond of my job, I am very glad to have had the opportunity to work with people at a retail job. It has been a very humbling experience... I am paid to be at the service of other people who usually do not appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into maintaining the layout and cleanliness of the store. It has taught me a lot about the human race, and I have also learned a lot about myself (and made some spending money while at it). I now know what it means to work hard, and the value of each hour of work that I do. This job has given me a taste of the real world, and I honestly think that every person should experience working a summer job whether in retail, food industries, or stock. 

“Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.”- Buddha

More adventures await

     I have been done with my junior year of university for a few weeks now. I'm back in my hometown, but not for long because I will soon be embarking on a new and much needed adventure to.........

SPAIN

     After a stressful semester which included the complication of a badly sprained ankle, coming home and jumping right in to working my retail job, as well as beginning research for my senior projects, and handling some major changes in my life, I'm just about ready to swim across the Atlantic Ocean, just for the change of scenery and the rush that I get from exploring new places. 

    I have to wait just a few weeks now, and I am just keeping my eyes on the prize. I will be visiting and touring a bunch of cities in Spain, a few places in Portugal and I am very excited to be making a daytrip to Morocco. Then, I will be able to say that I have been to Africa! After touring these places, I will be studying abroad for a month in Madrid, the capital of Spain. The summer semester will help me knock out the final few requirements for my Spanish major and I am hoping that I will gain some confidence with my Spanish skills. I have known how to speak Spanish for my entire life, and I understand basically everything that is said to me, but I have always been shy with using my Spanish with native speakers. I will have to get used to the Spanish (from Spain) accent, because I know that it is different from Latin-American Spanish, which is what I have grown up with. 

     In Spain, there the z sounds more like a "th" and I know that there are other colloquialisms that I will have to learn. My Spanish professor will be giving us quizzes on these, so I have to start studying and practicing them. I will be sure to pack some index cards for scholarly attempts.

     But let's get back to the fun part!

     My parents and I will be taking part in an abbreviated version of El Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James. We will be walking about one hundred kilometers (or around sixty miles) in five days. The entire pilgrimage is about six hundred kilometers and takes a few months to complete. One of the most popular routes begins in the Pyrenees Mountains in France. The trail goes all along the North of Spain to the city of Santiago, where St. James is buried. Each pilgrim's Camino ends at the Church in the center of town. 

     Now, normally, pilgrims bring all that they will be needing for their trips in backpacks that they carry with them, and they also stay in hostels, or refugios along the way... my parents and I will not be doing this (but maybe in the future I will go back to do el Camino in its totality).

     I had begun to prepare for this trip during last semester... I was determined, dedicated to going to the gym and working out, and I was in great shape however, I sprained my ankle while bouldering, which set me back a lot. I was on crutches for a few weeks, and even a month and a half later, my ankle is still weak. I am really hoping that I will make it through the one hundred kilometers that we will be walking.   

Here are some photos of me bouldering... moments before I jumped down and landed badly on my ankle... I still had a great time with friends, regardless of a busted ankle!

 

     I will be updating this blog a lot more often, now that I have something to blog about! Have you ever done anything like El Camino? Do you have any tips for me?

Feel free to follow to keep up with me on my trip and for more information on my travels.

If you would like to learn more about El Camino de Santiago, click here.

A night on the Potomac

  

Earlier this week, while visiting family in Washington, D.C. I was able to take a nighttime cruise down the Potomac River. It was one of the first truly warm days that I have experienced this year and I greeted the glowing sunset and cool dusk breeze with a smile. It felt like a perfect summer night, especially since I was wearing my summer-night uniform of shorts and a comfy sweater. 

For whatever reason, as I leaned over the bannister that separated me from the dark, murky river water, I was hit with the somber and foreboding feeling that goes with the question, 

"what the heck am I going to do with my life?"

Isn't it just the strangest thing when that question corners you in broad daylight (or dusklight)? I was just minding my own business here, watching the cherry blossoms and memorials on the bank pass me by, when all of a sudden I am thrown into the depths of the unknown.

 

I know I've covered this topic in a previous post... but this is really a huge deal... I graduate in just about a year and I am getting nervous about the future here people and there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to wait it out and make a path to my dreams. 

Prior to entering university, I had accepted that graduate school would automatically be my choice after undergrad... I mean, it just makes sense. 

 However, while enjoying the breeze and the sunset on the River, I was confronted with the realization that I could never see myself spending the rest of my life sitting at a desk everyday (especially if that desk is in a cubicle, or faces a wall without a window). 

I do not think that a life like that would be fulfilling for me.

I'm itching for a new adventure.

I never considered anything like "taking a year off" or taking some time to travel, but at the moment, this path seems very attractive.

But what if I could make that my job? It is possible, isn't it?

What if I truly lived an adventurous life, and every day was full of something new and out of the ordinary?

I think that I could make a future out of meeting new people, going new places and taking in new experiences... What a wonderful life that would be! 

Ideally, my job description would be a mix of photojournalist, storyteller, foodie, renegade, world traveler, biographer and/or explorer.

Right now, my focus is on getting through the rest of this semester, but that sunset on the Potomac really has me thinking of the possibilities of the future and all that can come from them.