Not an Ensalada Mixta

(To explain the title; every pilgrim menu has, either as a choice or a compulsory dish, a mixed salad.  It can be a bit repetitive.  Here it acts a s a metaphor for odds and sods.)

We have already shown you some pictures of funny things we have seen, but here we want to share a few interesting and/or strange things we have seen.

The other day we were happily walking through North West Spain when all of a sudden we were transported to The Shire. 

People told us these are used by the locals to store their wune.  However, as you can see there are a number of chimneys and TV ariels.  Anyway, how could the one little old lady who is the only resident in all these Spanish villages ever drink that amount of wine?!  So -- must be Hobbits -- or returning Pilgrims as apparently one´s feet become very broad and hobbit-like after walking the Camino.

Lots of people say how nice it must be walking with your sister.  I am not sure Charlotte entirely concurs with this sentiment as at every opportunity she makes a new friend.

As you all know we are walking through Spain. A hot country.  You think the weather is unseasonal in the UK but you are not walking here at 7.30 am.  yesterday morning as we set out we saw all around us drooping flowers and frost-rimed leaves. by mid-day we were slappoing on the suntan lotion.

And now a little update on how and where we are.  Have we mentioned the concept of the Tourigrino to you?  These are perigrinos who get all their kit transfered from place to place and dash past us with a bounce in their step carrying miniscule day packs.  Well -- we have sort of, temporarily become tourigrinos.  Yesterday Charlotte´s shinsplints ( they call it tendonitis here) became quite severe and she could barely hobble along.  As the Camino Way always provides, luck would have it that we had hobbled into the only place with a major railway station -- no brainer- we caught the train to Leon today so Charlotte can get three days without any walking and hopefully we can be back on the road on Tuesday.  Unfortunately we are having to stay in the Leon Parador (google it or watch Martin Sheen´s "The Way").  We are quite chilled (that´s the G&T) and philosophical (that´s the hot baths and huge fluffy towels) about this enforced interruption to our pilgrimage.  We amy even have to get Charlotte´s pack transported for a couple of days.  However, given the mega dosage in each tablet purchased in the farmacias here, Charlotte shouldn´t feel the sharp stick I shall be poking her with.

This was us a couple of days ago chilling out ( chilling being the operative word - barely have these fleeces off our backs).

Back soon.  Love to all. Keep commenting; we love to hear from you. xx