In my previous post, I mentioned the movie and Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen made about the camino.
Here is the website for the movie. You can watch the trailer there. It looks fantastic.
http://www.theway-themovie.com/
There was also a documentary made about the camino. Watch the trailer here.
http://www.caminodocumentary.org/homeTrailerHi.jsp
Buen Camino
Carrie
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Holding Pattern
The journey IS the destination - some random thoughtful (probably) dead person
So now that we've taken all of these steps, there is a slight feeling of let-down. The only thing left to do, is wait. Sure I'm still going to the Y, I'm still working out, but I feel like that's the only thing I can do.
I've done all the research that I need (and then some), We've purchased our plane tickets, we've gotten gear, now it's just wait time. Sure we do have a couple of decisions left to make (which train to take out of Paris, how to get to Madrid [flying is only 10$ more than taking the train]) But otherwise there is nothing left for me to do, just wait.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still super excited out going, I just wish it was here already! Not 82 days from now.
I found this fantastic website, that has pictures from every stage of the camino, from St Jean Pied de Port, to Santiago de Compostela. Which has both increased and decreased this hate of waiting. Decreased, because it kind of satisfied my camino hunger, and increased because it made me want more, to actually BE where these pictures were taken (though with out the snow please, thanks) Check it out.
But this site did give me an idea. In addition to this blog, I'd like to post some pictures from the road, so that you (the readers) will be able to see what we've seen, and you'll have photographic evidence that we are in fact still alive. When I get that set-up, I'll let you know.
And one last thing before I go, Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez are making a movie about the camino, I don't know when or where they are filming, but I might get to meet the mighty duck man, and when I do, I'll yell to him from across the plaza EMILIO! EMILIO!
So now that we've taken all of these steps, there is a slight feeling of let-down. The only thing left to do, is wait. Sure I'm still going to the Y, I'm still working out, but I feel like that's the only thing I can do.
I've done all the research that I need (and then some), We've purchased our plane tickets, we've gotten gear, now it's just wait time. Sure we do have a couple of decisions left to make (which train to take out of Paris, how to get to Madrid [flying is only 10$ more than taking the train]) But otherwise there is nothing left for me to do, just wait.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still super excited out going, I just wish it was here already! Not 82 days from now.
I found this fantastic website, that has pictures from every stage of the camino, from St Jean Pied de Port, to Santiago de Compostela. Which has both increased and decreased this hate of waiting. Decreased, because it kind of satisfied my camino hunger, and increased because it made me want more, to actually BE where these pictures were taken (though with out the snow please, thanks) Check it out.
But this site did give me an idea. In addition to this blog, I'd like to post some pictures from the road, so that you (the readers) will be able to see what we've seen, and you'll have photographic evidence that we are in fact still alive. When I get that set-up, I'll let you know.
And one last thing before I go, Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez are making a movie about the camino, I don't know when or where they are filming, but I might get to meet the mighty duck man, and when I do, I'll yell to him from across the plaza EMILIO! EMILIO!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Surreal
I can't quite grasp the fact that Catalinda and I are seriously going to be walking across Spain in less than 3 months. I keep thinking that it's going to feel "real" every time we check off a task on our "to do" list.
1. Decide we're really going to do it. (How weird is that?? We had talked about it for years. Carrie says to me one day, "Let's just DO it! When do you want to go?" El Camino actually begins the moment you decide you're going to do it, which is an incredibly comforting thought to me.)
2. Begin research. (Carrie and I took awhile to get into the swing of "research." Admitedly, Carrie became the hard core researcher. She has been absolutely amazing! I am completely lucky that she took on the role of "head researcher" and ran with it! Without her, I may have ended up in Spain wandering around for a couple of months. Let's face it, I could've ended up in Turkey wandering around for a couple of months.)
3. Start training. (I started walking more, started going to the gym more often, parked my car farther from the building, etc. I've had my setbacks. I've landed myself in Physical Therapy twice this school year. Sheesh.)
4. Buy the tickets. (Holy crap. That was a huge step in making things feel "real.")
5. Begin buying gear. (Carrie wasn't kidding about how friendly the staff at REI was! They seriously spent hours with us and never once were annoyed by our questions or how long we spent trying things on and picking things out.)
6. .... Continue to get in better shape.
7. .... Have a few panic attacks.
8. .... Daydream constantly about the places we'll be and the people we'll meet.
9. .... Try to hang in there until the end of the school year!!
It still doesn't quite seem real. I'm wondering if it will feel real while we're physically walking under the glorious Spanish sun.
1. Decide we're really going to do it. (How weird is that?? We had talked about it for years. Carrie says to me one day, "Let's just DO it! When do you want to go?" El Camino actually begins the moment you decide you're going to do it, which is an incredibly comforting thought to me.)
2. Begin research. (Carrie and I took awhile to get into the swing of "research." Admitedly, Carrie became the hard core researcher. She has been absolutely amazing! I am completely lucky that she took on the role of "head researcher" and ran with it! Without her, I may have ended up in Spain wandering around for a couple of months. Let's face it, I could've ended up in Turkey wandering around for a couple of months.)
3. Start training. (I started walking more, started going to the gym more often, parked my car farther from the building, etc. I've had my setbacks. I've landed myself in Physical Therapy twice this school year. Sheesh.)
4. Buy the tickets. (Holy crap. That was a huge step in making things feel "real.")
5. Begin buying gear. (Carrie wasn't kidding about how friendly the staff at REI was! They seriously spent hours with us and never once were annoyed by our questions or how long we spent trying things on and picking things out.)
6. .... Continue to get in better shape.
7. .... Have a few panic attacks.
8. .... Daydream constantly about the places we'll be and the people we'll meet.
9. .... Try to hang in there until the end of the school year!!
It still doesn't quite seem real. I'm wondering if it will feel real while we're physically walking under the glorious Spanish sun.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Supplies, supplies everywhere!
Well yet another step has been taken on this wonderful Camino journey.
Sarah and I took a road trip down to REI in the cities. I brought my tax return with me, and I even brought some of it back home! I know shocking!
REI is a huge camping/outdoors store. Our first stop was the camping department to buy backpacks. A good backpack that fits you well is 1 of the 2 most essential items you can bring with you on the camino (the other is boots, but I'll get to that later.) Sarah and I were helped by a wonderful man named Christopher. He stayed with us for over an hour and a half, helping us try on packs, suggesting another if we didn't like that one, or if it didn't fit. He never got frustrated with us, and was super knowledgeable. I did not leave with a pack, as the one I wanted was not in stock, so I had to order it. I got a Gregory Jade 35 Litre pack. And of course because it is MY bag, it's a lovely shade of teal.
Then Christopher helped me find a pair of hiking poles (Leki Ultralite) and helped Sarah find an ultra light sleeping bag, cause girl would get cold on the Equator in July...and sleeping mats, though I told him which kind I had basically decided on (Big Agnes sleeping mat) and he agreed with my decision.
Now on to the second most important piece of equipment you have, your boots. Well I (for some god only knows reason) tried 2 different Women's shoes, and they were too small, and too narrow, so I went to the Men's department, where I should have taken my giant feet in the first place. I tried on 6 different pairs of boots until I actually found one my size, apparently I wear a Men's size 10.5 Wide (I normally wear a women's 11 wide) I finally settled on a pair of La Sportiva boots, that fit like a glove, and actually aren't hideous looking. Then I decided that I wanted a pair of hiking sandals as well, because well, I don't want to wear my boots ALL the time, plus on those really flat meseta days (the meseta is the plain in Spain, where if you believe Audrey Hepburn, it rains) it might be nice to wear some sandals instead of boots. I tried both Chaco and Teva sandals, and settled on the Chacos. Even though they're men's sandals, they're kind of cute, and they're even my color. Again even though I spent over an hour trying on shoe after shoe after shoe, the sales guy never got annoyed or snippy, he just kept helping me and giving me helpful suggestions.
Well by this point Sarah and I had been at REI for over 2.5 hours, and we were hungry! So as if happens, there was a Chipotle right across 494 from the REI store. I was in heaven. Steak Burrito YUM!
Then it was back to REI to check out their clothing selection, which wasn't great because they are just starting to get their summer stuff in, so we will be making another REI trip sometime in May.
I can't wait until we leave only 90 days and 19 hours until our flight leaves.
Well if you actually made it to the end of this long boring post, I'm sorry. This was more informative than witty. I can't be witty all the time! Geez!
Buen Camino!
Carrie
PS I tried to include links so they you guys could see all the stuff I was refering to, but for some reason blogger won't show my links, stupid blogger.
PPS So it wasn't stupid blogger, it was stupid Carrie. I figured out what I was doing wrong, and it's better now, with links to all my stuff!
Sarah and I took a road trip down to REI in the cities. I brought my tax return with me, and I even brought some of it back home! I know shocking!
REI is a huge camping/outdoors store. Our first stop was the camping department to buy backpacks. A good backpack that fits you well is 1 of the 2 most essential items you can bring with you on the camino (the other is boots, but I'll get to that later.) Sarah and I were helped by a wonderful man named Christopher. He stayed with us for over an hour and a half, helping us try on packs, suggesting another if we didn't like that one, or if it didn't fit. He never got frustrated with us, and was super knowledgeable. I did not leave with a pack, as the one I wanted was not in stock, so I had to order it. I got a Gregory Jade 35 Litre pack. And of course because it is MY bag, it's a lovely shade of teal.
Then Christopher helped me find a pair of hiking poles (Leki Ultralite) and helped Sarah find an ultra light sleeping bag, cause girl would get cold on the Equator in July...and sleeping mats, though I told him which kind I had basically decided on (Big Agnes sleeping mat) and he agreed with my decision.
Now on to the second most important piece of equipment you have, your boots. Well I (for some god only knows reason) tried 2 different Women's shoes, and they were too small, and too narrow, so I went to the Men's department, where I should have taken my giant feet in the first place. I tried on 6 different pairs of boots until I actually found one my size, apparently I wear a Men's size 10.5 Wide (I normally wear a women's 11 wide) I finally settled on a pair of La Sportiva boots, that fit like a glove, and actually aren't hideous looking. Then I decided that I wanted a pair of hiking sandals as well, because well, I don't want to wear my boots ALL the time, plus on those really flat meseta days (the meseta is the plain in Spain, where if you believe Audrey Hepburn, it rains) it might be nice to wear some sandals instead of boots. I tried both Chaco and Teva sandals, and settled on the Chacos. Even though they're men's sandals, they're kind of cute, and they're even my color. Again even though I spent over an hour trying on shoe after shoe after shoe, the sales guy never got annoyed or snippy, he just kept helping me and giving me helpful suggestions.
Well by this point Sarah and I had been at REI for over 2.5 hours, and we were hungry! So as if happens, there was a Chipotle right across 494 from the REI store. I was in heaven. Steak Burrito YUM!
Then it was back to REI to check out their clothing selection, which wasn't great because they are just starting to get their summer stuff in, so we will be making another REI trip sometime in May.
I can't wait until we leave only 90 days and 19 hours until our flight leaves.
Well if you actually made it to the end of this long boring post, I'm sorry. This was more informative than witty. I can't be witty all the time! Geez!
Buen Camino!
Carrie
PS I tried to include links so they you guys could see all the stuff I was refering to, but for some reason blogger won't show my links, stupid blogger.
PPS So it wasn't stupid blogger, it was stupid Carrie. I figured out what I was doing wrong, and it's better now, with links to all my stuff!
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