1) The view and "sunshine"
2) The history
3) My shoes

General interest note-
What a country!!!!!!!! Matt (that's my son) asked me "what's the view like?
Wheat fields and already harvested wheat, hills, more hills, no flowers (it's October, not May), and mountains to the north!!!!! I haven't seen leaves, but walked through my first forest today (sunday). And, about every 5 or 10 miles I walk into a town/village/pueblo. I am not here for sightseeing, but there is some opportunity in each town to see the church. All my new friends seem to have either gone ahead of me or finished their trip. Most of the last few days I am walking alone, with intermittent interaction with pilgrims on the path. My sightseeing on this trip is focused on my heart and my soul, and occasionally the hearts of others.

What a country, still!!!! Today we saw the first frost, and after the clocks turned back--- Tomorrow I will arrive in the largest city so far, Burgos. There I will buy GLOVES, although my extra pair of socks have worked just great in the early morning before it warms up.

We started walking yesterday after spending the night in Granon on the church attic floor. After dinner, which was prepared by the couple who volunteered to be "innkeepers" of the church for 2 weeks, we went into the church through the upper entrance, and there I heard my first songs of the trip, one in Spanish and one in French. They were peregrino (pilgrim) songs, or prayers, "Ultreia" and "Sur de pereginos". Songs, softly sung, in a these languages in an empty 450 year old church were beautiful.

Next morning, with a very grey sky and cold air, I started my walk with Anapie (the youngest) and Theirry-- and we practiced singing the songs--

After 30 minutes they thought in unfair to sing french and spanish without an English language song. They asked for me to teach them one, which I did. Again, cold and grey, I chose John Denver's "Sunshine on my Shoulders"!!!!! Pretty corny, but simple to sing with absolutely beautiful themes--!!!! And JD sings it very well--- and TODAY--- GUESS WHAT?--- it was SPECTACULAR (after the frost subsided). Sunshine all day. I saw Anapia and Thierry at the end of the day and sang it again!!!! They learned it well, and enjoyed the message followed by the actual weather.

2) History lesson-
WHAT A COUNTRY!!!!!! Did you know?
Ok, short history lesson on Spain-

When did the million people die in Spain for freedom??
Oh, only 70 years ago (1936-1939)!!!!! Not the 15th century!!! And then they endured nearly 40 years of dictatorship before the King, Juan Carlos, fulfilled his father's exiled desire to introduce democracy to Spain.

The Spanish civil was glorified in my history class, something the Spanish barely acknowledge due to its pain.

Franco-- 1939- took over Madrid, and ruled until "Saturday Night Live" officiallyl declared him dead- for one whole season in 1975 and occasionally for seasons beyond-- it was a good line on the show "Gen Franco is now, officially, dead!!!

And now, 30yrs + after, they have wiped the memory of Franco and those years from their history!! And Spain has a dynamic economy-- oh, and they survived a Coup D'etat in 1981 because King Juan Carlos didn't back down from the democratic ideals he embraced in 1975 (he made a choice!!).

Okay, so that's my short history. Spain is a very young democracy, and Juan Carlos is a decendant of King Louis XIV (ala French Revolution King!!)

3)
Okay, back to my walk-
I am sporting New Balance 816s, the all black version, on most days (I've already reviewed the sizes for you). They are great--- and I also am wearing my Teva sandals, except they can be a pain with the rocks getting under my feet. My feet, to date, are doing well. Anything can happen, and I have seen a few pilrgrims suffering some sever pain issues, which will effect their ability to finish the walk--
My only problem is end of day feet pad pain (normal), and middle of day on muscle pain in one muscle, above the inside left side of my right kneez. It's like a vicegrip grabs and squeezes it. Hope it doesn't stay with me.

4). Forgiveness-

Okay, have to continue this one--
So much to say on my thoughts that I came into on this it will be a separate note

Peace
TT
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T