I'm staying in Griffendor tonight

1) The attic
2) food/ saturday night live
3) stories
4) Answers to that song/artist quiz

1)
It seems like that, but its an attic of a beautiful church in Granon-- The host is preparing a community dinner for the 9 of us here, and we will all sleep in an open loft attic above the church. It's right out of the Harry Potter movie, but it's the Iglesia de San Juan Baptiste, about 800 years old. It's a muggle village now, so no magic EXCEPT for the PILGRIMS YOU MEET!!!

2)
Okay, so I've adjusted to my new daytime diet. Dinners are great, as the restaurants have perigrinos menu's that are 3 course meals (pasta, meat and desert). Lunch/breakfast are a different matter.

Remember Saturday Night Live- Dan Akroyd/John Belushi era--

Well, here's my version--

Breakfast-
Ola, I'd llike egg whites with some fruit, yogurt and granola

Jamon (ham), de pain (more bread than you can eat in a day), and cafe!!

He/she repeats-
Jamon, de pain, cafe!!!!!
Si, I say, I just have the ham on bread!

Chee burgr chee brgr chee brgr chips- coke, no pepsi!!!!!!!!!!

Lunch-

Jamon!!! Jamon!!!! Jamon!!! Coke, no pepsi!!!

So I go in looking for a salad or something lunchlike and I walk out with a ham sandwich!!!

Chee burger chee burger chee burger chips!!!

3)
Stories;

Simona, from italy (28 yrs old)-
First italian I've met. She's here in the church attic tonight.

TT-Why are doing the camino for the 2nd time in a year? (Last oct-nov as well).

Simona- Because i had the camino shell in my car and as far as Simona's concerned it saved her life--
So this is her way of saying thanks to St James for protecting her and allowing her to survive a horrible car accident!!

The Scallop Shell is the symbol for the Camino de Santiago and for St James, and everyone carries one on their backpack/somewhere. Simona just happened to have one in her car that day when she was creamed by a truck. Just a walk, but tell that to any of the people you meet!!! Not after you hear their stories.!

Walking thru the bustling city of Logrono-- elderly man with one eye, a cane, stops me as i am walking--
Pulls out his wallet and tells me of something he ALWAYS has carried with ever since he walked the camino (all in spanish, mind you)--- and he pulls out this beautiful Camino shells and Cross small bracelet-silver, about 6 inches round with small shells every 1/2 inch and a larger Cross centering the piece.--- and he just wanted to wish me the bueno blessings he has had having the shells with him. I mean, he enthusiastically HALTED me !!!

Today-- walked with kenneth-- danish snorer. We are two of the slower walkers, but I'm a bit faster than him. But we had a great walk together and conversation as he spoke very acceptable english. He also took the pix of me and the Georgetown hat.

Told me of his sister passing away from cancer about 7 years ago, but now he's telling me he found his brother after 48 yrs (parents-father/didn't want a 3rd child)-- he got family papers from his uncle- saw he had a brother-- and after some time started a search--
And found him about 3 years before his sister died.
He never confronted his parents, but he found him on his own and he is very happy he did. Retired teacher-
Parents still alive, and it's a bit awkward with his dad because he went and found the brother his dad didn't want
- he is an existentialist- which he explains means "no one controls my life but me"-.

He's doing the Camino for cultural reasons, and detests established religions. He will learn italian and aslo thinks he might want to learn the piano upon returning to Denmark.
We walked for hours and there is so much more you can't imagine, but you'll have to-

Religion as an institution is "NOT" very popular on the camino-- but spirit and spirituality is HUGE.

It's kinda like I've got Whoopi Goldberg and the "Sister Act" choir in my head, and there just singing, real soft

Oh happy days
Oh happy day

Oh happy days
Oh happy day
When Jesus washed,
Washed my sins away

And then the 12 year old (okay, very young man by voice age) lead singer starts just taking over

HE TAUGHT ME HOW!!!

And then, In the middle of wheat fields, vineyards, farms, a herd of lambs, the 12 year old singer steps back, and....

I get to sing lead for a few verses...

And it's a happy day.

4) Answers to the quiz
The artists and songs-refer back for the whole quote (can't do the cut/paste thing well on bbery)

A) Conquered hills-
Tracy Chapman, "at this point in my life"

B) my souls expanding-
Bob dylan, "Thunder on the mountain"

C) this was easy, Bruce walk like a man

D) this was easier- U2 walk on

And the verse was
"Packing our bags for a place
None of us has seen,
A place that has to believed,
To be seen"

Peace
Tt

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