los variantes del camino
since we deviated from the main route yesterday, due to a lack of camas en san juan de ortega, we had the choice today of either returning to the main route via agés y atapuerca and up a steep hill, down the other side, across a main autovia past the aeropuerto and through an industrial part of burgos, or to go the other way.
which we did. we went left. we, being all the pilgrims that left the family-run albergue in santovenia. after about five-six kilometers we found a café and finally had an opportunity to introduce ourselves properly. rose y mardônio de fortaleza en brasil, daniela y ingrid de brescia, y kim de amsterdam, y bernardo de berlin.
i spoke to the hospitalero at santovenia yesterday and he recommended to follow this other (older) variant of the camino frances into burgos. you can’t miss it, he said. and sure enough, the old mile markers are still there.
after the first coffee, we soon found another one, then a church and a local spaniard who spoke so quickly to us in italiano that i didn’t pick up much. and storck nests on almost every church tower. cigüeña en español.
i will have to ask the italians what the guy said, when we later meet up for a drink. una copa para me, una botella para los otros.
soon enough we were at the outskirts of burgos, even on our variant some industrial plants, el rey de los muebles apparently lives here, i didn’t see him though.
then it is a long walk along the river arlanzón towards the cathedral and centre of town. eventually three out of our group dropped back (they presumably had another coffee), then it was two, and in the end i arrived solo at a private apartamento a stone’s throw away from the cathedral. but as mentioned, we will meet up for wine later.
javier welcomed me and i’m happy to report that the entire conversation about contraseña for the wifi, the lavadora, the ducha, la calefacion y otras cosas went forward in castiliano and worked out fine.
since today was full of conversations in portuguese, spanish, italiano, ingles and interrupted by cortados y otros cafés, i didn’t have time to properly think through the comments received on happiness.
however, i have a bit of time now. so let me try this:
the pursuit of true happiness does not require grand achievements, but rather a simple harmony between myself and my path (currently the camino). all my basic, natural needs, like food and rest, are covered or will be covered (i already have a reserva for tomorrow, i have a few nueces in my mochilla, y agua tambien, if i feel tired i can always stop, there will be cafés along the way), i won’t think about my future as i walk, i will try to fully engage in the immediate, present task before me - which is simple, one step after the other, one photo after the other - i will find joy in the very act of walking, in being. i’ll just walk my camino. i’ll be content and happy.
