Roncevalles

Ola,

Well, I am in Roncevalles after two planes and a cancelled train, one night in the Paris train station, I finally arrived in St. Jean Pied de Port last night. I began walking at 8:00 am and arrived at 3:00. I hiked 15 miles, I can't believe it. It was mostly up hill, and when I say mostly I mean mostly. It rained and there was mud up to my ankles, but it was still great. I am astounded I made it 15 miles. I feel like I can do the rest now, with 15 miles done. I keep having to remind myself it is not about the end it is about the journey. One step at a time (Thanks Greg!). So far I have met a lot of wonderful people, I met a guy from Lithuania and we conversed in Russian, a hedge fund manager from South Africa, a woman from London, a teacher from Holland and a bunch of other people from France and Germany. Everyone has been great about trying to communicate despite the language barriers. It has been fun to see how something that is not nationally associated can allow people to step beyond boundaries and be welcoming and willing to help people they don´t know. I am in complete aw that this is all really happening, I keep having to remind myself I am really in France and Spain and I really am on my way to walking 500 miles. Tonight I am staying at a monastery Roncevalles, it is beautiful, it is just as it was during medieval times. One of the things I have found most meaningful so far is that as I walk the path I am stepping on the places, I am staying, places that thousands of pilgrims have passed through before. This is my own journey and it is also that of the many as well. I don´t think it is possible to put into words what that feels like. Well I am off but until later, Peace.

Amanda

P.S. Thanks for all the comments, they are great to read after a long day of walking.