Walking the Camino

I forgot to mention earlier that the pilgrim passport that you receive at the beginning of the walk is essential for you to gain entrance to the various hostels (Albergues as they are known here.), and also in bars and restaurant, so that you can have a pilgrim meal. It must be stamped each time you present it, and at the end of the walk you receive a special certification for having completed the pilgrimage.
The Albergues are either municipality run, and cost about 6 euro (so far), or private, and vary in price. I am in a private one tonight for 10 euros. It is still like a boarding school set up - bunk beds and shared facilities.
Last night after the big climb over the mountain I stayed at a municipal Albergue in Roncesvalles - an old monastery.
I was fortunate to get a lower bunk bed. I guess there were probably 50 people in the room. Fortunately, no serious snorers. You get a bunk, and pillow but you are expected to have your own sleeping bag. If you are really lucky, they may have extra blankets. laundry and bathroom facilities are available, but usually with line ups (just 2 toilets and 2 showers for women) - same for the men. Also there are sinks to rinse out clothing as you usually have to wash stuff at night, to wear the next day.
Dinner: so far dinner is in a local bar or restaurant where you get a pilgrim's meal - set menu (9 euro). I was warned about some of the pilgrim meals!
Here's what we had last night: wine, & bread (always), a first course of pasta with tomatoes sauce, then fish and french fries - no salad or vegetables - and a container of plain yogurt for dessert.
Everything was good, but a salad would have been great. I saved the yogurt for breakfast as we had to walk 3 K today before getting food or coffee.
After the big climb over the Pyrenees I expected to be really sore, but I felt great this morning. Some of us wanted to leave early (daylight is not until 8:00 am), and it is pitch black - no street lights or anything. So a few of us put on our miner's flash lites that wrap around our head and started out early - a bit scary because the trail was rough with a lot of stones.
Again, beautiful weather today.
I was hoping for a flat surface today but there were a number of hills and very steep slopes. Hell to go down with bad knees.
The first town we came to had a great bakery cafe with the fabulous cafe au-lait they serve here, called cafe con leche.
I guess the walk today was around 23 k.
The people (we are called pilgrims) who walk the Camino are very kind, respectful and sharing. There seem to be some unwritten rules of behaviour that everyone observes. There also is an easy camaraderie along the Camino. You may walk with someone for a brief time, then you or they move on and you may walk alone. I notice even couples do this. There is no sense of obligation to stick with someone, and people seldom do, but you always can have company if you like.
I'm very glad I came on my own on this trip. I'm a big believer in solo travel, for this sort of adventure.
You tend to meet more people, they readily include you, and it´s a chance to try and communicate in another language. The biggest majority of pilgrims are French or Spanish, but they come for all over the world. So if you are thinking of doing this, I highly encourage you to come alone.
My roommates tonight are all guys so far. I'm in a small dorm, but there are women in the other dorms. A few of us are heading out now to find dinner: 2 Korean women, a guy from Venezuela, 2 guys from Spain - and this very tired, but happy Canadian girl.
Adios.