Day 28 – Camponaraya

The last couple of days were high lighted by incredible vistas as I crossed the highest point of the Camino Frances at 4970 feet and then descended rather quickly to 1640 feet.  At times you can see the rooftops of small and large towns miles away. 
The descent was harrowing because it was largely a path carved out of shale rock formations over eons.

Fortunately, the weather has been warm and dry.  In rain this stage would have been a nightmare. 

At last nights dinner I shared a table with “David”, a 73 year old retired civil engineer from England, also on his first Camino.  David had spent some time working in New Orleans (pre-Katrina) and upstate New York so he was familiar with the culture and system of government in the US.     People from other countries often try to bait me into a political argument by asking what I think of president Trump.  I almost universally decline to comment.  David didn’t even ask, instead he commented on differences in the political systems and how, in his opinion, Europe has much to learn from the US.  We swapped stories like this and drank vino tinto until almost 10:00pm.  Another great, spontaneous evening on the Camino. 

During a boots off break at a little cafe in some little town I passed through today,  this “gatito” came begging for food.  He sniffed at a bit of croissant dipped in cafe con leche, gave me this look, and then went in search elsewhere.

Buen Camino,

-jgp