Fantastic sauce. Not a big rib fan, but these were finger licking good.
Basque cake for dessert.
Bon profit!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Camino Day 16 - Dinner Second Course
Dinner Second Course: pork roast with pommes frites.
Fantastic sauce. Not a big rib fan, but these were finger licking good.
Basque cake for dessert.
Bon profit!
Fantastic sauce. Not a big rib fan, but these were finger licking good.
Basque cake for dessert.
Bon profit!
Camino Day 16 - Dinner first course
Dinner first course:
Sidra (hard cider), potato and cod soup.
Just what the doctor ordered!
Cheers!
PS Bayern Munich 1 and Real Madrid 0 :-)
Sidra (hard cider), potato and cod soup.
Just what the doctor ordered!
Cheers!
PS Bayern Munich 1 and Real Madrid 0 :-)
Camino Day 16 - Pamplona to Lekunberri
Was intending only to put in 20k today and hike to Irurtzun, but after a ham omelette (tortilla) sandwich (bocadillo), and a beer at 12:30 in Irurtzun, I decided to make use of the good weather and keep hiking.
The extra 15k to Lekunberri were on a windy country road that climbed up through the valley and into the snow capped mountains. Love those country roads in Europe that don't have a center line, and are barely wide enough for two cars to fit.
Traveled through a handful of small hamlets, with cute white houses. Lots of cows, horses (the furry kind with faces like sheep dogs), and sheep.
Although this is still Navarra, seems more and more Euskadi (Basque). Saw a Euskadi flag flying over a church in one hamlet, and some faded ETA graffiti ( an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna "Basque Homeland and Freedom").
I also took a pic of a Eusko Pelota court, a form of handball. Fun to see the court instead of a soccer field, or in the States a baseball diamond.
Staying at another Hemingway haunt here in Lekunberri. I guess he stayed here after his famous fishing trips in the mountains. By the way, at the Gran Hotel Perla in Pamplona, they remodeled in 2007, and the new building codes wouldn't let them use the old room numbers, so Hemingway's old 217 is now 201 (and I got 405). The rooms have great balconies, perfect for watching the San Fermín festivities (The Running of the Bulls, July 6-14).
Will be following the Plazaola Via Verde route the next two days. Plan for tomorrow is to stay in Leitza, but it is only 13k away. The town at the end of the Via Verde is Andoain, which is 30k from Leitza. And Andoain is only 14k from San Sebastian. Will have to flip a coin somewhere along the road to decide where to have a really long day, tomorrow, or day after tomorrow. Excited to see San Sebastian!
Cheers!
The extra 15k to Lekunberri were on a windy country road that climbed up through the valley and into the snow capped mountains. Love those country roads in Europe that don't have a center line, and are barely wide enough for two cars to fit.
Traveled through a handful of small hamlets, with cute white houses. Lots of cows, horses (the furry kind with faces like sheep dogs), and sheep.
Although this is still Navarra, seems more and more Euskadi (Basque). Saw a Euskadi flag flying over a church in one hamlet, and some faded ETA graffiti ( an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna "Basque Homeland and Freedom").
I also took a pic of a Eusko Pelota court, a form of handball. Fun to see the court instead of a soccer field, or in the States a baseball diamond.
Staying at another Hemingway haunt here in Lekunberri. I guess he stayed here after his famous fishing trips in the mountains. By the way, at the Gran Hotel Perla in Pamplona, they remodeled in 2007, and the new building codes wouldn't let them use the old room numbers, so Hemingway's old 217 is now 201 (and I got 405). The rooms have great balconies, perfect for watching the San Fermín festivities (The Running of the Bulls, July 6-14).
Will be following the Plazaola Via Verde route the next two days. Plan for tomorrow is to stay in Leitza, but it is only 13k away. The town at the end of the Via Verde is Andoain, which is 30k from Leitza. And Andoain is only 14k from San Sebastian. Will have to flip a coin somewhere along the road to decide where to have a really long day, tomorrow, or day after tomorrow. Excited to see San Sebastian!
Cheers!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Camino Day 15 - Barcelona to Pamplona (by train)
Got up bright and early to catch the train from Barcelona to Pamplona this morning.
Fun to observe the group herding of people at the train station.
Everyone was sitting nicely, waiting for the attendant to show up, when a small group of people arrived, and instead of sitting down (probably because there were insufficient chairs remaining to sit together), they walked up to the ticket counter to form a line. Immediately, and I mean without a pause, the whole room got up and moved into a makeshift queue at the ticket counter.
One lady, who had been sitting for a while, actually walked to the front of the line with her luggage ahead of everybody else.
Queuing is a very culturally specific thing. Found it most organized during my travels in Great Britain. Been places where there is absolutely no queuing concept, and the only way to hold your place or move forward is to use your elbows. Short older ladies definitely have an advantage in these situations ;-)
There is actually a mathematical study of queuing theory http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queueing_theory . And applications in Computer Science
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue_(data_structure) . I bet the psychologists studying queuing have much more interesting research stories (and research subjects) -- http://articles.cnn.com/2008-11-20/tech/queuing.psychology_1_queue-rage-line-psychology?_s=PM:TECH
I had a seat reservation, so my motivation to be at the head of the line this morning was low.
Got to ride past Montserrat, and through Aragón and Navarra (equivalent of states in Spain). Saw lots of windmills, very, very windy in some areas. Saw quite a few white storks and their huge nests alongside the train tracks in the metal towers. Didn't take any photos myself, but here is what it looked like http://www.google.es/search?tbm=isch&source=mog&hl=en&gl=es&client=safari&tab=wi&q=storks%20in%20spain&sa=N&biw=320&bih=416#i=3
The hills and mountains on the outskirts of Pamplona were covered in snow. And when I got off the train I was greeted with a very chilly wet breeze. The train station in Pamplona is outside of town, so I hiked it into the center of town. Along the way I stopped at a hiking store and met my first two Peregrinos (pilgrims hiking the Camino to Santiago). They were buying rain gear, and said the mountain pass from St. Jean Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles had been covered with snow (will attempt that mountain pass next week). Was nice to be able to wish them a Bon Camino.
First impression of Pamplona was very good. Seems like a place that would be great to use as a base for day trips (hiking, mountain biking) into the countryside.
Signage is both in Spanish and Euskara (Basque). Will have to exchange my Catalan "Bon Dia" for Euskara "Kaixo!" (Hello) or "Egun on" (Good Morning).
Here are a few pics taken between the rain storms.
Tomorrow is a hike from Pamplona to Irurtzun.
Cheers!
Fun to observe the group herding of people at the train station.
Everyone was sitting nicely, waiting for the attendant to show up, when a small group of people arrived, and instead of sitting down (probably because there were insufficient chairs remaining to sit together), they walked up to the ticket counter to form a line. Immediately, and I mean without a pause, the whole room got up and moved into a makeshift queue at the ticket counter.
One lady, who had been sitting for a while, actually walked to the front of the line with her luggage ahead of everybody else.
Queuing is a very culturally specific thing. Found it most organized during my travels in Great Britain. Been places where there is absolutely no queuing concept, and the only way to hold your place or move forward is to use your elbows. Short older ladies definitely have an advantage in these situations ;-)
There is actually a mathematical study of queuing theory http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queueing_theory . And applications in Computer Science
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue_(data_structure) . I bet the psychologists studying queuing have much more interesting research stories (and research subjects) -- http://articles.cnn.com/2008-11-20/tech/queuing.psychology_1_queue-rage-line-psychology?_s=PM:TECH
I had a seat reservation, so my motivation to be at the head of the line this morning was low.
Got to ride past Montserrat, and through Aragón and Navarra (equivalent of states in Spain). Saw lots of windmills, very, very windy in some areas. Saw quite a few white storks and their huge nests alongside the train tracks in the metal towers. Didn't take any photos myself, but here is what it looked like http://www.google.es/search?tbm=isch&source=mog&hl=en&gl=es&client=safari&tab=wi&q=storks%20in%20spain&sa=N&biw=320&bih=416#i=3
The hills and mountains on the outskirts of Pamplona were covered in snow. And when I got off the train I was greeted with a very chilly wet breeze. The train station in Pamplona is outside of town, so I hiked it into the center of town. Along the way I stopped at a hiking store and met my first two Peregrinos (pilgrims hiking the Camino to Santiago). They were buying rain gear, and said the mountain pass from St. Jean Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles had been covered with snow (will attempt that mountain pass next week). Was nice to be able to wish them a Bon Camino.
First impression of Pamplona was very good. Seems like a place that would be great to use as a base for day trips (hiking, mountain biking) into the countryside.
Signage is both in Spanish and Euskara (Basque). Will have to exchange my Catalan "Bon Dia" for Euskara "Kaixo!" (Hello) or "Egun on" (Good Morning).
Here are a few pics taken between the rain storms.
Tomorrow is a hike from Pamplona to Irurtzun.
Cheers!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Camino Day 14 - Barcelona tour
Got up early enough to join the runners heading to Plaça de Catalunya for the 34th Cursa El Corte Inglés 11k race this morning. Big crowd, wish I could have taken part. Check out the finish pics of all the runners receiving a cold can of Coke.
Tried to buy some rain gear, but the shops were all closed. Had fun getting lost in el Gotic.
Had a great lunch at Pura Brasa http://purabrasa.com/.
Train trip to Pamplona in the morning. Never read "The Sun Also Rises", but will stay at Hemingway's favorite hotel, hoping to land room 217!
Cheers!
Tried to buy some rain gear, but the shops were all closed. Had fun getting lost in el Gotic.
Had a great lunch at Pura Brasa http://purabrasa.com/.
Train trip to Pamplona in the morning. Never read "The Sun Also Rises", but will stay at Hemingway's favorite hotel, hoping to land room 217!
Cheers!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Camino Day 13 - Barcelona
Some pics from my hotel in Barcelona near the Palau Nacional which houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
Went down to 4 Gats for lunch today.
La Rambla was busy with tourists and street performers. Beautiful sunny day here, but preparing to head north to Pamplona on Monday (only train available tomorrow was at 7am). Get to clean clothes and shop a bit tomorrow in Barcelona.
Cheers!
Went down to 4 Gats for lunch today.
La Rambla was busy with tourists and street performers. Beautiful sunny day here, but preparing to head north to Pamplona on Monday (only train available tomorrow was at 7am). Get to clean clothes and shop a bit tomorrow in Barcelona.
Cheers!
Camino Day 13 - Montserrat to Barcelona
Travelled by train from Montserrat to Barcelona today. Was a bit of a culture shock to be back in the big city. As the train travelled closer and closer to Barcelona, the language of conversation around me switched from Catalan to Spanish.
Here is the cultural topic that I have been thinking about so far this trip...
The "Bon Dia Effect"
Is there a cultural/linguistic equivalent for the "butterfly effect" ( a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world can cause a hurricane in another part of the world)?
This aspect of chaos theory is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions, where a small change at one place in a nonlinear system can result in large differences to a later state. Can this apply to culture and language?
What is the impact of simply greeting people in their language? Example, me greeting people I meet while hiking with "Bon Dia" in Catalunya instead of "Hola" or even "Hello"?
When people first see me on the trail with a backpack, hiking poles, and a baseball cap, do they think foreigner (American)?
Then, when I greet them in their language with "Bon Dia", do they relax? Does their initial impression change? Does this small change on my part to greet somebody in their language result in larger differences at a later state? Examples could be: more frequent greeting of strangers, reduced judgment based on first impressions, less of an us vs. them mentality, reduced cultural conflicts.
How about if the person that I am greeting is also a foreigner to Catalunya? How about if it is obvious that this person is a foreigner in Catalunya because their skin color is black (an immigrant from Africa), or they wear a hijab? If I greet this person with "Bon Dia", does it make them feel more a part of this new culture? Is this a small recognition that can result in larger differences at a later time?
I have been testing out this "Bon Dia Effect" during my travels so far. I am not expecting a hurricane, but wondering if I at least helped to create a refreshing breeze somewhere.
Cheers!
Here is the cultural topic that I have been thinking about so far this trip...
The "Bon Dia Effect"
Is there a cultural/linguistic equivalent for the "butterfly effect" ( a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world can cause a hurricane in another part of the world)?
This aspect of chaos theory is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions, where a small change at one place in a nonlinear system can result in large differences to a later state. Can this apply to culture and language?
What is the impact of simply greeting people in their language? Example, me greeting people I meet while hiking with "Bon Dia" in Catalunya instead of "Hola" or even "Hello"?
When people first see me on the trail with a backpack, hiking poles, and a baseball cap, do they think foreigner (American)?
Then, when I greet them in their language with "Bon Dia", do they relax? Does their initial impression change? Does this small change on my part to greet somebody in their language result in larger differences at a later state? Examples could be: more frequent greeting of strangers, reduced judgment based on first impressions, less of an us vs. them mentality, reduced cultural conflicts.
How about if the person that I am greeting is also a foreigner to Catalunya? How about if it is obvious that this person is a foreigner in Catalunya because their skin color is black (an immigrant from Africa), or they wear a hijab? If I greet this person with "Bon Dia", does it make them feel more a part of this new culture? Is this a small recognition that can result in larger differences at a later time?
I have been testing out this "Bon Dia Effect" during my travels so far. I am not expecting a hurricane, but wondering if I at least helped to create a refreshing breeze somewhere.
Cheers!
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