The Germans are coming!
There are many Germans on the Camino Del Norte. Every day we meet a new German friend. They are easy to identify. They have perfect pale skin, very large packs and they are often very beautiful. I think German people might like adventures!
There are very fit and sporty groups made up of couples. They play cards together, talk in German together and set off at a brisk march at dawn. We only ever see their backs as they head off. There are also lots of younger ones on the big “ outdoor adventure” designed to get away from it all, especially parents.
Young German girls seem to like us the most. We have had two adopted girls and a few random boys so far.
I think they might like us because we are not rigid in any way, our plans are flexible and our attitudes relaxed. They are young, so we automatically become mother hens. We also follow instructions well so I think that counts in our favour. We follow them, they tell us where to go, when to eat and where we should sleep. We don’t mind them bossing us around. And the youth of today are so good with the technology! Finding your way is complicated and a teenager with GPS is a beautiful thing.
As soon as one leaves another arrives to walk with us and guide us in the “right direction”. Sometimes we rebel though, we go the wrong way, we stop to lay on the beach and get sunburned, we drink far too much vino tinto and we steal cheese knives from cafes for our chorizo.
We met a lovely German man called Mike. He is interesting and kind and somehow knew where Wellington is. He seems weirdly in tune with his emotions for a man...especially a German man (yes stereotyping I know and I’m sorry). He asked me what I’ve learned about myself so far. It’s a beautiful question. I think I’ve learned I’m stronger than I think I am, I love historical things, I think I have some assertiveness brewing inside my soul and that I have realised that hate sharing a bathroom!
This is how the Camino brings people together - age, nationality and culture don’t matter. We walk together, eat together and tolerate each other’s foibles. We are becoming more and more zen each day. We go with the flow, we walk and walk and walk and talk and talk and talk.
Lulu
Santillana del Mar
