Day 30

Random things that delighted me today:

1. Those narrow streets with the upper story balconies? Great for arguing with your neighbor across the street as pilgrims pass beneath you.

2. Heard a waitress refuse a tip in giggling Spanish. “Uncle! I’m not going to take it!”

3. The German guy next to me in the cafe this morning said he lives so close to Switzerland he can walk across the border with his dog and not notice. You have to watch out that your phone is on the right mode though, or you get hit with wild roaming charges. “It’s like I called the moon or something. My wife was really mad!”

4. After asking someone where they’re from, witnessing the spine-straightening pride which comes upon them when they say, “I’m from Paris.”

5. Me managing to get my rain tarp off both me and my backpack one motion, thus not embarrassing myself in front of the cool kids. The cool kids on the Camino are the Italians, who all (of all genders, during all hours of the day and in all weathers) look like sexy pirates.

6. Me earlier today NOT getting my rain tarp off me because I thought it would be a good idea to sneak the backpack off first, dropping it under my tarp on to an awaiting chair. The backpack somehow got the tarp tangled and thus trapped my arms for a good long while and I had to jump around to get it to come off. If anybody saw this I’m sure it made their day! I sure was laughing inside my tarp. (Smells of tires!)