Navigating.
We have been going for four days now and have put a lot of kilometers under our belts. The weather has been all over the place, and it seems like we have been underestimating the distances at the start of each day. We've been kicking serious butt and taking names.
As the days go on, it has been fun to try and figure out the local customs in terms of navigating the city and the various ways we interact with other pilgrims and locals too. For instance, which side of the sidewalk do spanish folks use when they pass each other? In the states, everyone tends to pass on the right, but here? I'm not so sure.....
Cars drive on the right side of the road, steering wheels are on the left side, so there's some familiarity there, although we are not doing ANY driving. When we get to a city, the siesta is obvious. More about that later.
What's the term you usually use when greeting someone? Here, because of the language difference (and trying to be polite), we say "Hola" to everyone we pass. At home? I'll be honest and say that I tend to keep my head down and keep walking. I'm learning how to be hospitable and I'm out of my comfort zone.
As a total aside, I have found that I'm taking photos of manholes, which I have done off an on over the years. It's a fun exercise to see how each community identifies itself. Some are very thoughtful, some are utilitarian, some have a grand vision or are steeped in history.
As the days go on, it has been fun to try and figure out the local customs in terms of navigating the city and the various ways we interact with other pilgrims and locals too. For instance, which side of the sidewalk do spanish folks use when they pass each other? In the states, everyone tends to pass on the right, but here? I'm not so sure.....
Cars drive on the right side of the road, steering wheels are on the left side, so there's some familiarity there, although we are not doing ANY driving. When we get to a city, the siesta is obvious. More about that later.
What's the term you usually use when greeting someone? Here, because of the language difference (and trying to be polite), we say "Hola" to everyone we pass. At home? I'll be honest and say that I tend to keep my head down and keep walking. I'm learning how to be hospitable and I'm out of my comfort zone.
As a total aside, I have found that I'm taking photos of manholes, which I have done off an on over the years. It's a fun exercise to see how each community identifies itself. Some are very thoughtful, some are utilitarian, some have a grand vision or are steeped in history.
