I find it difficult to sleep in albergues (pilgrim dorm hostels) because there can be as many as 90 people in a single room filled with bunk beds. As I'm sure you can imagine, there is a lot of noise--snoring, tossing and turning, people getting up to go to the bathroom, etc. even with earplugs, I hear every noise. Additionally, the albergues are hot! There isn't air conditioning so I lay on top of the sheets in my sports bra and Nike shorts sweating. It's very frustrating because I know my body needs sleep to repair my aching muscles properly.
Each foot has two blisters, each in he same spot, and my feet ache from walking over the rocky paths.
I overpacked my backpack, and the weight has bruised my hips (where I carry most of the weight) and knotted the muscles in my shoulders. I mailed my sleeping bag and all my clothes, except one walking outfit and a dress for the evening, to my hotel in Santiago today to reduce the weight. I'll pick up my items when I finish.
This is all part of the Camino. I hear that it takes about a week to get into the rhythm. The first part is getting over the physical pain. On a spiritual level, I know my Savior endured much more pain for me, so I'm happy to experience this.
Like my fellow pilgrim Necolas says, "No pain, no gain!"
¡Buen Camino!
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