Day 6 part 2

Tonight had an amazing pilgrim dinner with my 3 saviors, Zoltan (my quiet, soft spoken Hungarian walking partner) and Janek. I have seen Janek on the trail a couple of times and was very glad to have a chance to get to know him tonight.

Janek is from Czech Republic. He is 20 years old and a self thought software engineer (he calls himself programmer since he doesn't have an official degree). He left work two weeks ago and decided he will do the Camino, then travel in Asia for another 60 days and then be a farm worker in New Zeeland. Him and I immediately connected as his sister works for United Nations in Istanbul and he spent 2 months there last year. I asked him why he wanted to work on a farm (vs making excellent income as an programmer) and he told me nature makes him happier compared to sitting in front of a computer. In any discussion in America he would be criticized or ridiculed for leaving a well paying job to do this. But I did ask myself who says he isn't living a more fullfilling life than many that would ridicule him.

I hope to see him again. He walks early and very fast (did 32km today in 6 hrs) so I will only see him in the Alberge's if we cross paths.

On our pilgrim dinner table tonight we all talked about our favorite movies, books, and vacations. It really helped me with my mood due to my toe and the unknowns it brings. Amy and I talked about this fact that on the Camino it is really hard to come across an unpleasant character. People are warm, kind and super freindly. There are no politics, back stabbing and raising up on others shoulders.

What will happen to me:

Jeff , this amazing father of 5 will leave his sandals for me tomorrow morning and I will try to hike. Our Alberge host assured me that he can take me to Logrono (our destination) with his car if I need help. It is 21 kms so would only take me 20 minutes by car 😀.

In my post I forgot to mention the update on serial killer. So here it goes:

The first hostel Amy and I stayed we met an Australian mother (early 50's) and her son (early 20's). Since then, Amy and I saw the son alone in a break and when asked where his mom is he said he didn't know!!! That was 3 days ago. Yesterday I saw him in a town square yapping it with a Dutch guy we had dinner with in the monastery. I just said hi and passed.

This morning I saw him again on the road giving a break. I just couldn't contain myself and walked up to hm and said "where is your mom mate?" in my best Australian accent (which Amy says sounds Jamaican). He literally told me "I haven't seen her in two days". I believe he burried his mom somewhere on the Camino and he is the true serial killer on the Camino vs the the unfriendly guy I wrote about in earlier blogs.