2023-008 | CAMINO DE SANTIAGO CHRONICLES | SNIPPETS | DAY TWO

SNIPPETS OF DAY TWO

Day Two. June 20, 2022.

Found an empty table which I shared with my Swiss friend and trail companion at Kolon Txiki, a taberna in the town of Orio, Gipuzkoa, Basque Autonomous Region. I was wearing my TNF jacket because it was cold and there were light showers outside.

I came at the right time of 21:30 and waited for my food by downing two mugs of San Miguel Beer. I ordered vegetable salad, ox tongue and croquetas. The servings were huge, good for four people, especially the lengua which were eight pieces in all. Eight ox has to be butchered to satisfy me! 😳

The dinner ends with another beer mug and capped by an Irish coffee. The best! It was my second time to be inside a Basque tavern and I get to see how life goes around in a typical Basque town. The rustic insides and displayed items amazed and led me to understand the culture of my great grandparents. I have a quarter of Basque blood in my veins.

I am a pilgrim from the Philippines.

2023-007 | CAMINO DE SANTIAGO CHRONICLES | THE PILGRIM NOTES | DAY TWO

THE PILGRIM NOTES OF DAY TWO

The main highlight of Day Two on my journey of the Camino del Norte on June 20, 2022 was my brief visit of the great city of Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Basque Autonomous Region. I call it by its Basque name although it is more known as San Sebastian. It has scenic beaches and Michelin-rated restaurants.

I stopped for an hour in Donostia because I have to acquire Spanish SIM cards for my iPhone and Android phones and for a pair of reading glasses. Then I have to buy data at €20 each so I could update my kinfolks and friends back in my country.

I started from Pasaia San Juan very early that day and, at that hour, there were no open cafeterias and tabernas. Fortunately, I passed by Los Doce Tribus and enjoyed their home-baked bread and their arabica coffee. I just passed by earlier a Roman acqueduct and a path which used to be a Roman road.

From Donostia, I climbed up a road to Monte Igeldo. A yellow arrow led me to a forest trail that bisects another rural road that led into another Roman way, then a highway, and the arrow led me to a country road up a hill to Albergue San Martin in Orio.

It was raining in the late afternoon as I arrived at 16:30 and I need to stay out of the cold for more than an hour since I was partly drenched. When the rain stopped at 19:30, I went out to hunt for my dinner, wearing my TNF jacket. It was so cold.

I am a pilgrim from the Philippines. 

2023-006 | CAMINO DE SANTIAGO CHRONICLES | BEST PHOTOS | DAY TWO

BEST PHOTO OF DAY TWO

The best photo I took on the second day of the Camino del Norte. June 20, 2022. I passed by this tunnel-like passage on my way to the wharf where a ferry would help me cross on the other side of an estuary.

This was in Pasaia San Juan, Gipuzkoa, Basque Autonomous Region, and it was early morning. Tolerably cold for someone who lived all his life in the tropics. The pavement were made of shale while the walls of the structures were made of sandstone.

After dinner and the night's rest, I regained my confidence to finish the last 825 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. Somehow, it was too early for cafeterias and tabernas to open and I learned another lesson in Spain: they have their own time standards and I must respect it. Off I went without breakfast for the second morning.

I am a pilgrim from the Philippines.

2023-005 | CAMINO DE SANTIAGO CHRONICLES | SELFIES | DAY TWO

BEST SELFIE OF DAY TWO

My best selfie of Day Two on the Camino del Norte. June 20, 2022.

That smile says it all. That is confidence. I just crossed safely over from Pasaia San Juan into Pasaia San Pedro on a small boat despite those waves from the Bay of Biscay rocking the inlet waters. Despite the cold weather and deprived of even a simple cup of coffee. Despite the thought of 825 kilometers more to pursue.

This was the day that I wore that t-shirt for the first time which defined my identity and my image for the rest of my life-changing journey. It is from my organization: the Camp Red Bushcraft and Survival Guild, which I displayed proudly along the route of the Camino de Santiago. I wore this everyday. Washed it every night. With my long hair and my dark skin, I stood out from the normal touristy look of conventional pilgrims.

Behind me is a German pilgrim and ahead of me is a Swiss friend and fellow pilgrim. I was climbing up a flight of concrete stairs on the way to Monte Mendiola and to the city of Donostia (San Sebastian).

I am a pilgrim from the Philippines.