Porto

After 10 days in Santiago we hitchhiked to Porto to do some voluntary work as well. Our hosts were Margarita and Paolo. There lived for 2 months two others volunteers: Sam and Tim from Australia so we spoke and practise in the same time  English. It wasn't any organic farm this time, our task/job was to try to renovate really old townhouse. But what was interesting: Paolo and Margarita had chickens in their small garden and in their pond swam 40 years old turtle:) 

Porto was really really nice, we fell in love with pastel de nata, we tried vegan food ( Sam was vegetarian and Tim was vegan, so they cooked almost every day for us) and we renovated old stairs in Margarita and Paolo's house:) 

Porto is beautiful city, I admire this place!! We went to Lizbon as well (I will describe it a little bit i my next post) but for me it was the next capital in Europe , ofc also fantastic and fabulous but I can't compare it to Porto. 

So if you haven't visited Porto so far, do it!

Santiago de Compostela

hi! I think is time to come back to my trip story:-) So we hitchhiked from Portugalete to Santiago de Compostela, basically to Luou. We did some voluntary work/service. Our hosts were Antonio and his wife Julia. We found them on http://www.helpx.net/. Here you have some information about this: HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.

HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts.

We have really nice experiance with this webpage, so if you want to soend some time on organic farm, ranches and not only place like that I really recommend this. It is really developed in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy  so lucky you. 

We helped Antonio and Julia with their new house during 10days They moved from Malaga to Luou becouse of better climate. Antonio is disabled so they needed somebody to help Julia with the garden, chickens etc. and sometimes to help her with Antonio. We worked 4-6 hours per day but we used to have a lot of breaks. We had afternoons free and two or three days out of work. We really enjoyed working there becouse it was really nice village with medieval church and charming, narrow streets:-)

exam session

Hi!

As everybody perfectly knows we are AGAIN in exam session. After four years of studying I'm quite bored that I have to constantly think about what I should do, what I've already done etc. etc. I'm thinking about: How do you wreak your stress and all frustration? I know some solution like for example eat more than always (chocolate, HARIBO's stuff etc) , go running or watch one more time the episodes of your favourite serial. Do you have some extra idea that you would like to share with me?:)

Portugalete

After 10 days we finished our Camino de Santiago, was in Portugalete: really picturesque city with Puente Colgante.

What's interesting, our new destination was still Santiago de Compostela but we have to be there in 2 days , not in 3 weeks so we had to hitchhike. The worst thing was (as always) leave the city and get to highway. We were waiting more or less one hour for the lift. During this time one Old Lady came to us and say: "Spanish people are not use to hitchhikers, nobody will take you...You didn't know? You should go to bus station and buy tickets or to airport" then we tried to explain to her that it was NOT our first time hitchihiking in Spain so she shouldn't be worry. After few minutes she went away , kept saying "Nobody will take you, nobody will take you". After three minutes Old Gentleman stopped and took us to the highway. From patrol station took us really peaceful and kind marriage. They invited us to go with them to the wild beach which was on the way. There we had some picnic all together and then we took a rest. Great time! Then they left us near to Santander and we decided to spend the night on the beach:)

"The lovers" - René Magritte

"The lovers"

René Magritte

René Magritte was born in 1898 in Belgium and he is one of the representatives of surrealism. His pictures are full of magical realism and as recipient can just suppose what René Magritte wanted to say us when he was painting.

I have chosen the picture titled "The lovers" becouse I consider that picture as really thought-provocking. 

In the foreground we see the woman and the man kissing eachother. Which is suprising they are wearing shawls ( so we can not be sure that we see woman and the man not for example two women). This fact can have various meanings. One of them (in my opinion the best one) is that love or desire is universal and it is not important whoose face we will see in the picture. The second option is that the lovers hide some feelings, facts from they life or love, as a feeling, is sightless and we don't see or we don't want to see one's faults.

The light is coming from left-side of the picture and it is catching on two heads in shawls. In the picture we can see one more light's effect: is the use of repleted colours as red and blue. Red can represent desire and love and blue can represent silence, water or life. 

It is quite interesting how the man is dressing. He is wearing black jacket, black tie and white shirt. In many pictures of René Magritte men are wearing that outfit. Meybe in that fact  the author wants to put himself in the picture?

René Magritte painted the second picture, titled the same and with two lovers in shawls. What feeling can be reprsented here?

Camino de Santiago part II

Next day we started our walk from San Sebastian. I remember that during the night was a big storm and it was raining all the time and that's way in the morning was quite cool. But even as we saw at 6am people were surfing already and running :) That day was really hard. We walked again 24 kilometers  and my feet started to rebell. Oh, I've mentioned what kind of shoes did I take with me? Ofc, just sneakers which wasn't good option for that kind of walking! My ankles moved all the time so when we were in the mountains I could twist it in any moment! The only thing was that everybody admired me that I was still alive :) Those mountains in the north of Spain are really tough. It's not only becouse you have to climb and go down but also becouse they are full of clay, streams etc. So remember to buy climbing boots becouse otherwise you will suffer like I did. 

Although I had those small problems it was one of the most active, interesting weeks in my live becouse I really have to fight with myself. We've met really nice people like one family in Guernica which gave us a place to sleep (we didn't want to pay 25euro for albergue so we just wanted to ask them if we can put a tent near to their house so they invite us to their house, gave us a food etc.) During that one week we noticed that people no matter what we use to say nowadays enjoy to help eachother:) 

The Way

Hi Everyone!

I haven't been here for quite long time! It's difficult to start writing so today I would like to recommend you another movie but in this case it is really related to one of my topic which I trying to describe you in this time. This movie is titles "The way" (in polish "Droga życia") and basically is about Camino de Santiago. One of the aspect which this film presents is the relationship between Daniel and his father Tom (Martin Sheen). Daniel dies on the Camino de Santiago in the Pyrenees and his father comes to France to take his reamains. Unexpectedly he decides to finish what his son has started.
I rcan really recommended that movie. Ofc it is a typical hollywod movie, I don't say that not but the history is presented in really interested way and what's the strong point of that film is that you can really go into the world of Camino de Santiago becouse it shows it quite well. Ecpecially you can focus on details  like shelter for pilgrims, credencial etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueDALC6E8_0

1st day on Camino de Santiago

Today, I would like to share with you my first day's experiance on Camino de Santiago. As I wrote it started in Irun. We had 25 km of walk to San Sebastian. We woke up around 6 o'clock. Los hispotalieros (refuge's hosts) put some religious music which was a little bit scarry and to be honest not a perfect music to wake up enthusiastically. Then we had breakfast, some cookies, muffins and coffee so it was really spanish. At 6.30 our first day on the camino started. When you are pelgrim on Camino de Santiago you need to follow yellow seashell which are painted on trees, sidewalks etc. They're really easy to find  especially in Basque Country. It was really hot day so we were really sweating but the good thing is that every 3-4 km you have a spring, really fresh and cold. 
After 4-5 hours we got to beautiful, picturesque villiage named St Pedro. From there we had to take a boat to other side of coast. Ofc we stopped there for more than hour to take rest and eat lunch. Then we had 10 km to San Sebastian. It was really hard becouse we had to climb and then walk down all the time. When we got to San Sebastian we didn't do nothing except into the Ocean:)

Papusza

Hi!

I know that my blog is basically about my last year's trip but from time to time I would like to change the topic.

Today, I would like to recommend you the polish movie "Papusza". The director of this movie are Krzysztof Krauze and his wife Joanna Krauze. The film is about Bronisława Wajs, she was Romani poet commonly known as Papusza which means ""doll" in Romani language. The movie presents her extraordinary life: she was very good poet but she didn't have much lucky in her life, she couldn't share with her poems becouse of her culture. I don't want to write more details, you just should read something about Brinisława Wajs, read her poems and then see the movie.

If you like or you are interested in photography you have to see that movie! The shoot are incredible!!!They are made of Wojciech Staroń and it is not the first time when he does such a good work. What's more I strongly recommend you soundtrack from "Papusza". I add you one song which is promo and the second one is Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz's music. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uytIHVZLkU0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evMRgLq_Umg

Enjoy!

Camino de Santiago

20.07

This day we got to Spain to Irun. There we stopped hitchhiking and we started our Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Way of St. James).  I would like attached some description of this “camino”. For sure some of you already know what it is but in Poland it is not so popular like in France or Spain, so some information could be useful for you.

The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James

The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James is a spiritual journey that pilgrims of all faiths and backgrounds have traversed for over a thousand years. The pilgrimage originally began at one’s doorstep, though modern trekkers today would find that rather difficult, particularly American pilgrims needing to cross the Atlantic. While there are a number of established routes leading to Santiago from all directions, the most popular is the Camino Frances, which crosses the Pyrenees Mountains along the Spanish-French border starting in St. Jean Pied de Port.

This Camino route covers 800 kilometers that traverses an idyllic northern Spanish countryside. By following the yellow painted arrows marking the road, a pilgrim can expect to walk 12-15 miles a day to reach the next town for the night. At this pace, a pilgrim can reach the Cathedral de Santiago in 6 to 8 weeks time to attend the Pilgrim's Mass held at noon each day. Some take more time, others less. Some choose to travel by bike, and some have done the Camino on horseback. Along the way travelers encounter albergues, refugios and casa rurals that cater specifically to the thousands of pilgrims of all ages that take this journey each year, immersing themselves in the local food, culture and history dedicated to this experience.

Pilgrims walk the Camino for various reasons. Some to seek penance, others enlightenment, and still others for a sense of adventure, yet all progress toward the Cathedral in Santiago where it is believed the remains of the apostle St. James are held. Most pilgrims choose to carry a scallop shell with them to symbolize their journey in honor of St. James. According to legend, scallop shells are said the have covered St. James’ body after it was found on the shores of the Galician coast. Another, perhaps more useful symbol is a walking stick to aid a weary pilgrim on his or her journey. Most pilgrims also carry a document called the credencial, purchased for a few euros from a Spanish tourist agency, a church on the route or from their church back home. The credencial is a pass which gives access to inexpensive, sometimes free, overnight accommodation in refugios along the trail. Also known as the "pilgrim's passport", the credencial is stamped with the official St. James stamp of each town or refugio at which the pilgrim has stayed. It provides walking pilgrims with a record of where they ate or slept, but also serves as proof to the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago that the journey is accomplished according to an official route. The credencial is available at refugios, tourist offices, some local parish houses, and outside Spain, through the national St. James organisation of that country. The stamped credencial is also necessary if the pilgrim wants to obtain a compostela, a certificate of completion of the pilgrimage.

                We decided to take the North Way. It is known as the most beautiful way but the hardest one because there are mountains everywhere. You walk through the mountains but n your left or right almost always can see the Ocean. I will describe more the Camino in the next posts.

                In Irun we found our albergue ( it is Spanish name to call the refuge for pilgrims). It was totally free with breakfast included. In addition it had a kitchen which is not so common for albergue. There we got our credencial (is like identity for pilgrims). With this you can get for example discount in some restaurants  and ofc enter to albergue. It is also great souvenir from camino. In each albergue they give you stamp which is unique in every city/village.

                In the next posts I will describe all my camino:)

20.07.

In the same day we passed almost whole France. French people are really polite and they really always want to help. What’s more is easy to hitchhike in France, the only thing is that we don’t speak French, and French people generally don’t speak English (there are some exceptions of course)…so unfortunately we couldn’t have conversation which is one of the most important factor in hitchhiking.

The sun was already setting  and we were 150 km to Irun. One car left us in some big petrol station and we started to find another car, we were thinking that maybe the same day we would be in Spain.  Suddenly one woman came to us and asked if we need a lift! It was second situation like that the same day! Ana was French and she was in the way back to home in Dux with his daughter from holiday. It was really nice to talk with she and her teenage daughter. We were quite close to Dux when the thunderstorm cameL But of course two women didn’t let us without any help:  they invited us to their house. We made some pasta, drunk some French wine and took a shower which was a miracle especially for meJ It’s so amazing meet people like Ana! !

After this four days in Amsterdam , our direction was Spain and the city near to the border with France – Irún.  We got to one petrol station which was recommended by hitchwiki. The nice thing in Holland is that they have special spots for hitchhikers, completely legal and comfortable. The petrol station wasn’t the place like that but I think that’s worth to mention:-) At the same second when we came to gas station some guy asked us if we need a lift…Holland is definitely good place for hitchhikers! The name of our next “driver” was Andre and he is a photographer, by the way, really good one. He has  even taken some photos of Hollywood starsJ You can take a look!! I really recommended it!

http://www.andrebakker.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=4:faces-in-stone&Itemid=60

Amsterdam

16.07.2013

Finally, we got to Amsterdam. There the friend of us was making some Erasmus traineeship so he gave us a place to sleep and nice company.  We spent  there four days. The nicest part was just walking  in the center and admire all old architecture, old canals and of course Rosse Buurt. It’s funny to see how Amsterdam is different from all cities in Europe. I refer here to legalization of marihuana, prostitution or monument of homosexual etc. There it seems  to be so natural that you think about all of those things when you get out from that city not when you are there. The only thing is that Amsterdam is full of foreigners so it’s another international capital in Europe.

15.07/16.07

As I mentioned we were invited to Martin’s and Reina’s house. Martin was a painter (he can paint the walls and paintings as well) so the house was really colorful, full of painting, photos etc. Reina is fashion designer but she designs more clothes for theaters . They have got four sons. One of them write really nice poems and he read some of them for us, next one has got incredibly good level of English so he has won a lot of competitions in English, then another boy is a pianist and the little one is only 8 so we don’t know anything about his talent so far;-) The father of Reina used to invite hitchhikers to their house so she keep this tradition. We talked with them almost all night, about everything.  Luke talked about his travel, Martin about situation in Holland (one funny thing  which he says was about living in Holland: in his opinion it’s really comfortable living in rich country because he can find a lot of things even near to dumpsters, almost all furniture he found on the street). WE also talked about Polish in Poland because you can hear a lot of different opinions about us;-) They also prepared meal for all of us which wasn’t so easy with six boys in that group. It was really nice to meet with them and thanks to facebook we still keep some contactJ