Santander to the Bay of Biscay

The hospitaleira at the basic albergue turns the lights on at 6.45 am and wants everyone out by 8 . . . which is fine, since there is no common area for conviviality . . . Rudolf has met a camino veteran and part-time hospitaleiro, who speaks fluent Dutch and Spanish . . . just the kind of coincidence camino life produces . . . his pack is heavy and this first walking day is going to see him ditching the camping gear or the rather heavy book . . . maybe both by the end of the week . . .

Part-time hospitaleiro is a job that appeals . . .

After an early coffee and wifi, a walk along the bay in warm sunshine and over to a view of the sea . . . with equanimity on leaving Spain, what's next and whether there is a spare berth on the boat . . . everything is possible early on when the sun is shining!

Musing on language learning and the blessing and curse that is the lot of the native English speaker . . . it is becoming the universal language so enables some kind of communication medium through which to misunderstand other people; the language we think in structures the brain, which interprets the incoming signals of sight, sound, smell, touch, so only one language is limiting; motivation is vital - in Portugal, English is spoken by almost every young person (and French by many elders), in Northern Spain, not so much, which means practice every day, just to get food and shelter . . .

The ticket is bought, €89 for the crossing and a reclining seat . . . now plotting a sign to display to find a lift to Petersfield . . .

The last lunch in Spain, served by Andres, who speaks excellent English, will see me through to Brockwood and its version of food . . . fresh fruit and vegetables, beautifully prepared . . . flesh free, alcohol free, wifi free . . . which in this case means free from wifi, not free wifi . . . perhaps a public health issue waiting to emerge . . .

On the Pont Aven, this feels like a cruise, dolphins and whales to watch out for, the first newspaper since November, and another sunny day . . . not sure if it has been a dry winter in Iberia or if the rain has been elsewhere . . .

Santander is a place to visit again - long shore line with bay and coast, train, bus and maritime stations all close to city centre, sculpture, pedestrianised streets . . .