You know there are cultural differences across Europe in the type of people you meet: Germans, the Dutch and Austrians are very precise and very right, Spaniards are warm and a little disorganised, a little like the Italians, English are slighly reserved and stand back rather akin to the Canadians (yes I know that's not Europe) and the Koreans are something else altogether.
I met Reinatta coming out of the shower naked. She pointed to her tummy and commented that no matter how far she walked it remained horrid and saggy. I showed her mine and we sympathised together, after which she pointed to my breasts and asked if they were saggy too and could I show her! I declined the invitation (I was clothed).
Later that night she was eating alone so I asked if I could join her. She spoke little English and I speak no German so we had an evening of sign language and much fun-it only goes so far (the sign language that is). Towards the end of our meal Britta sat down at our table and announced that she wished to join us. Britta is German and speaks English so this is good (despite the lack of choice), and over 10 mins we discover she is a Vet who has packed it in due to a breakdown in a supermarket where she couldn´t stop crying 6 months previously, and that she had been trying for a baby for 3 years and just 1/2 hour ago had discovered she was pregnant. Even I who is known to be pretty open cannot compete with this!
2 nights later I ate with very different Germans; a German teacher in his 60's, slim, fit with an attitude that 'everyone is entitled to his opinion' because he is right. I comment on the state of my feet only to be told that right boots and right socks mean no blisters- which is why his feet are so blissfully clear of them. Mine look like the Battle of the Somme, so I have obviously got that wong then. I am also wrong about the amount of water and wine I am drinking (guess which one I am drinking more of?) and so it goes on. Opposite me is Marian, also German who is the size of a brick s--t house. Her boobs are awesome! She describes her experience of the Albergue the night before- the very best Albergue on the Camino. She goes on and on and it does sound quite unique and something else. After 1/2 hr of monologue when I have oohed and ahhed endlessly she asks 'So how does it feel to have missed the best night on the Camino?' Do these people have any friends??? This albergue where we were all staying offered a meal on a donation basis and so the basket came around for us to pay our dues. Now I hate donation basis because I feel I need to make up for all those stingy people who will give as little as possible, so I compensate by giving too much. I know these people are not responsible for my feelings but getting that to go into my head from my heart is difficult. I coughed up and Mr. Right put in 6euros. I turned to him and commented that I was amazed the place could keep going when most people would be mean with their donation. 'Ah' he said in reply, I always give the average- you know what that is- not the top price not the bottom'. He must have been on a different Camino to me or there has been a time warp back 40 years!! The other 2 gave even less.
The country most represented on the Camino this year are the South Koreans. They are here in droves apparently due to the release of a film about the Camino in Korea. Bless them! They apparently speak reasonable English but cannot read the sign SILENCIO 10pm - 6am. Every morning, yes EVERY morning they all get up at 4am to start their walk by 5am. They are full of smiles and are softly spoken but I feel murderous thoughts EVERY morning. The other thing they do or should I say, fail to do, is queue. Without a bat of an eyelid they march to the front of any line of people as if it doesn´t exist- and in the ladies loos too.
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