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| This photo was taken by Jerome while we were in Albania on the day we took a dirt road over the mountains to Përmet, Albania. It was pretty common to see shepherds walking with their flocks in Albania. Most had fewer than 40 sheep or goats with them. Seeing this old man reminded me that there are simple ways to live in the world, and like this old man, unfortunately, they will one day pass on. |
Today, I decided to share some pictures Jerome took in Albania while we traveled together. Jerome carried a digital SLR camera with him, allowing him to take some photos I could not and vice versa. The SLR gathered more light than my iPhone which resulted in some nice photos. After our trip, we exchanged pictures and permitted each other to use them in our blogs.
In reviewing his pictures, I am amazed how two people can experience the same thing simultaneously yet have completely different memories of that experience. Flipping through his photos is terrific because it allows me to relive the experience from a different set of eyes. I hope you enjoy them.
So how does my body feel after about 6 weeks of rest?
Walking > 1,200 km (745 mi) this summer was harder on my legs than expected. I created difficulty for myself when I inflamed the bursa sacks below my knees while in Ireland. Under normal circumstances, I would have taken several months to heal before resuming walking long distances. I was not willing to come home, so I had to adapt. Although I rested, stretched, and did what I could to recover, when I started the Camino, I was at what at the recommended minimum number of weeks for recovering from this injury.
The routine I followed allowed me to progress quickly through my recovery and fortunately I was able to complete the Camino. Now that I am not walking or stretching as frequently, I have days where my muscles are very tight. This usually occurs in the mornings. It is a combination of calves and hamstrings. I have always had tight hamstrings. However, my adventures this summer have made them feel even tighter. This manifests itself in soreness in my low back. Sometimes the pain makes it difficult to stand it is so intense. So in these moments, I stop and begin my stretching routine. Once completed, the tightness is relieved, and I am pain-free again.
How will my body respond once I resume my travels? I can't wait to experience it. Even with this new routine, I look forward to new adventures and have no hesitations about taking other pilgrimages. It is now part of who I am at this moment.
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| The little town of Përmet was quite enjoyable and was a scenic place to stay along the River Vjosë. On our last morning there, we climbed to the top of the big rock in town. Jerome could capture the city's detail with his larger lens while also capturing the landscape. I love this photo because it highlights Albania's rigid rectangular concrete urban architecture. |
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| From the same vantage point, this picture shows the beauty of the River Vjosë valley near Përmet. The mountains in Albania were a surprise and made for a scenic landscape. Always present made me feel at home in Albania. |
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| This is a picture I wish I had taken while in Berat, Albania. Instead, I opted to take the close-up of Constantine The Great and remembered that when I posted the photo, II had missed the opportunity to show how giant this statue was. Fortunately, Jerome captured it. |
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| My iPhone could not cope with the sun's shadows and angle of the sun in this photo. On the day of my Berat post, I posted a black-and-white version of this photo. It was as good as I could do. Jerome's SLR gathers more light, and he captures the picture beautifully. It is better in color. |
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| This photo, also taken in Berat, of the old bridge at sunset, was a photo I tried to capture. Jerome and I were side by side, and I could not get it to turn out. I love how the sun's rays are visible in this photo. |
Seeing all these photos is getting me excited for my upcoming trip. It has been difficult to be here in Fort Collins and not taking pictures. The reality is the weather has not been nice, and I am no longer dressed to spend much time in the cold. Fortunately, it will be around the mid 70's F (low 20's C). I can't wait!
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