I'm in Spain! Wow, what a trip. Really. It seems surreal to be honest. I've been thinking about returning and hoping to return for so long, and I amfinally here. This is it. It's really happened, it's happening, it is.
These first few days I've just been adjusting; sleeping a lot, eating, and getting my yoga practice in. While I'm leaving in a few days for the Camino and still have things to prepare, I've wanted to take the time to center myself before I head out. This, for me, involves yoga, meditation, chanting, being in nature, and resting (though several years in New York has made this challenging for me) amongst other things. Everytime I come back to Spain, I find myself paying even more attention to these aspects of my self care. Is it because I'm now on "vacation" or away from what was seemingly my routine? I think that may have something to do with it, but really, it seems, when I'm here I think, well, I'm already different so what does it matter if I just do whatever I want? While in the States I always seem to feel this pressure (though I know it is self imposed) or keeping up, of going along with, of what I'm "supposed" to be doing, wearing, saying, etc etc etc. When traveling, when away from it all, it seems you are liberated, all the expectations and norms released, you are faced with nothing more than yourself and all that you are. That's what always calls me to return to the road. Coming back to myself.
As I wandered around this neighborhood of Madrid today and yesterday, I found myself noticing yoga centers, wellness centers, natural food stores, and actually, this was the first thing I searched for on google upon arriving. Where can I practice? Where are these people? What's going on here? And it seems it is everywhere. It's all around. Vegetarian/vegan food, not so much... yet. This may be one of the bigger challenges of this trip, pero bueno I'll make do with what there is.
The days have been me wandering, finding cool places, good food, practicing yoga, and allowing myself to be guided along the way. So far it's been great, feel that wandering spirit, the adventure, the "no pasa nada" slowly but surely returning though in a different, more confident and controlled sort of way. We shall see. A few more days in Madrid before I'm off to walk the Camino! Hasta Pronto mi gente!
Un abrazo muy fuerte desde Madrid,
Lauren
