Day 18 - Teruel

Wow... managed to get here. I, again, do not really know how to compromise all these experiences into a comprehensive brief blog entry. Hence I'll start anywhere.
I'm very happy to have started this journey. I suppose it is due to my attitude of taking things too easy. This is what I mostly encounter after having made a decision or commitment, that what I decided to do is more difficult than it was supposed to be. However, indeed I actually think that I can turn this surrealism into an advantage. What if you are too optimistic and expect things being easy, thus committing yourself a little fast BUT you carry it through to the end? Well, if you're able to do this then it is better to be an optimist :)
Ok, what else crawls through my mind? Yeah... that this is the first time I experience hard physical work. Although it is everything but productive, I get to know what it is to get up every day knowing that you have to work/ walk 6 to 10 hours. While walking I often think of sportsmen, labour camps, workers in sweatshops and even guerilla warfar or Stalingrad in 41. Especially the latter examples may sound a little strange, but don't you think that most of the young people nowadays have not the slightest idea of what hard labour means. I believe I don't either. Would I have been born 50 years ago, when Germany was rebuilt by women and children I would have learnt my lesson for life. Please, don't think I try to compare this with my current trip, however it does give you a glimps of what it means. Having this insight is extremely valuable to me and will stick to my mind forever. Nevertheless, I have to admit that compared to sweatshops, I do decide when I get up (usually sleeping till 8-10) and set myself reachable aims. Yesterday I have walked 60km from Cantavieja to Cedrillas (see here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=cantavieja&daddr=Cedrillas,+Teruel,+Arag%C3%B3n,+Espa%C3%B1a&hl=es&geocode=%3BFWgCaQId_wHz_ynL4M1JDkNeDTH4M2E82xQidA&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=40.493059,-0.614135&sspn=0.496071,0.883026&ie=UTF8&ll=40.489782,-0.627594&spn=0.496094,0.883026&z=10 ) and I came close to loosing my feet... still I did not cross the border to a region where I am going to break down. I may not do this ever in my life, but I imagine that people who have been so utterly exhausted like those guys who've climbed the first 8000m peak decades ago (book available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Annapurna-First-Conquest-8000-meter-Peak/dp/B000KTMQ1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246477690&sr=8-1 ). I feel very much inspired to get to know people with this experience, so I learn without being in such a situation.
I'll progress with describing what has happened throughout the last few days, briefly. In Falset, unfortunately, I didn't manage to get the place offered by the German, whom I met on the street. Still, I was lucky since the next day was holiday and all Spaniards celebrated. Hence I ended up in a Bar, where I stayed till 3am. Afterwards I slept for a few hours in a bank (you know these automatic doors that lead to the room with the cash machines), took a day off hiking and booked into a room for 25 Euro's. I enjoyed the day, relaxed and prepared for the root till Teruel. The day I took off was pretty fine, but I was a little angry at myself in the end, coz I got on a busy street that should have been avoided. I managed to not get into danger by walking over fields etc, which isn't that pleasent. By the way I might be on googlemaps's pictures, since the car that drives around with a google camera passed me twice YEAH! When I arrived in Ginestar I was immediately greeted by the Village Town Man :) We chatted a little bit and I learned that I couldn't get to my destination that evening, as I had to take a ferry to the little town called Miravet. I politely refused his offer to drive me around the river... since he was a really nice man anyway he looked for another solution and found that by letting me sleep in the changing room of the swimming pool. Was fun and quite comfortable.
The next day I hiked further and again got into trouble. Why? Because there was a stupid construction site and they wouldn't let me pass!!! Not with me, so I took the for me wrong road until out of side and then made my way through fields and dorns onto the construction side again. I simply didn't want to take the other road and walk 15km more. As a result I ended up walking on a half made street for 12km through the mountains. I wasn't dangerous since local cars were passing, so there was a way I could use. However, sometimes it felt a little like war since I had to jump into the bushes to not get discovered by passing workers hihi. Since night was already taking over I had to intriguing idea of sleeping in a truck (all vehicles were open), which I ended up doing. Well, it wasn't too comfortable, but fun to have done it. Next day again, progress. I walked and walked and went camping for the night. Next day same (beside a mountain lake)... and once I arrived in Cantavieja I couldn't find a camping site, but found the gate to the local swimming pool open. I moved two tables together, took my sleeping bag out and slept well :) Well, this was two days ago, now I'm in TERUEL and about to towards Cuenca. Life is progressing and I tend to forget time and date meanwhile. At one point, where I asked for the tourist information and supermarket, I was told that it is Sunday. I expected it to be Friday ;)
Don't even have time to read through what I have written :)
I'll leave you with a short describtion of how hiking feels. Hot, if the sun is shining. Probably more than 40C on the street :S The heat drives you mad. Feet are pretty much alright, only the little toes are worryingly thick. Blister come and go by popping them up. Usually all at a time... sometimes 7, sometimes 4, and sometimes none :)
Walking is getting better, I believe, as my feet get used to it. So now I hope to manage to hike towards Lisboa or another place at the Atlantic coast, before the 28th of July, so I can see my girlfriend.
Greets to all... Díana, Felix, grannies... and you too :)