Santa Maria di Leuca

And so, we are here. A long road has been followed by a lazy day resting and relaxing at this resort hotel. We decided we've earned it!

A tough but great trail from Marina Serra to here, just the best. Endless ocean views, crazy rock formations, grottos, and charming homes tucked into hillside olive groves. The path at times is just a suggestion of reddish dirt winding through porous open sides.

Figuring out the way onwards from here was impossible from Canada - and equally so here. When we manage to convey we are trying to get to Taranto, a town some 150 km straight up the coast, we're met with perplexed confusion. And the response, not possible, you must go to Lecce first. A town on the opposite coast!

We make several visits to the bus ticket/gelato vendor and we think we have a handle on this. At least partway. But that's tomorrow's issue.

Today, I'm reflecting on our journey. We challenged ourselves, and exceeded what we thought we could do. We've realized we missed the camaraderie of a true Camino, and would be willing to trade off a bit of crowding for that. Interesting, because I wouldn't have thought so prior to this.

I know our hands down favorite moment from this trek will be the impromptu karaoke party in Marina Serra, but I also recall a conversation over breakfast with a couple of American tourists seated beside us one day.

We chatted general travel tales and where we were from. And as we were preparing to leave, one woman asked, hesitantly, can I just ask....

I knew where she was going. And she did, she asked how we, as Canadians, felt about America right now. I considered. And I said, I think its really brave of you to invite this conversation. And I'll say, your leadership is appalling, disgusting. But there is a difference between the leader and the people. They are not the same. Americans have been our friends, allies, for decades. And I hope we will be again. But not under him.

She shared they felt concern, as travellers, to identify as American. This is new territory, they've never felt ashamed before. And they apologized, when so clearly this does not represent them.

So there's that. But on less worldly scale, I'm reflecting too, on the humbling aspects of travel in a land where you can't communicate easily. The hospitality of Puglia has been legendary, and almost, but not quite, matches the scale of its beauty.

The food I can't speak to yet, other than gelato of course! Hiking does not work well with heavy meals, or even regular ones. I'm anticipating the time for that!Read more