Mollymook to Barcelona - Half the world away

I have returned to Spain - starting from Mollymook last weekend

and arriving in Barcelona yesterday - half a world away. 

This Camino experience will be different.  Instead of following one particular path, I will be walking sections of  different routes and taking detours in various places - more free wheeling, as well as volunteering as a hospitalero for a couple of weeks. A hospitalero/a is someone who looks after Camino pilgrims in an albergue - a type of hostel manager (more on that in coming days)

Another difference was that this Camino started with a pilgrimage to watch Collingwood play Geelong in Melbourne (Collingwood lost 😞) and the opportunity to visit family and leave from my sister’s front door.

 I walked to the tram and took a bus from the city to  the airport, then checked in my pack and prepared for the flight to Barcelona via Dubai.

The war in the Middle East had been a concern. After 14 hours, I reached Dubai and had a short stop over. Dubai seemed as busy as usual - although there were spare seats around me so I can stretch out a little on the flight from Melbourne.

The  flight out of Dubai sensibly and thankfully went south west away from Israel Lebanon and the Persian Gulf 

What followed was one of the most evocative aerial views ever.
After clearing the dusty air and the extravagant architecture of Dubai

We flew over the Red Sea (which actually looked very blue)

Not long after the green tinge of the Nile Valley, and the river itself came into view 

And finally, Alexandria - where the Nile Delta meets the Mediterranean 

Seven hours later, we landed in Barcelona.
I was relieved as always to see that Sancho Panza, my faithful backpack companion had also arrived. Together we took the airport bus to the centre of town and walked to the Barcelona Central Garden Hostel.

I stayed here a couple of years ago- It was good to be back. Patrick the Hostel manager told me there was a street parade planned  to celebrate a championship victory by the beloved local Barcelona FC. 

I joined in the party atmosphere, had some wine and tapas, and thought about how we connect and laugh and share our humanity. Here I was, half a world away from Mollymook and the feeling was the same, and so much more powerful than the nationalism, politics and conflict that can divide us