Got on the road at 6am today may 2nd, was still dark so got to watch the sun rise over the River Tajo as we walked along its bank. Felt good to finally get our giddy up on, but what a day.
The first 2 1\2 hours are spent walking out of the city through industrial and deprived areas. The constant cobbled road and concrete were hard to take as a day one, that just hammers your feet. If I was a pilgrim Reading this as research , and wasn't hell bent on walking every step with the ancient ones, I would taxis past this point.
Just before turning west and hiking along the banks of the Rio Trancao, an old man stopped his car and gave us directions as we were a little confused, ten minutes later along the river ,out he pops again as he lived there, and insisted we come in to his house to refill our water bottles,,,even though they didn't need it.
For the most part everyone who recognized us as Pilgrims ,have gone out of the way to help, its like we are honoring them by taking this journey in their country.
20 miles today , that turned into 23 because we missed the turn to the hostel, in truth, the book was way wrong. that's too much for the first day, and I'm feeling it now, had a hot hot shower and now in a side street cantina having a beer ( carb loading), I had got ready for this, but you can't be completely prepared for the first day, did you know that hiking calls on muscles you didn't know were there, even ones in your ears and also your hair follicles. Tomorrow we are near a highway a lot of the time, which ain't great, another 20 miles, then I hope we will be into the country and tiny villages. I'm complaining a bit right now, but I know whats  coming once I find a stride and rhythm  , a high that's so motivating. and I need to change my attitude, 4 more days and it will be easier, and hopefully my neck etc will relax. you can train, but only walking yourself into fitness on the Way works.
Well, time for dinner
Buen Camino