A short tribute to the animal friends who sometimes keep us company.
Un breu homenatge als amics peluts que hem fet durant el camí.
English version:
Our journey has been marked by the people we have met along the way.
But, other living creatures have also won our affection, melted our hearts and, in a few cases, scared us. Encounters with cats, dogs, birds, butterflies, bees, chickens, ducks, cows, goats, sheep, boars, ants, beetles, dragonflies –and even the one-time view of a dangerous snake–have become part of our walk (we’re trying to forget the blood-sucking mosquitoes and dastardly flies we hate).
Our animal friends often lighten our load, at least momentarily, and remind us to appreciate the natural things we often overlook. Many times, their brief companionship keeps us focused on the present moment, and their playfulness is irresistible and contagiously makes us laugh. A few times, especially in Thailand where we had almost-daily run-ins with large packs of street dogs, they remind us of our vulnerability and our resolve to find a way forward.
Here are few of the animal companions and four-legged furries we carry in our hearts, alongside the memories of our two-legged human friends.
Catalan version:
El nostre viatge ha estat marcat per les persones que hem conegut al llarg del camí.
Però, altres criatures vivents també han guanyat el nostre afecte, van fondre els nostres cors i, en alguns casos, ens van espantar. Els gats, els gossos, ells ocells, les papallones, els jabalíes, les serps, les formigues, els escarabats i les libèl·lules també s’han convertit en part del nostre recorregut (intentem oblidar-nos dels mosquits sanguinis i de les mosques torpes que odem).
Els nostres amics animals sovint alleugereixen la nostra càrrega, almenys momentàniament, i ens recorden que apreciem les coses naturals que sovint passem per alt. Moltes vegades, la seva presència ens manté centrats en el moment actual. Unes poques vegades, especialment a Tailàndia, quan teníem trobades gairebé quotidianes amb grans paquets de gossos de carrer, ens van mostrar la nostra vulnerabilitat.
Aquí hi ha alguns dels companys d’animals i els faldons de quatre potes que portem en els nostres cors, juntament amb els records dels nostres dos amics humans.
Hello dear friends, did you start the journey or not? Where are you now?
Hoping to meet again
Ahmed of Alghajar
Minoodasht
Hello,
Always nice seeing your notes. We are back in Turkey and starting the walk again in a couple of days.
Hugs,
Your walking friends.