Thanks for that!
Our main purpose is to get over jet lag and party before a long long long walk!

I am walking the Camino in Spain
Yes. I did a quick Google when you first mentioned this adventure of yours. It's going to be fantastic.
Madrid
It's been five years since my visit. Very spread out city. Excellent food. Lively nightlife. Flamenco is cool. Quite cheap. The weather when I visited was near perfect. The Prado is one of the greatest art museums in the world. Bad score for safety though. I ran in to more than a few unsavory people. It comes with solo travel sometimes.
Anyway, it will be fun reading about Camino!

You are too kindit is supposed to be a secret! ssssssssssshhhhhhh!!!!!
I am not visiting Lisbon next year, butt I am walking the Camino in Spain and spending time in Madrid as well and then moving on to a month in the UK with family.
Can't wait.

Right back at ya. I'm going to eventually return to Sydney one of these days.
For my friends, I do an unscientific very personal ranking of all the cities I visit outside North America and surprisingly, Sydney came in at #1 by a good margin. Lisbon, Portugal is currently in second.
We look at weather, activities, attractions, food and drink, eating establishments, public trans, walk ability, hotel location, city aesthetics, safety, people, cost and overall vibe.
I know you're in the north beaches which is even better I'm sure but still, Sydney has it all for me.

I sometimes wish we had met when you visited Sydney.
Your views are interesting and knowledgeable and you have obviously travelled widely.

I adore 'vegetarian' food as the recipes are often more tasty and interesting
Yes. I once went 30 days without meat and ended up visiting a bunch of vegan and vegetarian restos. Chefs can get very creative for sure.

I adore 'vegetarian' food as the recipes are often more tasty and interesting, so I just add a little meat, chicken and fish!
The trick is to try not to make the 'meat' (protein) the focus of the meal and have a balance of complex carbs, veges and spices and sauces.

After a lively conversation with friends, I decided to not eat meat for a bit. My friends were saying that they could not last a week but I've done this before on a couple of occasions so why not?
Keep in mind, I eat lots of meat regularly. Almost every day; chicken, seafood and eggs multiple times a week. Sushi every week. I also have some kind of beef or pork dish a few times a month.
I did not stop eating out and went to lunch with coworkers as well as dinner pubs with friends.
The only dairy I had in the past 9 days were 2 lattes, 2 cheese quesadillas and 6 servings of yogurt.
Including the above dairy, I've had:
bananas x6
grapes
baked potato
quinoa and spinach salad
quinoa, tomato and cucumber salad
brown rice and veg bowl
tofu (2 servings)
lettuce and veg salad x3
whole wheat pasta primavera
corn and potato chowder (3 servings)
chips and guacamole
vegetarian chili
vegetable wrap x2
coffee (too many to count)
beer x6
wine x2
fun size Halloween candy bars (a few)
If I had a religious or ethical reason to not eat meat, I'm sure I could handle this lifestyle. Of course, this experiment is quite easy since 1) I'm under no obligation, 2) I'm not trying to lose weight and 3) I can quit whenever I want.
Anyway, it's been fun. I do miss
sushi
so I think I'm going to go back to being an omnivore later this week.

Thanks Div.
BTW I am seriously pinching your Northern Hemisphere sun todayit will be 29deg C and brilliant.
Fortunately my cousin and I will be staying for a couple of days in Madrid and Amsterdam though carrying a pack of only 15 pounds will prevent anything serious!
I am however going to London afterwards for 4 weeks to stay with the little family. My daughter and I together are the world's best shoppers!

Good for you, Goz! Your determination, and a goal (El Camino) are probably the two of the greatest components of your program. You sound to be comfortable with it.
Not being a slave to the calorie count, or putting severe restrictions on your choice of food, is wise and, evidently effective.
A neighbor who favors hiking for her vacations said that she has El Camino on her "bucket list." I had to look it up, and it looks beautiful. (Unfortunately, for some of us, hiking doesn't offer enough vacation shopping opportunities.
)

Did you swim when you were in Sydney?
No. I just checked my trip notes. It was 23 when I went to Manly but spiked up to 26.5 the day I did the Coogee to Bondi walk. There were loads of people on the beaches but only a fraction were swimming. I walked
in
the water at Coogee, Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi.
I know 26.5 is warm to you but it was a bit chilly for me.
At least I technically got in to the Tasman Seakind of!

Yes, I swim in the ocean once the water temp rises a little.
It was 20 deg C last week butt down to 18deg C today with the westerly off shore wind.
Once it get to 23 degaround Nov/Dec I am in almost daily depending on surf conditions. I don't like laps even though there is a rockpool at my beach so I just swim about a bit!.
http://www.sydneyoutback.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/NB-Whale-Beach-GUSHA.jpg
]
Did you swim when you were in Sydney?

You're near lots of beautiful water and summer is fast approaching. Do you swim? It's fantastic for joint friendly cardio and great for weight loss.
️

I think I am too old for that!

I'm starting to sound like a broken record with this recommendation but: trampoline. I have never lost weight quicker. I jumped on a trampoline for 8 - 12 minutes a day for 3 weeks, and lost more than 4.1 kg / 9 lbs. I didn't even need to diet.

I'm very healthy. If I'm not eating, I drink a healthy smoothie.
"I hope you take your walk of shame - all the way back to Michoacan"BruceTJenner, liberal racist

You're probably not healthy either.
I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.

Wow!
That sounds about as sensible and healthy as your political views!

Eat only once a day, and only every other day.
I have never been overweight.
"I hope you take your walk of shame - all the way back to Michoacan"BruceTJenner, liberal racist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago
It has unfortunately become a bit trendy butt I am going with someone who has done it as a pilgrim 10 times and speaks Spanish and we are doing one of the less travelled paths and will do the real deal with only a 15 pound pack and only staying in pilgrim 'refugios' which are only multi sex bunk rooms for three weeks covering about 300+ kilometres.
The point of it is to cast off nearly all your possessions and cares and enjoy nature and your fellow travellers ( and if you are religious which I definitely am not) have prayer and thankfulness in your heart. I am going more on a 'spiritual' journey than a religious perspective.
We will walk 20 km per day which will take 4-5 hours and it took me about 2 months to lose the weight.

Thanks Athene, I hope you too are well and happy.

Congratulations on your loss and improved health!
"But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill"

Thanks.
Yes I am feeling a little flat and bored.
Maybe I will try and be more imaginative with recipes of fresh ingredients like stir fries etc.
Any suggestions?

Congratulations indeed!!
I am doing well butt don't want to hit the wall and
get bored
with my current fare.
No real advice but this is key to both diet and exercise. Even if you're not bored with the food or workouts, changing your routine will eliminate any plateaus. Congrats again!