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Bon voyage: "Stories about travel" » Spanish to English

Competition in this pair is now closed, and the winning entry has been announced.

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Source text in Spanish

Antes de que continúes, querido lector, debo advertirte que la peregrinación a Roma que estoy a punto de relatarte fue un perfecto desastre. Si esperas encontrar en este libro una historia de superación, hazañas físicas, fuerza de voluntad y victoria sobre uno mismo, es mejor que dejes ya la lectura, para evitar una decepción. Como sabiamente decía Aristóteles (digo yo que sería Aristóteles, porque era un señor muy sabio y decía muchas cosas): «Dichoso quien ocupa su tiempo en meditar sobre sus propios logros, porque tendrá mucho tiempo libre».

La triste realidad es que apenas hubo plan o propósito que no rompiéramos a lo largo del camino mis dos compañeros y yo. De hecho, empezamos incumpliendo la primera norma de toda peregrinación y esta primera transgresión marcó el tono general de todo nuestro viaje. Lo dicho, un desastre de peregrinación.

La primera norma de toda peregrinación dice, sencillamente, que el camino debe comenzar en la puerta de la propia casa. De otro modo, apenas puede hablarse de peregrinación. Cuando un peregrino medieval decidía caminar hasta Santiago (o era amablemente invitado a hacerlo por su confesor, para purgar sus pecados), no iba en carroza hasta Roncesvalles para comenzar allí su camino. No. Se calzaba las alpargatas, tomaba el cayado y el zurrón, se despedía de la familia entre las abundantes lágrimas de sus parientes más próximos y echaba a andar los meses que hicieran falta hasta llegar a su destino (si los bandidos, los animales salvajes, el frío, el hambre o las pestes no acortaban sensiblemente la peregrinación, claro).

Nosotros, sin embargo, no teníamos los tres meses que habríamos tardado en hacer el viaje entero hasta Roma desde nuestra casa a base de alpargata y carretera. Así pues, decidimos hacer lo más parecido posible. Como no podíamos salir andando desde España, fuimos en avión hasta una de las antiguas Españas, para salir desde allí. Es decir, viajamos hasta Nápoles. Porque Nápoles y Sicilia, aunque parezca mentira, fueron un tiempo Españas. Cuando las monedas de Felipe II decían Hispaniarum Rex, era una forma abreviada de decir Rey de Nápoles, de Sicilia y de otros muchos sitios. La bella ciudad de Nápoles fue una de las joyas de la Corona española (o aragonesa) durante dos siglos y medio, poco menos tiempo que Argentina, por ejemplo. Es una muestra del triste estado de nuestro sistema educativo que casi nadie sea consciente de ello.

The winning entry has been announced in this pair.

There were 37 entries submitted in this pair during the submission phase, 7 of which were selected by peers to advance to the finals round. The winning entry was determined based on finals round voting by peers.

Competition in this pair is now closed.


Entries (37 total; 7 finalists) Expand all entries

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Language variants:
Entry #28114 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Danielle Coleman
Danielle Coleman
United Kingdom
Winner
Voting points1st2nd3rd
5211 x43 x22 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.674.33 (3 ratings)3.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 3 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (2 total agrees)
+1
sin tainted
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+1
graciously
Good term selection
Melody Shaw
sandal-shod
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27503 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
305 x43 x24 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.603.60 (5 ratings)3.60 (5 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 4 users entered 10 "like" tags
  • 5 users agreed with "likes" (8 total agrees)
  • 3 users disagreed with "likes" (3 total disagrees)
+3
unmitigated
Good term selection
Richard Flight
strength of will, and victory over self,
Good term selection
philgoddard
sparing yourself the disappointment
Good term selection
philgoddard
for he shall
Flows well
Good choic​e, sounds ​natural
MacarenaTouceda
disobeying the first rule of any pilgrimage, and that initial transgression set the tone
Flows well
philgoddard
+1
shambles
Good term selection
philgoddard
assuming
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
-3
+1
2
espadrilles-on-pavement way
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+2
strange as it may seem
Good term selection
philgoddard
+1
bore the inscription
Good term selection
philgoddard
Entry #27928 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
204 x41 x22 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.333.40 (5 ratings)3.25 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
  • 2 users agreed with "likes" (2 total agrees)
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (1 total disagree)
-1
+2
1
sandal-clad foot
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27281 — Discuss 0 — Variant: UK
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
192 x44 x23 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.203.40 (5 ratings)3.00 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 2 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
+1
triumph over adversity
Good term selection
Ventnai
pestilence d
Good term selection
philgoddard
Entry #27742 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Amanda Foy
Amanda Foy
United States
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
101 x42 x22 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.003.00 (5 ratings)3.00 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 4 users entered 5 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (1 total disagree)
+1
1
contemplating
Good term selection
Richard Flight
abandon
Good term selection
Natalie Soper
transgression
Good term selection
B D Finch
-1
1
hiking
Good term selection
Richard Flight
sorry
Good term selection
Danielle Coleman
Entry #28034 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
602 x22 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.003.00 (5 ratings)3.00 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 7 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (2 total agrees)
  • 2 users disagreed with "likes" (6 total disagrees)
mess up
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-1
1
or upon the gentle push of their confessor to rid their souls of sin
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Way to Santiag
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-2
+1
1
afoot
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-1
once upon a time
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+1
minted
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-2
2
short way of proclaiming
Flows well
Richard Flight
Entry #28046 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Ed Winograd
Ed Winograd
United States
Finalist
Voting points1st2nd3rd
502 x21 x1
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.253.25 (4 ratings)3.25 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 2 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (1 total disagree)
+1
rope-soled sandals
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-1
1
trekking
Good term selection
Richard Flight


Non-finalist entries

The following entries were not selected by peers to advance to finals-round voting.

Entry #27215 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry3.303.60 (5 ratings)3.00 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 3 users entered 4 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
+1
cardinal rule
Good term selection
Melody Shaw
gently prodded
Good term selection
philgoddard
unless of course
Flows well
Use of unl​ess is goo​d but of c​ourse requ​ires comma​s. Unless,​ of course​.
Marian Vieyra
attests to the sorry state
Good term selection
philgoddard
Entry #27467 — Discuss 0 — Variant: UK
Tendesai Bakasa
Tendesai Bakasa
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.782.80 (5 ratings)2.75 (4 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 3 "like" tags
  • 2 users disagreed with "likes" (2 total disagrees)
one of the most ancient Spanish territories
Good term selection
Marian Vieyra
shorthand
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-2
2
joys
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27788 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Canadian
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.673.00 (3 ratings)2.33 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 8 "like" tags
  • 2 users agreed with "likes" (4 total agrees)
  • 2 users disagreed with "likes" (2 total disagrees)
+1
not want for
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-1
+1
1
laced up
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+1
shouldered
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+1
bade a tearful farewell to his nearest and dearest,
Flows well
Inspired c​hoice of w​ords.
Martin Cosgrove (X)
trudging
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-1
hoof it
Good term selection
Richard Flight
of old
Flows well
Fits well ​with the o​verall ton​e of the p​iece.
Martin Cosgrove (X)
a testament to the sad state of our education system.
Good term selection
Martin Cosgrove (X)
Entry #27886 — Discuss 0 — Variant: UK
Rosina Tranter
Rosina Tranter
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.592.67 (3 ratings)2.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #28087 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.542.75 (4 ratings)2.33 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 3 "like" tags
cart
Good term selection
Richard Flight
scrip
Good term selection
Nice allit​eration
Richard Flight
however unlikely it seems
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27427 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.472.60 (5 ratings)2.33 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 2 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
+1
unmitigated
Good term selection
Richard Flight
nary
Good term selection
Such a swe​et word, a​nd works s​o well in ​this conte​xt
Richard Flight
Entry #27191 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.342.67 (3 ratings)2.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #27395 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Martin Cosgrove (X)
Martin Cosgrove (X)
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.342.67 (3 ratings)2.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 3 users entered 11 "like" tags
  • 3 users agreed with "likes" (5 total agrees)
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (1 total disagree)
+2
1
beating the odds
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+1
self-mastery
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
wise chap who said a lot of stuff
Good term selection
Richard Flight
The aforementioned disaster of a pilgrimage.
Good term selection
Lauren Ryan
hop on
Good term selection
Richard Flight
assuming, of course
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
+1
cut drastically short
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-1
sandal-powered
Good term selection
Richard Flight
believe it or not
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
shorthand
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+1
indictment
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27419 — Discuss 0 — Variant: UK
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.342.67 (3 ratings)2.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 3 users entered 5 "like" tags
facing one’s demons
Good term selection
Richard Flight
initial
Good term selection
Marian Vieyra
cordially invited
Good term selection
Danielle Coleman
old Spanish territories
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
indictment
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #28019 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Victoria Monk
Victoria Monk
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.342.00 (4 ratings)2.67 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 3 "like" tags
simply put
Good term selection
philgoddard
once under Spanish rule
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
scarcely less time than Argentina
Flows well
This refle​cts the Sp​anish mean​ing. It sa​ys 'poco m​enos', not​ 'un poco ​menos'.
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27731 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Christopher Drew MA
Christopher Drew MA
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.172.33 (3 ratings)2.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 4 users entered 7 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (4 total agrees)
  • 2 users disagreed with "likes" (2 total disagrees)
-1
+1
1
“Blessed is the person who spends their time
Good term selection
Good gende​r-neutral ​rendering ​of the Bea​titudes
Amanda Foy
+1
reminiscing
Good term selection
Such a nic​e way to s​ay it
Richard Flight
-1
mess up
Good term selection
Richard Flight
abundant
Good term selection
Dot Roberts
+1
months-long walk
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
written upon them
Flows well
Dot Roberts
+1
indictment
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27301 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.002.00 (2 ratings)2.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 3 "like" tags
  • 2 users agreed with "likes" (2 total agrees)
+2
right off the bat
Good term selection
Richard Flight
scrip
Good term selection
Marian Vieyra
a host of
Good term selection
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27757 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Kristen Stone
Kristen Stone
United States
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry2.002.00 (3 ratings)2.00 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 2 "like" tags
debacle
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Naples and Sicily at one time belonged to Spain
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27557 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.841.67 (3 ratings)2.00 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
it is better that you stop reading now
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27689 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Marian Vieyra
Marian Vieyra
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.752.50 (2 ratings)1.00 (1 rating)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
+1
derring-do
Good term selection
Wonderful ​word!
Richard Flight
Entry #27931 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.752.00 (3 ratings)1.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
overcoming obstacles
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27767 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.631.25 (4 ratings)2.00 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #27221 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Irish
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.591.67 (3 ratings)1.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
the next best thing
Good term selection
Melody Shaw
Entry #28096 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.591.67 (3 ratings)1.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 4 "like" tags
heroes
Good term selection
Richard Flight
started off on the wrong foot
Good term selection
Richard Flight
horse-drawn
Good term selection
Richard Flight
shorthand
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27115 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.501.50 (2 ratings)1.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 3 "like" tags
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (1 total disagree)
must've
Good term selection
Richard Flight
-1
much time he will have
Good term selection
Richard Flight
hopped
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27284 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Canadian
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.501.50 (2 ratings)1.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 2 "like" tags
  • 1 user disagreed with "likes" (1 total disagree)
-1
1
haversack
Good term selection
Richard Flight
rope-soled
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #27605 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Canadian
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.501.50 (2 ratings)1.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
+1
Rule number one of every pilgrimage
Good term selection
philgoddard
Entry #27814 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.501.50 (2 ratings)1.50 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
Happy is he
Flows well
Dot Roberts
Entry #27725 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.341.67 (3 ratings)1.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 2 users entered 2 "like" tags
Fortunate
Good term selection
Richard Flight
provided, of course,
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
Entry #28052 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.341.00 (4 ratings)1.67 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #28061 — Discuss 0 — Variant: British
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.341.67 (3 ratings)1.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 3 "like" tags
  • 1 user agreed with "likes" (1 total agree)
  • 2 users disagreed with "likes" (2 total disagrees)
-2
2
chariot
Good term selection
Richard Flight
+1
brigands
Good term selection
Richard Flight
indictment
Good term selection
Richard Flight
Entry #28022 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
lijanna
lijanna
United States
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.331.33 (3 ratings)1.33 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
sorry state
Flows well
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27589 — Discuss 0 — Variant: UK
Ella McHarg
Ella McHarg
United Kingdom
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.171.33 (3 ratings)1.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 2 "like" tags
rope sandals
Good term selection
Marian Vieyra
provided that
Good term selection
Marian Vieyra
Entry #27946 — Discuss 0 — Variant: Not specified
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.131.25 (4 ratings)1.00 (3 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • No "like" tags
Entry #27817 — Discuss 0 — Variant: US
Rating typeOverallQualityAccuracy
Entry1.001.00 (2 ratings)1.00 (2 ratings)
Entry tagging:
  • 1 user entered 1 "like" tag
sobs
Good term selection
Richard Flight