My Camino is one of change and rebirth. I believe we are propelled through life in a series of stages leading to fulfillment. I am at a transition point in my life from one stage to another, my Camino has allowed me to focus on those personal qualities needed for the next stage of life. This was said by tony Calhoun , age 66, from okapi, California.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Words From Camino Friends (9/29)
Last night my wife Karen and I and another pilgrim called Steve shared a room in an Alburgeu on the Camino with Lee and LaRae. We had a great dinner with a few glasses of vino tinto and enjoyed some stories about our families and homes. It has been a real pleasure to get to know Lee and BeeBop and we are looking forward to many more happy dinners together on this amazing journey through Spain. Ian & Karen, Via Trajana, 26th September, 2014.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Camino Stats (9/24)
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Miles Walked: 243
Miles to Santiago: 257
Days Walked: 18
Average Miles Per Day: 14
Albergue Cost Per Day: 10 euros
Average Daily Food Cost: 15 euros
Blisters: 3
To be continued... Buen Camino!
Camino Friends
We have met so many wonderful friends along the way from all over the world. Can't believe the camino is so international. Some friends we may only see once and then others we run into along the camino continuously. Some you share a pilgrim's meal or some just wine at a local bar. Here are a few of our friends along the camino that we will always remember!
Our friend from the monastery that provided a perfect night for all of us pilgrims.
Pam and her husband Steve are from Oregon and Karen.
Anna, a doctor from Germany and Hub, from the Netherlands.
More from our German Friends.
Jay and Carrie from Seattle. We met them our first night in Orrison at our very first pilgrims meal. Jay introduced Lee to Crocs and he has been looking for them in every village we pass.
Anna, Karen and me. We keep crossing path and we have enjoyed hanging out with them.
Camino Funnies... (9/27)
When we first arrived in St. Jean in France, our back packs were tooooo heavy. So we sent things ahead to Santiago so we could have for part two of our travels around Europe. Most of the things we sent ahead, we have purchased again on the camino. We have also lost a lot of things along the way.
Things we lost:
Lee's comb - but he found a new one that someone left behind in an albergue.
Suntan lotion - we have just bought our third tube. Then we find a tube on the trail.
Lotion - no idea.
Tights - left behind somewhere.
Undies - left behind on the clothesline. Sure someone else is enjoying my Victoria Secret undies.
Sunglasses - they were free and not attractive, but my favs. Found a new pair at Claire's.
Lip liner - it was too long for pocket so I broke pencil to make it smaller to fit my pocket. Evidently so small it fell out of my pocket.
Lip liner sharpener - it's OK since I no longer have a lip liner.
Glove - still have one.
Glasses lens - still have one lens. Thank goodness I did not send my spare to Santiago.
Walking stick - we lost two when Lee left them behind in a restsurant in Shogun. Then we went back and they only had one walking stick. Now he is using mine.
Things I took - accidentally:
Peter was my bunk mate one night at a albergue. He was big and strong. I was having trouble climbing on top bunk because ladder was not attached. Every time I tried to get up it was sliding. So Peter to the rescue. Then after I got up, I noticed there were no rails. Peter helped me down and then moved our bunks up against wall. Better. Then the next morning, he helped me and Lee get down from upper bunks. Strong like bull. He left much earlier than us. Lee and I are the camino clean up crew. I noticed Peter left his light. So when Lee and I were on the trail, told him we needed to look for Peter to return his light. Turns out, it was not Peter's. It belonged back at the albergue. One rule to always follow on the camino, Never Go Back! I don't feel too bad, because the man at the albergue charged me 3 euros for a cup if hot tea.
Lee has decided he must have a pair of Crocs. We have stopped at evey shoe store and sporting goods store along the way but no Crocs. Then one day we saw some in the window of a pharmacy (of all places), but they did not have in his size. By the way there is no Spanish word for Crocs.
We have also been lost a couple of times. Once we were all alone in a field and not sure if we should go forward or of back and look for a yellow arrow. We decided to go back. Then we noticed a farmer in the field and he was waving his arms and hollering. We thought we might be in triuble for being on his property. All of a sudden he gets in his John Deere tractor and heads towards us, so we decide to meet him in the middle. Turns out he was just trying to help out. He gave us directions and we were off.
Cathedral de Burgos (9/24)
Burgos, Spain
This is one the most beautiful cathederals I have seen in Europe. Construction began in 1221... Can you imagine it is still standing today. Of course their has been many ongoing projects over the years to preserve the integrity of the building and the artistic beauty. It is huge and has 15 separate chapels all under one roof. The church still has daily and weekly services. In fact, when we were there we saw a funeral and a very elaborate wedding. Enjoy!
Time to catch up... (9/24)
Time to catch up...
We have tried to keep up our blog, but almost impossible with the lack of wifi at some of the smaller albergues. Some of the larger ones may have wifi, but it is just in one small area. So anyway, they say a picture says a thousand words. So enjoy some of the pics we have taken along our camino on the way to Santiago!
Just art along the path
Winery we passed. Great vino!
Lee and I enjoying vino with friends at albergue. At 2 euros a bottle, Lee picked up several bottles for sharing.
Camino art.
Pilgrims meal at monastery where we stayed one night. We actually slept on mats along with about 100 other pilgrims. Some of the pilgrims actually helped cook the meal. We had a prayer service afterwards. Very spiritual.
These were the wonderful men that were in charge of the monastery.
Monastery chapel. Very modest, but so beautiful.
You will be walking along in the middle of no where, then more art.
Rock art is everywhere. So many creative pilgrims!
Cute! This was advertisement for albergue.
Chickens were honored in this village. Always time to have fun!
To be continued... Buen Camino!
Los Arcos to Viana, Spain (9/14)
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Distance: 20km
Albergue: Andrés Muñoz Municipal Albergue
Got up at 5:30am and Joseph, our albergue host, had prepared breakfast with wonderful homemade coffee cake along with fresh fruit, coffee and tea. Yum. We were on the trail by 7:00am. It was a great and pretty easy hike, if you don't include the hills and the sun.
Our plans were to reach Viana, have a picnic lunch, siesta in the park until it got a little cooler then hike to Lorgono. Logorno is another 10km farther.
But when we got to Viana, it was Festival and the Running of the Bulls. Wow, what a surprise. Of course, we cancelled our plans. Choices... Hike or Festival. We found beds at the famous Andrés Muñioz Albergue. (Andrés was formerly a pilgrim and he is responsible for all of the signs on the Camino.)
The entire village was dressed in white clothing with red scarves. The band was playing the bull fighting music. The crowd was ready for the bulls and the barricades were secured. The street where the bulls run was filled with people, tables and chairs with food and drinks. Big parade characters were floating down the street.
I was wondering how that was going to work with bulls running down the street? Then ten minutes before the run, everyone starting bringing all of the food and furniture inside. Ready!
This Running of the Bulls is not like the real one in Pamplona. The bulls are smaller and no one is running. Some people are standing inside the barricades? Then the bulls are released from the ring. They run the entire length of the city and then back again.
On the first run, a man was injured and had to be carried away on a stretcher. We did not see any blood when they carried him away, but the band was playing Taps. Watching the bulls was still so exciting.
We took pictures, but most of the pics were parts of the bulls because they were so fast. But enough snaps and finally a few pics.
They also had tables set for a catered celebration dinner and the tables stretched the length of the street seating 400 guests for 20 euros. We opted for tapas with wine and beer.
Later we got a pitcher of sangria and brought it back to our albergue to watch the sunset. The sunset was fire red... Beautiful!
Then we headed back to join the party in town to hear the band play some Spanish music. One song was from Jungle Book? I joined in for a Spanish line dance with some little old ladies. I also encouraged a little do si do, so round and round we went. We had so much fun.
Then the bottom dropped out and it was the running of the people. We had so much fun and what a pleasant surprise. Then it was time for lights out!
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