We went out after 6:30 with the entention of seeing the old town all
alight. We walked 3 roads and listened to 3 buskers. One was a Russian
group of 3. Another was a harpist. The last was a Galician group with
a bagpipe and Celtic drum. It was a fun evening.
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
To Santiago
We made it to our designated stop for the night, Palas de Rei. This
town has only a few albergues and a few pensions. We had our Irish
amigas get a room in a pension for 13€ each in a triple room. Denise
and I got a twin room for 15€ which was ok.
We met the sweet Irish lasses near the top of our second mountain on
Sunday. We have had dinner in town with them since. Last night we said
good bye. I hope to visit them in Ireland.
Our Irish ladies, Bria, Onia and Angela,
walked without packs cause they sent them ahead. Sending the packs
ahead speeds you up as you can imagine.
It's a service offered on the entire Camino, for 3 euro you leave your
pack at your albergue it is then transported to your next stop. It's a
great idea baring the unforseen. We met a New Zealand woman yesterday
that had a severe case of the poops in route. She had her pack sent
ahead and had nothing to change into. She was wearing her jacket as a
skirt until she could wash out her clothes.
And so we are on a bus to Santiago. My feet are so tired they have yet
to recover from yesteday's 25 km. 3 of my toenail beds are bruised
looking and I thank the maker for my crocks. I cannot wait to see the
cathedral and walk in the plaza where all of the pilgrims have for
hundreds of years.
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
town has only a few albergues and a few pensions. We had our Irish
amigas get a room in a pension for 13€ each in a triple room. Denise
and I got a twin room for 15€ which was ok.
We met the sweet Irish lasses near the top of our second mountain on
Sunday. We have had dinner in town with them since. Last night we said
good bye. I hope to visit them in Ireland.
Our Irish ladies, Bria, Onia and Angela,
walked without packs cause they sent them ahead. Sending the packs
ahead speeds you up as you can imagine.
It's a service offered on the entire Camino, for 3 euro you leave your
pack at your albergue it is then transported to your next stop. It's a
great idea baring the unforseen. We met a New Zealand woman yesterday
that had a severe case of the poops in route. She had her pack sent
ahead and had nothing to change into. She was wearing her jacket as a
skirt until she could wash out her clothes.
And so we are on a bus to Santiago. My feet are so tired they have yet
to recover from yesteday's 25 km. 3 of my toenail beds are bruised
looking and I thank the maker for my crocks. I cannot wait to see the
cathedral and walk in the plaza where all of the pilgrims have for
hundreds of years.
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
Last walking day
We spent the night in Portomarin. I never got into town because the
hostal we stayed in was on the edge of town and my feet hurt badly, of
course, so I never saw town but the river was lovely ;)
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
hostal we stayed in was on the edge of town and my feet hurt badly, of
course, so I never saw town but the river was lovely ;)
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
Monday, September 17, 2012
Time
Vacation time is different then regular time. We work hard to get
vacation but once we take vacation it is quickly gone. I have been on
vacation for 12 days but it is a drop in the bucket. Everyday we have
worked to this point. We are just days from Santiago but we cannot
walk there in time. It is disappointing but I know that I will see it
and bring Rob for the completion if he wants, next time. This camino
has helped me truely learn compasion. I do not need to return.
Sent from the Camino somewhere in Spain :)
vacation but once we take vacation it is quickly gone. I have been on
vacation for 12 days but it is a drop in the bucket. Everyday we have
worked to this point. We are just days from Santiago but we cannot
walk there in time. It is disappointing but I know that I will see it
and bring Rob for the completion if he wants, next time. This camino
has helped me truely learn compasion. I do not need to return.
Sent from the Camino somewhere in Spain :)
Albergue in the AM
We are in Triacastile. The first major town in Galicia Provence.
Denise is microwaving pototoes and I am watching everyone start the
trek to Saria. The mountains are not quite behind us and we still are
going down. Yesterday was muy mal. All ups and downs. I am hoping for
a more level day today.
The bed race has begun. People get up at 6 and leave in the dark with
the hopes of getting a bed in the next town. Yesterday we went to 5
places before finding a bed. We got lucky actually because we landed a
good albergue. Nice facilities, lounge and tv room/ dinning area. The
bathroom is unisex and only has 3 of each, sink, toilet, shower but ok.
I slept really well last night. It may have been the really strenuous
day or the several glasses of wine with dinner. Either way it was
needed because today we will be racing to the next bed through
beautiful Galicia!
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
Denise is microwaving pototoes and I am watching everyone start the
trek to Saria. The mountains are not quite behind us and we still are
going down. Yesterday was muy mal. All ups and downs. I am hoping for
a more level day today.
The bed race has begun. People get up at 6 and leave in the dark with
the hopes of getting a bed in the next town. Yesterday we went to 5
places before finding a bed. We got lucky actually because we landed a
good albergue. Nice facilities, lounge and tv room/ dinning area. The
bathroom is unisex and only has 3 of each, sink, toilet, shower but ok.
I slept really well last night. It may have been the really strenuous
day or the several glasses of wine with dinner. Either way it was
needed because today we will be racing to the next bed through
beautiful Galicia!
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
On the down side
The word for the day, humble. I taxied down the rest of the descent
into Ponferrada. Yesterday we did 19km in 7.5 hours. Denise was
cheerful through it all although I felt bad for holding her back.
We ate a relaxing lunch in a beautiful mountain town, El Acebo, about
6.5 hours into the day then walked another hour to Reigo de Ambros
where we stayed for the night. The hostal there was sparce but ok and
the town bar had what we needed. I have had some great regional
wines :) Denise is not a wine lover but has discovered the joy of
home-made sangria. She finally learned yesterday how to request the
necessary beverages to create it. Between the bar keeper in Rabinal
who was learning English and the lady from Barcelona, Denise assembled
her phrase for 1 glass of wine and 1 glass of orange juice and 1 glass
of ice. I hate to see her ruin a perfectly good glass of wine but it
is delicious to her and she can throw it back quick! That said, she
only orders 1 and really doesn't get a buzz. Too bad :)
So here I wait in a bar with wi-fi drinking a nice vino tinto waiting
for mi amiga y perigrina, Denise. Across from here is the Knights
Templar castle. We will meet at 1 there at the draw bridge.
I have used more Spanish on this trip then I expected and I am
surprised that I am doing so well. I'm not too good but whatever,
between the 2 of us we are making it work. Denise speaks French and
speaks with the French pilgrims when she can. It is getting easier for
her as she remembers. She spent about 9 months in France doing an
emersion program many years ago.
Here is my plug for Pimsleur audio learning, all you need is the first
20 lessons and a good phrase book and you can do it! Robert, my son,
has encouraged me to plod on with the lessons and it has been a great
help!
Well, I am going to walk around and see a bit of town before meeting
Denise. I have had internet difficulties but perhaps we can be
connected better as we are are out of the mountains. Buen Camino my
friends!
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
into Ponferrada. Yesterday we did 19km in 7.5 hours. Denise was
cheerful through it all although I felt bad for holding her back.
We ate a relaxing lunch in a beautiful mountain town, El Acebo, about
6.5 hours into the day then walked another hour to Reigo de Ambros
where we stayed for the night. The hostal there was sparce but ok and
the town bar had what we needed. I have had some great regional
wines :) Denise is not a wine lover but has discovered the joy of
home-made sangria. She finally learned yesterday how to request the
necessary beverages to create it. Between the bar keeper in Rabinal
who was learning English and the lady from Barcelona, Denise assembled
her phrase for 1 glass of wine and 1 glass of orange juice and 1 glass
of ice. I hate to see her ruin a perfectly good glass of wine but it
is delicious to her and she can throw it back quick! That said, she
only orders 1 and really doesn't get a buzz. Too bad :)
So here I wait in a bar with wi-fi drinking a nice vino tinto waiting
for mi amiga y perigrina, Denise. Across from here is the Knights
Templar castle. We will meet at 1 there at the draw bridge.
I have used more Spanish on this trip then I expected and I am
surprised that I am doing so well. I'm not too good but whatever,
between the 2 of us we are making it work. Denise speaks French and
speaks with the French pilgrims when she can. It is getting easier for
her as she remembers. She spent about 9 months in France doing an
emersion program many years ago.
Here is my plug for Pimsleur audio learning, all you need is the first
20 lessons and a good phrase book and you can do it! Robert, my son,
has encouraged me to plod on with the lessons and it has been a great
help!
Well, I am going to walk around and see a bit of town before meeting
Denise. I have had internet difficulties but perhaps we can be
connected better as we are are out of the mountains. Buen Camino my
friends!
Sent from the Camino, somewhere in Spain :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Where are we?
I am sitting on a 2nd floor porch looking over the garden and orchard/
clothes drying space in Rabinal. We walked about 16 km today. The
Refugio is ran by the Confraternaty of St James, a British friends
group. The place is very homey and the hospitalaros(sp) are very kind.
We have had 5pm tea with lemon or milk and I have had a salt foot bath
to help toughen my blisters. They are healing slowly but the new boots
have helped along with minimal walking yesterday.
Tomorrow we ascend the hill about 350 meters to see the famous metal
cross where people leave stones for prayers or to leave the bad behind
or something like that. I guess I should find a stone cause my feet
are killing me!
Denise has been a great companion through all of the pain and knashing
of teeth her picture taking is a source of entertainment. She takes
pictures of wine and beers in the bars, the food and just about
everything including the painted doors, she likes blue, and the
bunting of multinational flags.
We will be taking it slow tomorrow.
Sent from my iPhone
clothes drying space in Rabinal. We walked about 16 km today. The
Refugio is ran by the Confraternaty of St James, a British friends
group. The place is very homey and the hospitalaros(sp) are very kind.
We have had 5pm tea with lemon or milk and I have had a salt foot bath
to help toughen my blisters. They are healing slowly but the new boots
have helped along with minimal walking yesterday.
Tomorrow we ascend the hill about 350 meters to see the famous metal
cross where people leave stones for prayers or to leave the bad behind
or something like that. I guess I should find a stone cause my feet
are killing me!
Denise has been a great companion through all of the pain and knashing
of teeth her picture taking is a source of entertainment. She takes
pictures of wine and beers in the bars, the food and just about
everything including the painted doors, she likes blue, and the
bunting of multinational flags.
We will be taking it slow tomorrow.
Sent from my iPhone
Monday, September 10, 2012
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Starting point!
found the key in the lock box adjacent to the front door to get into
our room. Then we went back into town, one block, for Spanish dinner.
I had a hambuguesa with potatatas and a cana, a small beer. Yes I got
another beer after the devouring of the food!
We have to go find the sisters to get Denice a pilgrim's passport then
off to the next town!
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
One More Time, With Feeling!
Time has past and now it is time to begin again.
September 7th, 2012
Spain
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