tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27366051590899223732024-03-13T17:58:33.138-07:00Trekking the El CaminoSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-52156071870802049142010-07-26T11:54:00.000-07:002010-07-26T12:04:33.937-07:00My last day in Santiago Compestela....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoT7-7TKWEvqv1LDuaPb4E7DF3XpNMNeabefVKyHB8BnD9lbRhJdXStl8HedAHGXVFtpyMr99ylxSuHLBMyJJgnczxB1rkKtwUkSgAfmPvk14axzbr1mWHmWBlJ-z1ONo0dEUiXgmLzyd/s1600/Santiagocompestela+013.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498292606905520130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoT7-7TKWEvqv1LDuaPb4E7DF3XpNMNeabefVKyHB8BnD9lbRhJdXStl8HedAHGXVFtpyMr99ylxSuHLBMyJJgnczxB1rkKtwUkSgAfmPvk14axzbr1mWHmWBlJ-z1ONo0dEUiXgmLzyd/s200/Santiagocompestela+013.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5z5nNJv60enuvsWJH9gvgwYoVtyQF-BpIe84JWWP1znfrFCv1tGZw4_AIcAzhnpF1h7ceWtuMdIzx75_H4IWWYIoDNuO0hi8dKYLFFutCpw2SiTn5UXg1CuudgsWqEOcsb-gH-mJJbNW/s1600/Santiagocompestela+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498292450114412770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5z5nNJv60enuvsWJH9gvgwYoVtyQF-BpIe84JWWP1znfrFCv1tGZw4_AIcAzhnpF1h7ceWtuMdIzx75_H4IWWYIoDNuO0hi8dKYLFFutCpw2SiTn5UXg1CuudgsWqEOcsb-gH-mJJbNW/s200/Santiagocompestela+003.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbFhU22lWE8xOZS1SB3SdbV21pHNShrXYPgZzQwobQlcC9fMX57f5nhhMEJzYjJZe8HXWsrDqrvNwUM-LpB7SUKUn_umyw1XDGDxvZ-3YMm-9Igued4M0d3QlD8VN8CHAvYEdPzL6LXbp/s1600/Santiagocompestela+005.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498292308772163538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbFhU22lWE8xOZS1SB3SdbV21pHNShrXYPgZzQwobQlcC9fMX57f5nhhMEJzYjJZe8HXWsrDqrvNwUM-LpB7SUKUn_umyw1XDGDxvZ-3YMm-9Igued4M0d3QlD8VN8CHAvYEdPzL6LXbp/s200/Santiagocompestela+005.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6Ne59TGNU5nnbj8weT0V_XqHg6joup1adNlbBM8JZNnnrI_FwsA4NAaRoBzmBO1_Ld7pnn6zkNikIaCNU5Wz9uCDOtnRlAdIIpPf9XSTtoeN7lvWivtJtSrbVGO7o6uWfLWz26kbPwWF/s1600/Santiagocompestela+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498291031121267794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6Ne59TGNU5nnbj8weT0V_XqHg6joup1adNlbBM8JZNnnrI_FwsA4NAaRoBzmBO1_Ld7pnn6zkNikIaCNU5Wz9uCDOtnRlAdIIpPf9XSTtoeN7lvWivtJtSrbVGO7o6uWfLWz26kbPwWF/s200/Santiagocompestela+002.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Hello all,</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I can´t believe it but today´s my last day in Santiago Compestela. Tomorrow I leave for Italy. I wonder what adventures await in Rome and Florence.</div><div> </div><div>Anyway, here´s a picture of this huge celebration in Santiago Compestela. This was taken on July 24th the day before the big golden anniversary on the el camino de santiago. It only happens once every 11 years.</div><br /><div>Cecilia and I hung out at the plaza for several hours to see the festivities but it was totally worth it. They had this huge light show with the cathedral as the backdrop. I loved it!!!! They had all of these images of pilgrims walking, ancient latin scrolls of directions through the camino, images of Saint James and of other apostles. All to the beat of the gaiteros (or bag pipes) which is very Galician since this part of Spain has an affinity with Ireland. Way cool.</div><br /><br /><div>Hasta luego,</div><div>Andrea</div></div></div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-21449950792348347882010-07-24T04:33:00.000-07:002010-07-24T05:07:03.038-07:00The end of my camino but more festivities to come (so stayed tuned)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wVKdlakYMUpnl42ZHXiTVpsXLskbjgXoTLhpB1X2CxC9OhLoiE7Dd8H6so-0w7E_-1xlgm_kTgAWyiqUJjq_KI7p8__DFnmzzfpt-uyndiG4fCgHODxZF3A-HXj70juTC1NqYYQOJr6H/s1600/00332.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wVKdlakYMUpnl42ZHXiTVpsXLskbjgXoTLhpB1X2CxC9OhLoiE7Dd8H6so-0w7E_-1xlgm_kTgAWyiqUJjq_KI7p8__DFnmzzfpt-uyndiG4fCgHODxZF3A-HXj70juTC1NqYYQOJr6H/s200/00332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497439740669998370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxGzQLSCa2ywxlIo5yy50taUKQkDIua8EJ7zxnfe3sSPxxhyLi_iap08g3LeNLLbIIkdNogRB6lzLGK-9g8HvOTAw0liw35oCnI6SaO3gpb1Z8yUx-e-vSkTGbwHCt3G-nYB_0cWe8Qnt/s1600/00329.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxGzQLSCa2ywxlIo5yy50taUKQkDIua8EJ7zxnfe3sSPxxhyLi_iap08g3LeNLLbIIkdNogRB6lzLGK-9g8HvOTAw0liw35oCnI6SaO3gpb1Z8yUx-e-vSkTGbwHCt3G-nYB_0cWe8Qnt/s200/00329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497439224701746882" border="0" /></a>My new friend, Cecilia, from Mar de Plata, Argentina. We met at the alburgue the two nights before I planned on arriving in Santiago. We agreed just to walk 3 kilometers to the next town to have breakfast the next day. Before we knew it we were hanging out all the way to the cathedral of Santiago Compestela. Here we are just enjoying a soda in one of the local cafes that dot the camino. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhburnloBG9Y_17J0JFWHR54ABE-RkMz1M6fG3yy7u2RlGqcxQZp5RUKkm125-uWIlrd3C2fShz2yjl056-StEpP_5gb6Y8jE7SrEiuVniEc4MO-pi6_LnDoWoXELjkPcMUhAco6d-JprpU/s1600/00333.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhburnloBG9Y_17J0JFWHR54ABE-RkMz1M6fG3yy7u2RlGqcxQZp5RUKkm125-uWIlrd3C2fShz2yjl056-StEpP_5gb6Y8jE7SrEiuVniEc4MO-pi6_LnDoWoXELjkPcMUhAco6d-JprpU/s200/00333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497439218371808146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTq2IzvZvzrlozgimosLZDj7irSM5N-WTFENrLBOY3xpLAfDhNELKM7bgsvefq5e5F6JnBC97ohWbICAuqsuOzcldI1g2yT0ZT7T9r7xARmDRtsCfdzRz0t8dIs8yoQTWoiTA0p0ucu1y/s1600/00337.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTq2IzvZvzrlozgimosLZDj7irSM5N-WTFENrLBOY3xpLAfDhNELKM7bgsvefq5e5F6JnBC97ohWbICAuqsuOzcldI1g2yT0ZT7T9r7xARmDRtsCfdzRz0t8dIs8yoQTWoiTA0p0ucu1y/s200/00337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497439211393086562" border="0" /></a>Here are the married Canadian couple, Marc and Christine, Cecilia and I in front of the Cathedral of Santiago Compestela. We all finished our camino together, giving each other high fives and hugs. Its a great feeling to finish!!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide1qkUx48fuNu2cl_EPzYs6CZFD7pE1YnLbYQ62l29QlWVVCMzMOxRI53tIEVvsaKi-xNJoY17YtcVaG3_CP1-pDJRjpbSvML-aDeR3PRlazo2kjbJTvHSblTKFha3K0Z0yBJv47TDC9f/s1600/00338.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 2px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide1qkUx48fuNu2cl_EPzYs6CZFD7pE1YnLbYQ62l29QlWVVCMzMOxRI53tIEVvsaKi-xNJoY17YtcVaG3_CP1-pDJRjpbSvML-aDeR3PRlazo2kjbJTvHSblTKFha3K0Z0yBJv47TDC9f/s200/00338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497439209599605362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqU2as6PN0zGATpC0iALcwAyQqsH5GxKA9JLWr5rK8cVtR_Ibm3MdbVDwFmG1PKVfhkHKPYp4AILj0gcqWVP3HmJF1wggyCbDxTLyVt69jEuvbgtc2pMv3lX18hOxrLP_VgXGQhE4ZLID/s1600/00337.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 3px; height: 2px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqU2as6PN0zGATpC0iALcwAyQqsH5GxKA9JLWr5rK8cVtR_Ibm3MdbVDwFmG1PKVfhkHKPYp4AILj0gcqWVP3HmJF1wggyCbDxTLyVt69jEuvbgtc2pMv3lX18hOxrLP_VgXGQhE4ZLID/s200/00337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497439205432647554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONm5i2muDhGjogMCVY9HrTvXgPXj4t7DxahjYXLEyGUY-q2mrvzYpt5e7sPKCPjX4TmiHN9OfP01uvyOB6H3OLZc2jE7443i7n3vyGdSJYh4paKPfpnA01rqrSjsbZSSmaPHOeuNnC99v/s1600/00330.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONm5i2muDhGjogMCVY9HrTvXgPXj4t7DxahjYXLEyGUY-q2mrvzYpt5e7sPKCPjX4TmiHN9OfP01uvyOB6H3OLZc2jE7443i7n3vyGdSJYh4paKPfpnA01rqrSjsbZSSmaPHOeuNnC99v/s200/00330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497437787599955458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXRVpFIEzTDsanZQcmWJsYc8UjmvMonREsX3C3Rp_xrOAuXRawYKy-aAtpWpbnRiDxKxyMHRwgmrNjqnmsgGwIqMDkdrBSvqoWZMrLzrO5fKO-DeyqsESORWJEou238TK1t0RibuJLeHB/s1600/00334.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXRVpFIEzTDsanZQcmWJsYc8UjmvMonREsX3C3Rp_xrOAuXRawYKy-aAtpWpbnRiDxKxyMHRwgmrNjqnmsgGwIqMDkdrBSvqoWZMrLzrO5fKO-DeyqsESORWJEou238TK1t0RibuJLeHB/s200/00334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497437785016809090" border="0" /></a>Hereś Cecelia on the road. Sheś a real trouper. In great shape and can walk for miles. Weĺl be hanging out together to share in the big festivities in Santiago tonight at 11:30 (Iĺl explain later in my next blog entry)<br /><br />Anyway, sheĺl be going on to Finisterra on Sunday the 25th. Finisterra means "the end of the land" in latin. They hadnt discovered the new world yet. Anyway, Finisterra is where many pilgrims end their journey instead of Santiago Compestela. Sheś brave, sheś walking another 90 kilometers. Good for her!!!1<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8YN4CAtN-djWUddjCi8LNDZ8INGcSFqg_n-cVvmSYtUKhuJ00UVS3YCW_SFz4-qiimFiyAFeVOf-U3wJKW35-s4ZS9ctvpsBcxn6k6ayHlEyep3QH5x1KUiKNmL70wf1bQx7phqSvbY4/s1600/00338.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8YN4CAtN-djWUddjCi8LNDZ8INGcSFqg_n-cVvmSYtUKhuJ00UVS3YCW_SFz4-qiimFiyAFeVOf-U3wJKW35-s4ZS9ctvpsBcxn6k6ayHlEyep3QH5x1KUiKNmL70wf1bQx7phqSvbY4/s200/00338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497437778733962962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgnp3izuCrs4OplnXx1AxXTwNtt0vS8ypowLDImklYDr70YaPyNztSRGSeKS3e4QW1lsPYZwoKAeJcbJc5X9yp3yzzOfih-p88FN6O-y3GU78hdKozoU_Jzh52Y-UfW-gf1hLniyxkBIi/s1600/00336.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgnp3izuCrs4OplnXx1AxXTwNtt0vS8ypowLDImklYDr70YaPyNztSRGSeKS3e4QW1lsPYZwoKAeJcbJc5X9yp3yzzOfih-p88FN6O-y3GU78hdKozoU_Jzh52Y-UfW-gf1hLniyxkBIi/s200/00336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497437770721011250" border="0" /></a>Marc and Christine at the end of their camino<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoevMydywggapm4JDPKgwAO0E4gslQkKfLIiKQ_ZNwSgxPf21iXkmErUxhkhlPXSWNNAE_ZkhwKo31_7SLuZCujs_XBcrhcPzO6hiQIaTJAIV3GF3Ppjqrst-WWBFIxlpOv5EXt1mb75z/s1600/00333.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoevMydywggapm4JDPKgwAO0E4gslQkKfLIiKQ_ZNwSgxPf21iXkmErUxhkhlPXSWNNAE_ZkhwKo31_7SLuZCujs_XBcrhcPzO6hiQIaTJAIV3GF3Ppjqrst-WWBFIxlpOv5EXt1mb75z/s200/00333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497437765575479122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzveRFr8QUv45cjxypv2wlRXqAqdy_eC5xLcj0BfNpOKuuZHr_kRjkukQVJE2iMI87pXISkWiSp7lv7ZTKzkZfxj22y9-ZUpJu_2l_W3bwVIUQNHhUqVC6Rr5QVgkVp1n289egq7ZaHBU/s1600/00339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzveRFr8QUv45cjxypv2wlRXqAqdy_eC5xLcj0BfNpOKuuZHr_kRjkukQVJE2iMI87pXISkWiSp7lv7ZTKzkZfxj22y9-ZUpJu_2l_W3bwVIUQNHhUqVC6Rr5QVgkVp1n289egq7ZaHBU/s200/00339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497436790511640162" border="0" /></a><br />And me. Started in June of 2008 and end in July of 2010. 780 kilometers later, I reached the end of the road. Im very happy to have done it, through the camino, one can meet new friends and explore Spain by foot. But, of course, the greatest discovery is understanding yourself. I loved meeting myself many times on the camino, letting go of past grievances, taking life as it comes, testing myself physically to see if I could go another few kilometers. I loved every step and will always carry with me these memories forever.....<br /><br />Next blog entry, in a couple of days.... <br /><br />Love, AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-12731410241180077792010-07-18T00:58:00.000-07:002010-07-18T01:36:06.915-07:00Day 15 on the road....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2rOiPAicQi5h-R4qPtWDcRxVF-m-w4_WhblwbmQEUwLJHc6G924auX9g84vf8mRDF14lRxIEBycyXaXjg7DCOgmBPbpSDr8uExaqAiFiK7tjL0WfGXIaFjLuH-rGNw2nap8oT-cOnS-y/s1600/galicia2+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495156321605474386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2rOiPAicQi5h-R4qPtWDcRxVF-m-w4_WhblwbmQEUwLJHc6G924auX9g84vf8mRDF14lRxIEBycyXaXjg7DCOgmBPbpSDr8uExaqAiFiK7tjL0WfGXIaFjLuH-rGNw2nap8oT-cOnS-y/s200/galicia2+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hello all, (Melide, Galicia, Spain)<br /><br />Today is Sunday, July 15th and still hanging loose in Galicia. As you can see, Galicia is really laid back and tranquil. Very green, very agricultural, lots of farms, sheep, cows. Its beautiful to walk through. Alone with my thoughts I have time to reflect on the beauty of God.<br />Then I turn on my iphone and blast my tunes.... Hey, gotta keep fill the time somehow. ;)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnZpvBrcYiY20DqtUebSVF8vjcNwI7qQXhaHMpZq9WH-gkUG2JSgTJBpZmqVEp_bwjc-WNCSLVZBRGSG68UmUG7dLUKapWfBMGGIsEtzrW3w2vfsnnrhJ3ICQE6qY4R9h5MVf0ZzYOv4u/s1600/galicia+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495155437866372050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnZpvBrcYiY20DqtUebSVF8vjcNwI7qQXhaHMpZq9WH-gkUG2JSgTJBpZmqVEp_bwjc-WNCSLVZBRGSG68UmUG7dLUKapWfBMGGIsEtzrW3w2vfsnnrhJ3ICQE6qY4R9h5MVf0ZzYOv4u/s200/galicia+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I was talking to local of Galicia. Talking to the locals is the best way to learn about the history. He was saying that while Galicia is very beautiful they really suffer from a lack of industry. So many of their towns and churches have been abandoned (see picture). Starting from the Spanish Civil War until the present, so many Gallegos have left the area to find work.<br /><br />Many have emigrated to Cuba, Argentina and to other parts of Europe. Some have simply gone off to Madrid, the big city, to find work. So while it is super pristine and just beautiful to behold there is some sadness to the Gallego culture....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E8MNBHkyxwWR6LRmUFVdEO51zePCMICAIDY1hZcMs7UoCbx3eNUU9vHKLAbbEfZorwjzHcdXhpMKlO0KwWm1sBPxhWPzCAQjGRxgZqHiG5uc77urzODr80d51inayP-BK32fa8RVuthT/s1600/galicia+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495153553206484050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E8MNBHkyxwWR6LRmUFVdEO51zePCMICAIDY1hZcMs7UoCbx3eNUU9vHKLAbbEfZorwjzHcdXhpMKlO0KwWm1sBPxhWPzCAQjGRxgZqHiG5uc77urzODr80d51inayP-BK32fa8RVuthT/s200/galicia+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As for me, life has been happily passing by. I´ve been really lucky because I´ve been hanging out for the past couple of days with Christine and Mark, a Canadian couple. And guess what? Mark´s an assistant principal at a high school and Christine has spent a lot of time as an educator. The camino and teachers - well, I guess were the only ones with time on our hands to take on a crazy adventure.</div><div></div><div>Anyway, they´ve been great. We walk on our own but somehow I always manage to see in the evening at the next town. Always fun to laugh, share a drink and grouse about who´s been snoring in the alburgue....</div><div></div><div>Hasta pronto!</div><div>Andrea<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-28695062390876765842010-07-15T11:27:00.000-07:002010-07-15T11:56:56.592-07:00Alive and well with photosHi everyone,<br /><br />Well I guess I was wrong and can post photos after all! That´s great. Anyway, as explained down below in my earlier post, I am walking through the backpart of Galicia. If you are following along in a Spain map, I am now in Portomarin, just outside the city of Sarria in Galicia.<br /><br />They say the camino is divided up into three parts; The physical (that would be the Pyrraneas) the mental (that would be the mesita because it is all flat, brown and very hot and the view never changes) and the spiritual (that is Galicia).<br /><br />I can see why Galicia is called the spiritual part of the camino because it is so very green and lovely. The Irish girl that I´ve been walking with says that this looks just like her homeland. Green, rainy and a bit windy. But it also so beautiful!!!!<br /><br />I´ve been on the camino for 12 days now. Its gone by pretty fast. I should be reaching my destination by the 19th or 20th. Check out my photos with descriptions:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88EVgz5bT6vry7rZPrnW2nlJiiq7y03k06omdDVnffZQsJQtyKT2NQ7ulyokjoNNGQx6iegobOXQZLhzh58aihHulShrverJne9sSReTZNCHLDV5DgMdpLIWfSPM0fNbqz8D53j49hQIp/s1600/galicia+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494203519846171106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88EVgz5bT6vry7rZPrnW2nlJiiq7y03k06omdDVnffZQsJQtyKT2NQ7ulyokjoNNGQx6iegobOXQZLhzh58aihHulShrverJne9sSReTZNCHLDV5DgMdpLIWfSPM0fNbqz8D53j49hQIp/s200/galicia+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A cow bathing itself in a river in Galicia, Spain. She knows what to do! Stay cool I say!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeh4nBj5KxRhMywQNi3ipwMgR-yUSGJrk890SP1qf0bmADpeZYlktqji7CkeJWpw0R0HMb-MF6QmQ8SVw3gKYNmLfKW8q9HUrmnC2qyoEhyphenhyphenbdSVDCIr7ZPOohUqGS6RFWfrLVXEoViJ0K/s1600/galicia+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494203287703800482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeh4nBj5KxRhMywQNi3ipwMgR-yUSGJrk890SP1qf0bmADpeZYlktqji7CkeJWpw0R0HMb-MF6QmQ8SVw3gKYNmLfKW8q9HUrmnC2qyoEhyphenhyphenbdSVDCIr7ZPOohUqGS6RFWfrLVXEoViJ0K/s200/galicia+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> The world cup of Spain versus Holland. I was fortunate enough to see it in a small Spanish village of Vega Vallance. The crowd just went wild as you can see. Apparently Spain has never won the world cup. It was great to be part of the celebration!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXruzfstzCwa_XWe1KYK_JS5meJJMq8rrDARV0b_1P_fKXHVexQC8RhAlprvY6LeZ-p-aBHZpDIjsCvTRw0Jz8Fb6pkcGkOdfne3IB4yqUocEK_e7_jaCG3Ooqq52GCFwHR8YDWgdz4P1/s1600/galicia+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494202920594107058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXruzfstzCwa_XWe1KYK_JS5meJJMq8rrDARV0b_1P_fKXHVexQC8RhAlprvY6LeZ-p-aBHZpDIjsCvTRw0Jz8Fb6pkcGkOdfne3IB4yqUocEK_e7_jaCG3Ooqq52GCFwHR8YDWgdz4P1/s200/galicia+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> More anticipation of the final score of the world cup. As you can see the crowd was definitely in rapt anticipation.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaK6aR-oAen8TV25d_3EByN0HkBQ3ug9HGWt-HkA6dVlY2ZrIBRgm2R-zuchbAWUG4dFqaNv0a3Ts8anf89yO1gT52e5bfW-R2GB8KQwtglDMekQiB1WmW0Rs64jL7OnLIK6VDdX7pGo_/s1600/galicia+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494202708840368178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaK6aR-oAen8TV25d_3EByN0HkBQ3ug9HGWt-HkA6dVlY2ZrIBRgm2R-zuchbAWUG4dFqaNv0a3Ts8anf89yO1gT52e5bfW-R2GB8KQwtglDMekQiB1WmW0Rs64jL7OnLIK6VDdX7pGo_/s200/galicia+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Me just walking along the camino. Trying to keep cool and keep straight. This is early morning with about 10 more miles to go.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGyGzhn732a4eZCyU9Pm-vYpk4q9y6lmazU3pnd1XO1nePIu-nKUsFnLEtbilBaqEUDq9sMdzDQ3ZnlCCZhtBJGN1E27Ol1b1jk7MdyKPTAD7wABPaOoze1T2f2RFHHfSCYILNwydnXQI/s1600/galicia+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494202527141883474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGyGzhn732a4eZCyU9Pm-vYpk4q9y6lmazU3pnd1XO1nePIu-nKUsFnLEtbilBaqEUDq9sMdzDQ3ZnlCCZhtBJGN1E27Ol1b1jk7MdyKPTAD7wABPaOoze1T2f2RFHHfSCYILNwydnXQI/s200/galicia+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> I loved meeting this little old guy. I met him in a little tiny hamlet of 35 people in the wilds of Galicia. The town´s name is Hospital de la condesa. Armando has never left his little village, he has spent his entire life in the little house where he was born. Now he walks the little hamlet and just shares stories of the history of his town and of Galicia.<br /><br />I loved chatting with him. Its times like this that I am so happy that I learned how to speak Spanish!!!!! And I made sure to use the Usted form the entire time to show him proper respect.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpETtTNIJ8gb7vaTdYeqXKLtA3LezsGJ5uzWx78zAe9y3eK0GCgfW7FCOLG-21BYryjjl5Ft9XpUoqql9Qvbi-TAmOg_oKnf6ACvfMZloExgCggMtdOwxJg7bU9iLPGdn9RZTRS8xwWuC/s1600/galicia+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494202305517971362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpETtTNIJ8gb7vaTdYeqXKLtA3LezsGJ5uzWx78zAe9y3eK0GCgfW7FCOLG-21BYryjjl5Ft9XpUoqql9Qvbi-TAmOg_oKnf6ACvfMZloExgCggMtdOwxJg7bU9iLPGdn9RZTRS8xwWuC/s200/galicia+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are again, Armando and I. Do you notice how Irish Armando looks? In Galicia, many Irish emigrated to this part of Spain. <br /><br />Armando spoke to me about the Spanish Civil War and how he was a small boy living in this small village during this time. Galicia was one of the last bastions against the Franco dictatorship but it also fell with time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyXSB3ayShlwWv_QBQA0UqNbljjryODTmp3hevZAxvR2fGiRChUqR_rN5INezKxFj3R65z4omlPe9qtCgCwtspIHGd0PB5JIAY0Ih2fBj-zUw5cdbuTtl_VouZMKioaydIBcLINmpmHGY/s1600/galicia+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494202069606876962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyXSB3ayShlwWv_QBQA0UqNbljjryODTmp3hevZAxvR2fGiRChUqR_rN5INezKxFj3R65z4omlPe9qtCgCwtspIHGd0PB5JIAY0Ih2fBj-zUw5cdbuTtl_VouZMKioaydIBcLINmpmHGY/s200/galicia+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a typical arburgue or pilgrim hostal. So, when travelling the camino, you can expect to sleep in a room like this with 25 other pilgrims.<br />The group is mixed, men and women, children alike. Lot of bustling of bags and marking out personal space.<br /><br />But there´s a charm on the camino. People are kind to each other and make sure that you´re doing alright. Okay, there might be some snoring at night, that´s why you always keep your earplugs handy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGassbse9dqXWIjA14Nw5-L6fga-YO9Wks0teEO0zJx1eJaBk-tW2gjex2eOyNLKunKLE-2s2jlCoIfAUH-bAaXhvM3sKpDFtkxSNjd9qvhDPWjtH9ufcZP-pfLJkXppeiG6HtA7wheoV/s1600/galicia+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494201902712822290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGassbse9dqXWIjA14Nw5-L6fga-YO9Wks0teEO0zJx1eJaBk-tW2gjex2eOyNLKunKLE-2s2jlCoIfAUH-bAaXhvM3sKpDFtkxSNjd9qvhDPWjtH9ufcZP-pfLJkXppeiG6HtA7wheoV/s200/galicia+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> My Irish friend, Aofae (pronounced EE-FA). She´s great. We´ve walked together for the last couple of days talking about our lives and trading stories.<br /><br />She´s strong and can take long strides (you can see that she´s really tall) but she´ll slow down so that we can talk and laugh the miles away on the camino. She´s a teacher like me and lives in Dublin. <br /><br />Usually we get into the last town of the camino map, usually about 25 kilometers (15 miles or so). We´re usually getting in there on our knees but with lots of giggles.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY_TnNdeOAgRTW7GN2mW_l2HnWnZ0Ex5wwV8CmkiXTlUPuTzKetJBmVzH6Nifzr6OtKwW_Dtc0IZffPxKOdiGUCePRcQMHWuquVs4_85zoivxDqESpzpN54P7Xgj5MSjBT7ZRb0vmQMr3/s1600/galicia+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494201638909496002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY_TnNdeOAgRTW7GN2mW_l2HnWnZ0Ex5wwV8CmkiXTlUPuTzKetJBmVzH6Nifzr6OtKwW_Dtc0IZffPxKOdiGUCePRcQMHWuquVs4_85zoivxDqESpzpN54P7Xgj5MSjBT7ZRb0vmQMr3/s200/galicia+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And me. Okay, not looking quite like Venus de Milo like old EE-FAA up there but love the picture nonetheless. I love the conch shell in the background which symbolizes the camino and how it reflects the water.<br /><br />Okay, cheerio y hasta la proxima.<br /><br />Besos,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-76384907455028738192010-07-15T11:11:00.000-07:002010-07-15T11:27:39.866-07:00July 15th Alive and wellHello everyone,<br /><br />Well, I´d love to publish some pictures but unfortunately this computer that I´m at doesn´t allow me to download. Quite the bummer.<br /><br />Anyway, just want to report that I am walking through the center of Galicia. Its been rainy and a bit windy but I´ve been carrying forth. I´m lucky because I´m always able to find someone to walk with and talking about our lives melts away the miles.<br /><br />I´m averaging about 15 miles per day lately and am pretty proud of it. I hope to make it Santiago to Compestela by the 20th.<br /><br />Anyway, pictures will be coming soon.<br /><br />Love, AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-30358554101357673162010-07-10T10:21:00.000-07:002010-07-10T10:46:47.951-07:00A week on the camino and still hanging in.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibThGHtHHcprzikPG78J3AKvgsSL2DbekeB0YWC7D1LmtWHrXVhYdZygm0DE6q7aNC9sT6qe_T-9XTJsgthiWZ78FGGzg0II4MZJ-WbYvbRHiEHJY64_difM06icd_JtITk6OhbgcFMCqo/s1600/camino+016.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkjfKOcB6UItSRKfVUgRsHeWphk5pR6n3yCCldtnq_UEhUC5EqmApxQIJKARYB22DdkPyecGs3U2TV3EkuMWILoD-Q7deFsb14iZicCVD4bFJwe5eLCw1_9p2UL3uQZnTTnABkcQz2zas/s1600/camino+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492330511463459154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkjfKOcB6UItSRKfVUgRsHeWphk5pR6n3yCCldtnq_UEhUC5EqmApxQIJKARYB22DdkPyecGs3U2TV3EkuMWILoD-Q7deFsb14iZicCVD4bFJwe5eLCw1_9p2UL3uQZnTTnABkcQz2zas/s200/camino+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Hello everyone,</div><div> </div><div>Here I am hanging out with some American women that I´ve met on the camino. We´re all teachers! Can you imagine that. Anyway, we had a lovely time sharing a bottle of wine, some Spanish fish and a nice big salad.</div><div> </div><div>Its always fun to meet new people on the road.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Anyway, so far, I´m doing okay. I´ve been on the road for about a week now. I can already feel a difference, my legs feel stronger and I do feel lighter. The only thing that´s really killing me are my blisters. Various people have looked at them and say that getting blisters is genetic. </div><div> </div><div>Anyway, I´m proud of myself because I´ve been averaging about 12 miles a day. Not alot by Camino standards, but I´m proud of myself nonetheless. I´m heading into Villafranca del Bierzo which I think you could probably make out on the map in the last entry...</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIelEGKjQypUkzlDgtIaSfsfokgmvrxed4K9Jjl8hpEkaG1xMzpyXnoBqpJN0jvzesQXlQFX-iZh90F-onfAUVuaUMO9CDr_XPNR71XOlDtjTywvXoY7w04AEFkx7YGE9ZakGC6g6NXe8U/s1600/camino+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492330510587744194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIelEGKjQypUkzlDgtIaSfsfokgmvrxed4K9Jjl8hpEkaG1xMzpyXnoBqpJN0jvzesQXlQFX-iZh90F-onfAUVuaUMO9CDr_XPNR71XOlDtjTywvXoY7w04AEFkx7YGE9ZakGC6g6NXe8U/s200/camino+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /> These signs with conch shells and yellow arrows mark the way for the pilgrim so you never get lost.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN78K1DN7KTI_OtlL0y8rzWTTby0O4kJ2XnGPV1OVI0WbZuIpBK0p6KWDcMf6SUJ8-pa0uZTtBNfOZmgh8rFV6ggTy7QPz7vJYWagbGxuAIFtWNHGLi1T9lbjcDrURmfeuEcdgUPNkQyS/s1600/camino+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492330503531599250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN78K1DN7KTI_OtlL0y8rzWTTby0O4kJ2XnGPV1OVI0WbZuIpBK0p6KWDcMf6SUJ8-pa0uZTtBNfOZmgh8rFV6ggTy7QPz7vJYWagbGxuAIFtWNHGLi1T9lbjcDrURmfeuEcdgUPNkQyS/s200/camino+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here´s another example<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoAiGmbFM7-i7Ik3KLA7tQS2RZiadWeaAu2w6tGyinInuaEGkazTNaFddPuDuZC_3IuuOPTNmz5unWJqsVqofK7LapsZRZeZnxus27XT1HgTo4yS4BwbmZNwSuMta7043KYel9lMa2btt/s1600/camino+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492330497117744130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoAiGmbFM7-i7Ik3KLA7tQS2RZiadWeaAu2w6tGyinInuaEGkazTNaFddPuDuZC_3IuuOPTNmz5unWJqsVqofK7LapsZRZeZnxus27XT1HgTo4yS4BwbmZNwSuMta7043KYel9lMa2btt/s200/camino+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here´s a knights of the templar castle in the city of Ponfarada. The knights of the templar, according to the literature that I read, came to the aid of the Catholics in Northern Spain. Then the Catholic church that they were getting to strong and too independant. They were then later punished and then killed (how sad!)<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdZDiOZnGwG8Zx7z2EYnJ515Xl9MFw510lBYIP6WDEjhd-QPgPGrg_fsgKWQ6tCy54AsH3Lw1BOw_Xufcq0IbdyYyKkne2b3V9SmX-Y08lRLqXG1SqcuCT0ALJ1kjSyBibOkPx3gs_XcZ/s1600/camino+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492329800523588082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdZDiOZnGwG8Zx7z2EYnJ515Xl9MFw510lBYIP6WDEjhd-QPgPGrg_fsgKWQ6tCy54AsH3Lw1BOw_Xufcq0IbdyYyKkne2b3V9SmX-Y08lRLqXG1SqcuCT0ALJ1kjSyBibOkPx3gs_XcZ/s200/camino+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> More of the castle in Ponfarada<br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrO-DU9NefEG885uCAsiFiYRSQP-DuQWBSzBpVtgKAUifbIhsOXqpfMQCkx8fthrWVKfqVWjhTsMe1v1-w2Uff8dFcHakSQ2VT78g9NE3ZATP19tETDzFFh0Wa_NG5tht39tc-LSd3CDS/s1600/camino+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492329789567988610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrO-DU9NefEG885uCAsiFiYRSQP-DuQWBSzBpVtgKAUifbIhsOXqpfMQCkx8fthrWVKfqVWjhTsMe1v1-w2Uff8dFcHakSQ2VT78g9NE3ZATP19tETDzFFh0Wa_NG5tht39tc-LSd3CDS/s200/camino+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> Pilgrims hanging out at the pilgrim hostal, having breakfast and getting ready to walk for the day. I took this picture about 5:30 am. I´m actually getting up really early to take on the day´s hike. I always try to get to my next destination by 11 am before the noon sun. Hiking in the afternoon is really a killer because it can get over 100 degrees!<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1W2jiR5j5CIh3RE49cDcJOPf_6aHr2V8AHfd9OtCKmTHdW7eJjJcXcWKOmb_c7WZf0ND3vhdr1ojT2XfgHhnsWxsU1pQFUsc2dtDrYc-SRwERJhQ77eOLw9X_7d9XK3GwTrLsGkQ6z1K/s1600/camino+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492329786656763490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1W2jiR5j5CIh3RE49cDcJOPf_6aHr2V8AHfd9OtCKmTHdW7eJjJcXcWKOmb_c7WZf0ND3vhdr1ojT2XfgHhnsWxsU1pQFUsc2dtDrYc-SRwERJhQ77eOLw9X_7d9XK3GwTrLsGkQ6z1K/s200/camino+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> Norberto and me hanging out at the hill of penance. As I said in the last entry, pilgrims carry a stone throughout there journey (about 300 miles) prior to getting to this hill. Here, they put down the stone. The stone represents all of the sins that they carry. </div><div> </div><div>Norberto was a Spanish man that I walked with and he was really informative. He told me about his life in Spanish and it has been really hard for him. Of course, I wish him the very best....<br /><br />As for me, I didn´t have a stone with me. I just picked one up and put it in with the rest. Of course, that´s not to say that I don´t have misdeeds to repent, I do. And, so I found a stone, said a prayer and was on my way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgog45Udrd9tg-C-zMJVBZ8p_Ha20ZykPzVroCk0wllFdDUZo9nUZ5WkT78_QEwW4zfChYeAWmtTdqZhvZ_yb-EKg5TfDqsyF0KoXtMQe1Xi08carMo52ju0fQQKBzS26m67eEP3l7atnac/s1600/camino+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492329784734110786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgog45Udrd9tg-C-zMJVBZ8p_Ha20ZykPzVroCk0wllFdDUZo9nUZ5WkT78_QEwW4zfChYeAWmtTdqZhvZ_yb-EKg5TfDqsyF0KoXtMQe1Xi08carMo52ju0fQQKBzS26m67eEP3l7atnac/s200/camino+013.jpg" border="0" /></a> This I actually took in Burgos, when I was on the trip with my Spanish students. I look so much more put together, don´t I. Not dying with my backpack. Anyway, its a funny picture because I´m sitting with a statue of a camino pilgrim.<br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Anyway, that´s all for now. My health is fine and I´m in great spirits. I´ve been really lucky to have great conversations with the locals and Spanish speaking pilgrims. They all say that I speak Spanish really well, which is nice to hear but I know is not completely true. But, I can definitely follow any thread of conversation and respond although my grammar can get a little fuzzy in the more sophisticated phrasing. Anyway, I´m having a blast!!!!!<br /><br />Thanks for following.</div><div> </div><div>Kisses to all,</div><div>Andrea<br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgotj1fmSW8-QjqTOlAF2004wZvP7-xdl63Dke2PToz38WUeW2MmFfMzyYRzILUHbioT66IZug94xg8aPPZ4xL2VnqXBHn47URbFz-kVvRRutgGJSwGpkbXvSsZYZy6pZgVkKfWPFQnC3/s1600/camino+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492329777489611426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgotj1fmSW8-QjqTOlAF2004wZvP7-xdl63Dke2PToz38WUeW2MmFfMzyYRzILUHbioT66IZug94xg8aPPZ4xL2VnqXBHn47URbFz-kVvRRutgGJSwGpkbXvSsZYZy6pZgVkKfWPFQnC3/s200/camino+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibThGHtHHcprzikPG78J3AKvgsSL2DbekeB0YWC7D1LmtWHrXVhYdZygm0DE6q7aNC9sT6qe_T-9XTJsgthiWZ78FGGzg0II4MZJ-WbYvbRHiEHJY64_difM06icd_JtITk6OhbgcFMCqo/s1600/camino+016.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-46437286974639104892010-07-08T06:00:00.001-07:002010-07-10T10:19:35.205-07:00These last few days....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JNzUEPrOgpPsc_qmiZDPDwEgOZGqGTXXZ63sBAU7efiZmX9nyNPdg-frlz0mKaP6-3uBJerLp8mQaqbMIumYQfUI8tvNEY9Fq0r1mTknE5RLjoWtOrW3dBhxvgRK1TXAYQEkLI95RB5Q/s1600/caminomap%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491535200922723538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JNzUEPrOgpPsc_qmiZDPDwEgOZGqGTXXZ63sBAU7efiZmX9nyNPdg-frlz0mKaP6-3uBJerLp8mQaqbMIumYQfUI8tvNEY9Fq0r1mTknE5RLjoWtOrW3dBhxvgRK1TXAYQEkLI95RB5Q/s200/caminomap%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Hello everyone,<br /><br /><br /><br />Well I´m alive and well and still surviving although I have been on the camino for about six days now. Here´s a map of the entire camino. If you enlarge the map you will see a city called Ponferada about three towns to the left of Leon. So far I´ve walked about 100 kilometers, about 62 miles.<br />i´m hanging in. <i´ve><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZCrwb9Rb5uEUs7D3W4UoLoO2AIm6uo2nuneSgSC_A6YouC2f2NWjYRr9Y2pTlqajXTQiLsAvwvMMEi0TDhOeG05cVxJFybXkR8gX6NcluwMKnm6orJVvrs0XBfuICZkBNxWNmyKL-UEv/s1600/Imagen+173.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491527354827870866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZCrwb9Rb5uEUs7D3W4UoLoO2AIm6uo2nuneSgSC_A6YouC2f2NWjYRr9Y2pTlqajXTQiLsAvwvMMEi0TDhOeG05cVxJFybXkR8gX6NcluwMKnm6orJVvrs0XBfuICZkBNxWNmyKL-UEv/s200/Imagen+173.jpg" border="0" /></a>This woman is a life saver. She is a hospitalero (the caretaker of the pilgrim hostal) in a town called Rabanel outside of Astorga, Spain. I had walked from Astorga to Rabanel which is a distance of 22 kilometers or about 14 miles. Though it doesn´t seem like a great distance, much of it is uphill and I was carrying my 14 pound backpack.I arrived with these huuuuuge blisters on my feet. I was dying. I really didn´t think I´d make it to the pilgrim hostal. Anyway, she took a look at my feet and started to pierce these huge blisters to take out the serem. Then she inserted some iodine (ouch!). I was limping that evening but by the morning I felt much better. Her name is Angela and she was an angel!!!!<br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHVEQNUqzLxzMuzW7tVpDpdiC3guC6hcj4q9F07hG9HsbgHdf4KNpI3T6rmOPxXNwAuw5gCr1Gx5tAyLG4W-xvhEBMSz_zkMSLZT4OHH7Iv2bFnR0S2rp8eisYMDHTwK9M9A_WpO-spOH/s1600/Imagen+161.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491525986372839746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHVEQNUqzLxzMuzW7tVpDpdiC3guC6hcj4q9F07hG9HsbgHdf4KNpI3T6rmOPxXNwAuw5gCr1Gx5tAyLG4W-xvhEBMSz_zkMSLZT4OHH7Iv2bFnR0S2rp8eisYMDHTwK9M9A_WpO-spOH/s200/Imagen+161.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here are some new friends I met in Rabanal, just outside of Astorga Spain (about 65 miles into my hike through the Camino). The two men to my left and right are from Holland and have walked from their front door in Holland are on their way to Santiago Compestela. (Those Dutch people are really in shape, check out the Dutch family down below)</div><br /><div>The man across from me is Greg, 33 year old American from Colorado. He is studying to be a Catholic priest. I had met him the day before and had a great talk about theology and about Catholisism around the world.</div><br /><div><br />It´s not every day that you meet someone so young who has the calling to be a catholic priest in the states.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz5A5uwu5GT56Tsw1q7eFEoD7XTF7YQyhJNb2Go5ePvYxw0buP5DP_Ow2WJuAlQ4dqBKPQ2-Fk5yzhZG2TcRFZ9Jd6eqTmI2n3D_b09VmxdpaVBCGNwh5C3btw2_Um4BFHZLW1SkTE9lC/s1600/Imagen+107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491525202462965058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz5A5uwu5GT56Tsw1q7eFEoD7XTF7YQyhJNb2Go5ePvYxw0buP5DP_Ow2WJuAlQ4dqBKPQ2-Fk5yzhZG2TcRFZ9Jd6eqTmI2n3D_b09VmxdpaVBCGNwh5C3btw2_Um4BFHZLW1SkTE9lC/s200/Imagen+107.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><br />This family is amazing. The three of them are from Holland and have biked all the way from their home outside of Amsterdam to Santiago Compestela in Spain.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>I met them a couple of days ago and they are now on their way back to Compestela by bike. They´re young and fit and have a small daughter who is only two years old They´ve been biking for several months now.</div><div><br /> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-0LWCNAiZB9stwRIFjWRqxOpiLxx7ou8Tal_kZGb9meDbwKdWmSVNLS54YiJRKIGLG5DvZvv-s5r1sBMzzgTEiVmZ7lphFqdfRdfeiFB15jIXSoMdBqXmte5-bd6OLcJRVc7-zB7vR6t/s1600/Imagen+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491524434089784578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-0LWCNAiZB9stwRIFjWRqxOpiLxx7ou8Tal_kZGb9meDbwKdWmSVNLS54YiJRKIGLG5DvZvv-s5r1sBMzzgTEiVmZ7lphFqdfRdfeiFB15jIXSoMdBqXmte5-bd6OLcJRVc7-zB7vR6t/s200/Imagen+075.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is a picture of a man who actually walked the camino starting in Jerusalem all the way to Santiago Compestela in Spain. About 3,000 miles. Can you believe it!?</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It took him a year to do it. Very impressive.</div><br /><div><br /><br /> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF8gvn9tWDmKdKy0R5cOo3fQmC4jht96pnPdKePqUgwL0IcP7TbKKmUgWXjYVz61VxmSc9rmXKntc44rmw4wetSi8Qmqaf1hyphenhyphenI1y_Ii-2f9biSdHvwiFTJ5DniBlX9r0YhQSRS4AUMZgy/s1600/Imagen+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491521677289789314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF8gvn9tWDmKdKy0R5cOo3fQmC4jht96pnPdKePqUgwL0IcP7TbKKmUgWXjYVz61VxmSc9rmXKntc44rmw4wetSi8Qmqaf1hyphenhyphenI1y_Ii-2f9biSdHvwiFTJ5DniBlX9r0YhQSRS4AUMZgy/s200/Imagen+101.jpg" border="0" /></a> Is this Dennis Hopper´s twin or what? Anyway he was a nice hospilario ( someone who helps pilgrims at the albergue)</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-7feW-9iiuth3ifwWML0gJlA4oSke2_NzPhFq7LlaMwVi_L9SUMkwV_WkKl_oWIPzU7w-z7iBnIksmxfZLqdpnvshm5s9xwL__WzuecK2AtDjNGuVu2E6UWqapGxpn2dmALdNYzgmd1r/s1600/Imagen+095.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491521670692812610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-7feW-9iiuth3ifwWML0gJlA4oSke2_NzPhFq7LlaMwVi_L9SUMkwV_WkKl_oWIPzU7w-z7iBnIksmxfZLqdpnvshm5s9xwL__WzuecK2AtDjNGuVu2E6UWqapGxpn2dmALdNYzgmd1r/s200/Imagen+095.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>A prayer for the pilgrim in Spanish. Basically it is a prayer that says: "That the tiredness of the camino never makes you think to ever leave it. For you to ask yourself, what is the goal of the camino?</div><div>That you are can always find the mountain, the river, the course that you might have lost. With the same that God advises.¨</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><div> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIE8ByhbMHWZzV3tChYRUQblbu6gSLUpD_3q9ZxKr7w_CHQl4hEKL546bv8vbrkV7HKPfIhLvQbitxPqwTS5ke-GCBlwwQkdpXeTNmhub3EfkLKJWBgouHcXu1RHRZx7tf-QtnRVnRGrSn/s1600/Imagen+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491521662112863010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIE8ByhbMHWZzV3tChYRUQblbu6gSLUpD_3q9ZxKr7w_CHQl4hEKL546bv8vbrkV7HKPfIhLvQbitxPqwTS5ke-GCBlwwQkdpXeTNmhub3EfkLKJWBgouHcXu1RHRZx7tf-QtnRVnRGrSn/s200/Imagen+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Spanish fans watching the semi-final game between Spain and Germany. Of course, as you know, Spain won and the crowd went wild!!!!<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /> </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8B854QC6wmujGeE9pXZXe-FccmEKpIMQRJAZAJQeNzJbCpppkyzT1ulHc1htE5J2aMrZuzSP9zSRkBhmN59NPC1iKIIOpW1oKHL7It2GOao-7he2pi9OfwiMXVBgtYXBasOlq-oeCKtXL/s1600/Imagen+072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491521659708981186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8B854QC6wmujGeE9pXZXe-FccmEKpIMQRJAZAJQeNzJbCpppkyzT1ulHc1htE5J2aMrZuzSP9zSRkBhmN59NPC1iKIIOpW1oKHL7It2GOao-7he2pi9OfwiMXVBgtYXBasOlq-oeCKtXL/s200/Imagen+072.jpg" border="0" /></a> At a hill where a pilgrim can leave a stone. The stone represents all of the sins that you have committed. And all of the sins that you committed without realizing it. It is a way to symbolically unload your pain and your guilt and know that God loves you. Here are priests saying a prayer and giving communion to the pilgrims.</div></div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-49013127356849498922010-07-04T08:18:00.000-07:002010-07-04T08:51:10.259-07:00Back in action, 2010 (okay photos with this entry, I´ll have to do later)Hello everyone,<br /><br />Its surreal to be back on the camino once again. As they say, its never the same river twice, and that goes for people too. Two years ago, I was in such a different space when I came to the camino. I mean, I was so broken. And then, I didn´t know what to expect on the camino so that just added to the anxiety. <br /><br />Now, I´m in a different place in my life and as such so is my outlook on the camino. I come to it with more confidence and a feeling of comfortability. Like returning to see an old friend. It makes me very happy.<br /><br />I started in Leon, Spain, same place I left off two years ago. Another surreal experience: I stayed in the same pilgrim hostal as I had then. But in July 2008, they practically had to carry me out because I had an accute case of bronchitis. It left me so worn out that I needed to see a doctor and after many days of indecision, I finally decided that I need to go home. (see earlier blogs entries on this same blog)<br /><br />But, now, just two days ago, I was one of the first pilgrims out of bed and hanging out in the kitchen with a cafe con leche!!! Then I walked 14 miles on my first day with my 15 pound backpack. Not bad for a first day. And no blisters! <br /><br />On the way, I spoke with two very cool cats. One, Gabriel, a guy from Cataluna, told me all about the camino. He gave me some important information that Santiago Compestela (my ultimate goal) means : Jacob with the stars. And if you follow the camino at night, you can see a pattern of stars that lead to Santiago Compestela. That is how the old pilgrims of the 12 century could find the place!!! They decided to bury the bones of St. James (legend has it that the apostle, St. James is buried in Santiago Compestela) because there were several shooting stars seen in this location. Interesting information, right?<br /><br />And I met another person, Alberto. He´s the host of this alburgue (pilgrim hostal) that I´m staying out now. Does he look like Dennis Hopper or what??? He´s a very nice person, just helping me out and making me laugh. Its nice to have company on the camino.<br /><br />Anyway, I´m now two days into my journey and with about 35 kilometers under my belt. Not too much but I don´t want to get any dreaded blisters!!! I know that I´m going kinda slow by some pilgrim standards but the truth is I just want to take good care of my feet. There are some pilgrims that log 50 kilometers in one day (that´d be about 30 miles) and show up at albergue on their knees. Hey, I guess that´s one way to go. But for me, I´ve got loads of time. I could just walk 10 miles per day and still make my goal by th 25 of July.<br /><br />Anway, please email me when you can: <a href="mailto:andreagruner@yahoo.com">andreagruner@yahoo.com</a>. I always love to hear from my friends in the states. I´ll be blogging every couple of days so stay tuned. ;)<br /><br />I hope you are all doing very, very well.<br /><br />Saludos,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-50997435823769275032010-06-20T17:00:00.000-07:002010-06-20T17:03:23.506-07:00Leon to Santiago<div>Hello everyone,</div><div><br /></div><div>Just continuing where I left off. Yep, it was 20o8 and I thought I'd be back soon. But, now, two years later, I'm ready to go!!! Looks short but its about 240 miles. Can I make it? Hmmmm.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the map<img src="http://www.utracks.com/images/uploads/utracks/maps/2010%20UTracks%20Maps/compostela_trail_leon_to_santiago.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; " /></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-11996381937240707722008-07-29T04:37:00.000-07:002008-07-30T03:40:48.777-07:00Greetings from Jaca, Spain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIFqNoeJk0ilMLWEh5GXs_33P7qD8MkwpJ0BjPUJhPGFO8H-d4EoIuFx_pldoWVqzWFo6zX9wZde7sFswymGx-4GSttIg6ek1cp3uBTcdyxgWxHPZPw8pDB5CvwGZmT6oBCnX_ew_fyKD/s1600-h/spain+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228400304998951506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIFqNoeJk0ilMLWEh5GXs_33P7qD8MkwpJ0BjPUJhPGFO8H-d4EoIuFx_pldoWVqzWFo6zX9wZde7sFswymGx-4GSttIg6ek1cp3uBTcdyxgWxHPZPw8pDB5CvwGZmT6oBCnX_ew_fyKD/s320/spain+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8q6XAYOq-t3rH7DpGt11rS9q0HTAinG6Onlf740zc6SIGsswhu639kHPoK_POeA5YWt_LAl6jFxCYJdlZN5B2wEHxzoRU2C1Ax5zadnead9X1gez1fa8AVuq3aV7i8XRL7i7vOHFzNj_/s1600-h/spain+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228399879527797906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8q6XAYOq-t3rH7DpGt11rS9q0HTAinG6Onlf740zc6SIGsswhu639kHPoK_POeA5YWt_LAl6jFxCYJdlZN5B2wEHxzoRU2C1Ax5zadnead9X1gez1fa8AVuq3aV7i8XRL7i7vOHFzNj_/s320/spain+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdCu4CrvHEIi0t9GZsRQvPMPOVYm7eSkd5IYy8pDjbiHk7jY8_TloJAsqd52C1ohGNAc6EzBhFB8rOAJC_ERBnEzzOLcvaKQ4l_WGcObfi73vd0cRYXgstK_7WC5V1mWobVV07DZSaweq/s1600-h/spain+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228399570855041362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdCu4CrvHEIi0t9GZsRQvPMPOVYm7eSkd5IYy8pDjbiHk7jY8_TloJAsqd52C1ohGNAc6EzBhFB8rOAJC_ERBnEzzOLcvaKQ4l_WGcObfi73vd0cRYXgstK_7WC5V1mWobVV07DZSaweq/s320/spain+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMRVLnSfpTXX4exNKyA0EiAich0UJ_KfEPkHJcT3Vx6T1L_T-FdkIu3Dr6dPa2wYoGll7OkoP3Yaj4v8q0enTT9ojCfJjn0krcx6vvBbLEOiul3-nSPAS1HtxEvQp3KYx-Y-V_H2n4wZu/s1600-h/spain+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228399234410621378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMRVLnSfpTXX4exNKyA0EiAich0UJ_KfEPkHJcT3Vx6T1L_T-FdkIu3Dr6dPa2wYoGll7OkoP3Yaj4v8q0enTT9ojCfJjn0krcx6vvBbLEOiul3-nSPAS1HtxEvQp3KYx-Y-V_H2n4wZu/s320/spain+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Temperature: </div><div>In the Pyrennes - 70 degrees with a light breeze (beautiful)</div><div></div><div>Mood: Happy to be among friends.</div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Hello all,</div><div></div><div> </div><div>Well, I guess this will be last post for my el camino de santiago blog. </div><div>Funny its not how I thought it would turn out. I thought my last post would be upon my arrival to Santiago de Compostela. But, I guess that will have to wait until next year. Life, as it turns out, cannot always be planned. Just lived. And, of course, enjoyed!</div><div> </div><div></div><div>As you can see, from the photos, I am happily staying here in Jaca, Spain with my friend Susana. Susana, the girl in the blue t-shirt, is a wonderful woman. I met her in Madrid when I worked as an English teacher and she worked as the administrator of the language academy.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Now she owns her own restaurant. Always a dream for her! She is an incredible chef. She has a restaurant called "Gaston" and her menu is to die for.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>I am spending the week with Susana, her niece Virginia, the pretty girl in the purple t-shirt, as well as Chus, Susana´s dear friend (the blond). The four of us spend our days hanging out in the restaurant, taking walks around Jaca and just talking about life.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Its great. Especially now that I´m recovering from bronchitis, to just chill out and take it easy.</div><div></div><div>I´ll be leaving for Madrid on Sunday. Then I´ll spend a few days there visiting some other friends and then off to San Francisco on Thursday, August 7th.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Thank you all for your lovely emails. Keep them coming! I´ll still be in touch. And thank you all for your interest in my trip through the camino. I will be returning next year. And of course I will have another blog to share with all of you.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Lots of love,</div><div> </div><div>Andrea</div><div></div></div></div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-91387616756512668092008-07-27T12:32:00.000-07:002008-07-27T13:04:31.635-07:00El Camino de Santiago - 2009!Mood: Bittersweet<br /><br />Hello all,<br /><br />A couple of days ago, I arrived at a difficult decision. It was hard but I decided to leave the Camino and come back it to it next year.<br /><br />It wasn´t easy, especially because I thought that I had just a little cold. I thought that a day in a private hostal would clear it up. But that little cold became worse. Finally I went to the doctor and she said that I have bronchitis. Her recommendation? Take antibiotics, drink lots of fluid, get lots of sleep and save the camino for another time.<br /><br />Remember in an earlier post I talked about the camino and that its divided into three parts?<br />The Pyrenees represents the physical (lots of hills to climb) the Mesita represents the mental (its flat and brown with nothing in view) and Galicia represents the spiritual (its beautiful).<br /><br />I am proud that for the most part, I completed the physical and the mental. And excited that the spiritual part of the adventure is still ahead of me. I cannot miss out on this last adventure. So, back to Leon in June, 2009!!<br /><br />And what am I up to now? Well, I followed the doctor´s orders and stayed in Leon until last Friday. From Tuesday until Friday I basically stayed in bed and slept. I made friends with the lady who runs the hostal and she visited me regularly in my room and brought hot tea and sandwiches. Very kind! And very, very Spanish!<br /><br />And, during my trip, I stayed in touch with my best friend,Susana, from Madrid (remember I lived there for three years). I told her that I had to give up the camino. So, she invited me to stay with her in Jaca, Spain. So, I took a bus yesterday and now I´m with Susana, hanging out. Jaca is in the Pyrenees so I am back where I started in the beginning of the camino. <br /><br />I´m very happy hanging out with Susana. And feel very lucky to have such a good friend.<br /><br />I´ll post one last post in the next day or two with pictures from Jaca. <br /><br />Love to all of you,<br />Andrea<br /><br /><br />Love,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-89590449043586866852008-07-23T07:14:00.000-07:002008-07-23T07:26:13.000-07:00Really sick in LeonLeon<br /><br />Temperature: Moderate<br />Mood: A little sad<br /><br />Hello all,<br /><br />Well, three days ago when I first noticed a sore throat, I had thought that it was nothing that a good night sleep wouldn´t cure.<br /><br />Then, the following day, I really couldn´t speak. No voice.<br /><br />Yesterday, I thought, well, I´ll just stay overnight in a decent hotel room, drink lots of juice, relax, then I´ll take a bus to where I should be and rejoin my friends.<br /><br />And, yesterday, I also went to see a local doctor in Leon. She told me that I had better stay in bed a few more days and she prescribed me some antibiotics. I guess its a little more severe than I thought.<br /><br />So, here I am in Leon. I still have a slight fever, congested chest, sore throat. All those good things. <br /><br />I´m pondering whether or not I should continue the camino. I mean, what I have could just be a strong cold or maybe its bronchitis. I don´t know<br /><br />So my dilemma: I love hiking the camino - it´s awesome! I mean, I´m seeing Spain by foot, I´m meeting tons of new people, I´m testing my physical limits and more than anything, I feel God´s presence everywhere. It´s amazing.<br /><br />On the other hand, maybe I should save my energy to fight whatever I have. I guess I can be like the Europeans and come back next summer and finish the last stage. Like I said, many people walk the camino in stages: Pamplona to Burgos for example. Or Leon to Santiago de Compostela.<br /><br />I don ´t know. I´ll make the decision in the next day or two. I´ll keep you posted.<br /><br />Hasta pronto,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-33326293690445971492008-07-22T02:13:00.000-07:002008-07-22T02:22:48.720-07:00Sick in LeonTemperature: Mild<br />Mood: A little crabby<br /><br />Hello,<br /><br />Yesterday when I arrived in Leon I actually had laryngitis! And I like to talk. So when I hung out with my fellow pilgrims for lunch, dinner, sightseeing - it was a bit difficult. Although, I still chatted quite a bit, I sounded like a frog.<br /><br />Today when I woke up, I had a slight fever, runny nose and even worse laryngitis.<br /><br />It was hard but I said goodbye to my camino friends. I then checked into a proper hotel. Today I plan to just sleep, drink lots of fluids and take some medicine that I picked up at the pharmacy.<br /><br />Sickness is part of the camino. So are blisters, tenditinius, twisted ankles etc.<br /><br />Some pilgrims must rest for days. Others have to give up the camino all together and try again next year.<br /><br />I´m grateful. I should be okay by tomorrow.<br /><br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-77122503697008331682008-07-21T07:40:00.001-07:002008-07-21T08:02:03.608-07:00Leon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-spTUs4Tc_gUcnNGEkFcv2_I2SLkesETLjO9r0o-un_VrtsQsbGPiNAJWAG6xxPsk9L7xi4hJLDtEKxz2iceQ4_7uxHvXEigAz6lX-2P-xWOpapAMRObMn9f-Q_WHYhhafrRzBLly2Vh/s1600-h/Spain+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-spTUs4Tc_gUcnNGEkFcv2_I2SLkesETLjO9r0o-un_VrtsQsbGPiNAJWAG6xxPsk9L7xi4hJLDtEKxz2iceQ4_7uxHvXEigAz6lX-2P-xWOpapAMRObMn9f-Q_WHYhhafrRzBLly2Vh/s320/Spain+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225482629773190178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6zmWYmKKXqz17M7XUXGdQh14cimTu40nLo9HACHncMJKaqEBbxI6YVeWSGOUEwvivPMEsNECp3BWYeqnxdZgAAGnLZXztF1BxDR5gE2Xmf1EBz9X8QTtkoSRf-T-BbVBxisWxrXKeLJm/s1600-h/Spain+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6zmWYmKKXqz17M7XUXGdQh14cimTu40nLo9HACHncMJKaqEBbxI6YVeWSGOUEwvivPMEsNECp3BWYeqnxdZgAAGnLZXztF1BxDR5gE2Xmf1EBz9X8QTtkoSRf-T-BbVBxisWxrXKeLJm/s320/Spain+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225482300293381458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias_8l3j4cK_O9tr4Sq8p4tRli1O_EJ8d5NNaU88OSY6cR80V2or3cnD7bFoi2Ilkxfaegmt_UP25d0POMlEpJRdj7HqHGJ-cHW1y62IP5htGOwt_uWLtG4gOa6YZGp6fTgmoJ-agXWmnK/s1600-h/p-nhplazamayor1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias_8l3j4cK_O9tr4Sq8p4tRli1O_EJ8d5NNaU88OSY6cR80V2or3cnD7bFoi2Ilkxfaegmt_UP25d0POMlEpJRdj7HqHGJ-cHW1y62IP5htGOwt_uWLtG4gOa6YZGp6fTgmoJ-agXWmnK/s320/p-nhplazamayor1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225481829568837426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGx0j0VLRQBi30f4U7UG4-k7MxH6qO98fZeyT2x8mVmAhNhnMZx3uv4IdFvY2ulCehjvvQFgIE_LXzfyGUS4YOGJMC0bmDgpiIbFSMLJ9h95Gl5hf_v3aF9DWRydQ7Ji6QAgcKzB6HR-m/s1600-h/cathedral1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGx0j0VLRQBi30f4U7UG4-k7MxH6qO98fZeyT2x8mVmAhNhnMZx3uv4IdFvY2ulCehjvvQFgIE_LXzfyGUS4YOGJMC0bmDgpiIbFSMLJ9h95Gl5hf_v3aF9DWRydQ7Ji6QAgcKzB6HR-m/s320/cathedral1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225481701528032754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgScU4UwLGf8hAkBKnaYYv_QZv6B2FvkGOjIZshhwEa-IQI-jalGnwVIJcfr0arzzTOLNjCddOexW6LyI1KS-3t6ac3-QJI-xwzDobZvzN4DT8BN6LC29mFWWI4xtil18mlhbEkXYuHEj/s1600-h/mapa55.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgScU4UwLGf8hAkBKnaYYv_QZv6B2FvkGOjIZshhwEa-IQI-jalGnwVIJcfr0arzzTOLNjCddOexW6LyI1KS-3t6ac3-QJI-xwzDobZvzN4DT8BN6LC29mFWWI4xtil18mlhbEkXYuHEj/s320/mapa55.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225479463812277250" border="0" /></a><br />Temperature: A bit cloudy so great for travelling<br /><br />Mood: Feeling alive.<br /><br />I´ll spare you all of the details of all of the other towns that I passed between Sahagun and Leon. Let me just tell you that I am in Leon. Yahoo!!!!! Leon officially ends the mesita and soon I will be in verdent pastures. Leon, if you look at the map is number (304-301). I´m roughly 2/3 of the way to the final destination (Santiago de Compostela).<br /><br />For the last two days, I´ve been walking with a young man from Korea - Jay. He´s only 23 and is in his 5th year of medical school! He speaks English quite well. He´s fun.<br /><br />Leon is a major city with over 100,00 inhabitants. Another roman city, its famous for its huge cathedral in the center. Lots of tiny winding streets and all filled with cafes. It really is a beautiful city and aside from Burgos, its probably one of my favorites on the camino.<br /><br />And, of course I was able to find an internet cafe to post my latest pix on comments. The pictures above are actually from the internet as my puny camera can´t do the city justice.<br /><br /><br />Tonight, hang out with some other pilgrims, dinner, explore more of the city, and sleep. Begin another 24 kilometer day tomorrow.<br /><br />Hasta pronto,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-14905927487815048902008-07-21T07:22:00.000-07:002008-07-21T07:40:22.081-07:00Sahagun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZ5WzNkvEhfS__baS_8k7Gq5AaO7vhCeQG1rsvN4Dff2RN4mIt2tcpEh74bIz_HJVTdSRwG9maG8tb2huSki_uwfa72TgZwx_DpBZUXoxcHVlnnSrXx8kPZkti2jnQztjzjvYclWc8XDG/s1600-h/Spain+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZ5WzNkvEhfS__baS_8k7Gq5AaO7vhCeQG1rsvN4Dff2RN4mIt2tcpEh74bIz_HJVTdSRwG9maG8tb2huSki_uwfa72TgZwx_DpBZUXoxcHVlnnSrXx8kPZkti2jnQztjzjvYclWc8XDG/s320/Spain+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225476872995083442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjegjpLHMv9MKrBWwtyiKU8HqwmFfbAT3_dLLYtH3qljyep2oodDPGVU2MlNJe6I6t-bhs_NXRv9G3nzfhLpsdauqd-vpeY2x__Lc_6nFi_OjUA-WeX6eWdLdevqyHndtoWpAMdk9DAdW9/s1600-h/Spain+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjegjpLHMv9MKrBWwtyiKU8HqwmFfbAT3_dLLYtH3qljyep2oodDPGVU2MlNJe6I6t-bhs_NXRv9G3nzfhLpsdauqd-vpeY2x__Lc_6nFi_OjUA-WeX6eWdLdevqyHndtoWpAMdk9DAdW9/s320/Spain+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225476496720651106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiPg_ZUMqwrlELgDtvGLYCxILCAAa4JeMy1PgCl4E7UmmYXywiAibNewqeStIiisuSFs1-itzWFZNkH1MqvtOuDWSk3vC-4-UTiGJ6ZLVem8WuDWFNf2FtPha5O7nGgBp19s8D9HjQcRv/s1600-h/Spain+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiPg_ZUMqwrlELgDtvGLYCxILCAAa4JeMy1PgCl4E7UmmYXywiAibNewqeStIiisuSFs1-itzWFZNkH1MqvtOuDWSk3vC-4-UTiGJ6ZLVem8WuDWFNf2FtPha5O7nGgBp19s8D9HjQcRv/s320/Spain+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225476222310482930" border="0" /></a><br />Temperature: Hot, Hot, Hot<br />Mood: Cheering up a bit after hanging out with some new friends.<br /><br />Okay, the truth is, I don´t really like walking alone. Many pilgrims go on the camino on their own and they love to be by themselves. For them the camino is so reflective and they can think about the direction of their life and ponder some of the bigger questions that life poses.<br /><br />Okay - I like doing all of that too. But, I still like travelling with other pilgrims. That´s just me.<br /><br />So, again, I lucked out and travelled with a German lady - Hildegard. I think she said that she´s from Bremin, Germany. She pushed me to travel hard. This time I did about 35 kilometers - about 20 miles or so. That´s so much. Especially in the part of Spain that we are in now. The mesita.<br /><br />Let me explain a little about the mesita. Its flat. And dry. And unchanging. And covered in very brown weeds and grass. And there are very few towns so you must be sure to bring plenty of drinking water or you will be set up for some major dehydration. And did I mention flat? Yep, as flat as a pancake so forget about trying to look ahead for the next town that´s a few miles away for a little inspirtation.<br /><br />Really, the el camino de santiago is divided up into 3 major stages: The Pyrenees, The Mesita, and the rolling hills of Galicia. A ¨hospitalero¨ (an albergue greeter) said that there is a Spanish saying about the el camino¨: The Pyrenees is physical (lots of major hills), The Mesita is mental (you have to psychologically prepare yourself for the dryness and flatness) and Galicia is spiritual (its just beautiful).<br /><br />I´m glad I had some company.<br /><br />Hasta Pronto,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-52194831942745146832008-07-18T02:23:00.000-07:002008-07-21T07:22:29.194-07:00Fromista to Carrion de los Condes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVhprrgUXGWNvO89qFfrUQZGD9TBcBxHcYIHfRHwLA3xYYqjcburvXSIlhqTaveEo2pu4emY87wn-28PgGn79GKF1lUdj77XbQnQ3Iw4x0QJa1Znlc1hGDV9KBEHCHYLyMfev7iM3ARRa/s1600-h/Spain+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVhprrgUXGWNvO89qFfrUQZGD9TBcBxHcYIHfRHwLA3xYYqjcburvXSIlhqTaveEo2pu4emY87wn-28PgGn79GKF1lUdj77XbQnQ3Iw4x0QJa1Znlc1hGDV9KBEHCHYLyMfev7iM3ARRa/s320/Spain+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225470922732855698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLJ9ETcZEXTSqWsZGukjMuwArC3yR9awPGCTzWl02wBHl_h22vMOCBWE-SrOrn7mU5ir0ow7fUT0gNAVcVo2pNE69AMTuwuBj5WznW7LPj0491M2LoLYsRQu23rhrB6T5gShSFmk0a0SG/s1600-h/Spain+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLJ9ETcZEXTSqWsZGukjMuwArC3yR9awPGCTzWl02wBHl_h22vMOCBWE-SrOrn7mU5ir0ow7fUT0gNAVcVo2pNE69AMTuwuBj5WznW7LPj0491M2LoLYsRQu23rhrB6T5gShSFmk0a0SG/s320/Spain+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225470588496116626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScdl39P-Gh9pnl9ZB9fDrgmPXbtNHBVDDFplAxCPCJlo74nvqPTvTjJu5Y7iYE7Qo5fXToidrWndyK78ZbIL-GZh9uZTJV5qzpej8CKKaGTtqCDh11tjT80JgvSlF6GvGQgLlKGSiVLFS/s1600-h/Spain+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScdl39P-Gh9pnl9ZB9fDrgmPXbtNHBVDDFplAxCPCJlo74nvqPTvTjJu5Y7iYE7Qo5fXToidrWndyK78ZbIL-GZh9uZTJV5qzpej8CKKaGTtqCDh11tjT80JgvSlF6GvGQgLlKGSiVLFS/s320/Spain+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225470293368902930" border="0" /></a><br />Temperature: Mild<br />Mood: Still a little sad<br /><br />Hello all,<br /><br />If you look at the map at the bottom of my blog, I´m about 4 towns west of Burgos. Slowly but surely getting towards the goal of Santiago de Compestala. Its exciting news for me as I´ve travelled about 430 kilometers (a lot for me).<br /><br />But, still a bit sad after saying goodbye to my group of fellow pilgrims in Burgos. And, as I said before, especially sad to say goodbye to Deiter. That was a bit emotional.<br /><br />So, I was on my own to Fromista. And walking alone can always be reflective but it can be kind of lonely. I was cheered a little bit when I got to the albergue in Fromista. As you can see it is a bit of a paradise with a pool and everything!!! We all sat around the pool and drank limonade or beer and just relaxed after a 16 mile walk.<br /><br />Then the next day, I began walking on my own to Carrion de los Condes,<br /><br />The first 5 kilometers of the walk was heavenly - flat dry earth along a beautifully green river. This part of the walk I did on my own. I found myself praying and thanking God for all that he has given and shown me. It was early in the morning, about 6:30 and as I walked I realized how fortunate I am and how I just wanted to drink in this special moment.<br /><br />A bit later, Karina from Barcelona and Meriella from France caught up to me on the road. We walked on together chanting: ¨Somos mujeres jovenes, fuertes y positivas¨. We are young, strong and positive women. We´re going to compete this last 25 kilometers if it kills us!!! :)<br /><br />Later, when in Carrion de los Condes, many of us who are staying at the same hostal gathered for dinner. (See picture above) As Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quijote once said: Hunger is the best sauce.<br /><br />And that´s right. Food never tasted so good.<br /><br />Lastly, right before I went to bed, at the albergue, a group of young Spanish kids were playing games with the nuns of the hostal. Back home in the states, you rarely see nuns, but here in Spain, its so wonderful to see them all over. It reminded me of when I was young and in Catholic school.<br /><br />Hasta pronto,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-75755532916389646842008-07-18T01:55:00.000-07:002008-07-18T02:05:16.114-07:00Castrojeriz - FromistaTemperature: hot, hot, hot<br /><br />Mood: Sad<br /><br />In my last stop, Burgos, it seemed where are all of the pilgrims with whom I had been travelling had decided to leave. Its not uncommon for Eurpoeans to do the camino in sections as opposed to travelling the whole 790 kilometers at once.<br /><br />So gone were the Italian ladies (see picture) the Norwegian couple (see below) Montserrat and her dog (see picture) and of course my ¨belovable¨ Dieter. It is a weird feeling to be surrounded by great friends that you had just really bonded with just to say farewell.<br /><br />So, feeling a little sad, I took a bus to Cartrojeriz and began the next phase of my journey. This section is the ¨mesita¨. I had ended the Pyrreneas section with Burgos (marked by several hills and valleys, rioja grape vineyards and magnificient views) And, now have begun the mesita - flat, dry and arid.<br /><br />Imagine my surprise after walking some 20 kilometres to find a little albergue with a pool (see picture)!! So, so, so nice. It was a little oasis where people were lounging around in bikinis and drinking ¨claras¨ (beer and 7up basically) and just taking in the sun.<br /><br />My feet, once again were killing me so I quickly chucked my bag and put my feet in the pool.<br /><br />Sweet relief.<br /><br />Hasta pronto,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-8643922882436254862008-07-15T10:34:00.000-07:002008-07-15T10:42:04.645-07:00BurgosTemperature: Extremely warm in the afternoon and then somewhat windy at night<br /><br />Mood: Well rested<br /><br />Hello all,<br /><br />Well, I decided to kick back a bit in Burgos - my feet definitely needed a rest! They were covered in blisters. Sometimes I think it is a bit foolhardy of me to go from relatively little exercise back home to walking 12 to 15 miles daily. So I´m paying the price. I´m glad to have stayed in Burgos - its a beautiful city.<br /><br />Looking at the map you can see that Burgos is more less the half way point in the camino frances. So that´s kind of a nice feeling. Burgos is rich in history, especially the central area. As you can see from the pictures, the most important landmark is the cathedral. Burgos has amazingly wide streets with an electric night life. I was lucky to have fellow pilgrim friends with whom I could enjoy a lovely meal. Two of them are down below - a lovely Norwegian couple named Kari and Armstein.<br /><br />These two are teachers in Norway and they told me quite a bit about education in Norway. Did you know that the teacher to student ratio in Norway is 5 to 1? Incredible!!!!! As we all know, back in the states, we´re looking at 35 students to a single teacher. That´s socialism for you.<br /><br />Well, after 3 days in Burgos, I´m ready to set off with my backpack and take on the camino. My blisters are all cleared up so I have no excuse to not take on a 30 kilometer day.<br /><br />Hasta luego,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-21635770147700440112008-07-15T10:22:00.000-07:002008-07-15T10:34:06.272-07:00Burgos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPXNhUKlHYF3RI3vMGjKaJ0HTxptKYfHbqZQ1wdJgcr5_Aw3CdfwRbMw13KIbBIsXH9m9AtM40E-GIAmjkDq4ktzi0_2sLA8RU3Je8nR5f7sKaGK60TdgdxfLsEwYqCI7CVPNzck5cggr/s1600-h/spain+128.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223295372044940546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPXNhUKlHYF3RI3vMGjKaJ0HTxptKYfHbqZQ1wdJgcr5_Aw3CdfwRbMw13KIbBIsXH9m9AtM40E-GIAmjkDq4ktzi0_2sLA8RU3Je8nR5f7sKaGK60TdgdxfLsEwYqCI7CVPNzck5cggr/s320/spain+128.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejU8Cq1vPGPldqz0BppUjsG25be1U0MHxPnSsDyory86daHQ3PeHUXAYbsXCAjmMMOhQSPY8abUo8dFhEpI5imZdiM2BpprwCj7SZM7q2wyiqykWk6UOxB-y8owjbQcb3YXLGDYPzW9EZ/s1600-h/spain+145.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223294942203971538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejU8Cq1vPGPldqz0BppUjsG25be1U0MHxPnSsDyory86daHQ3PeHUXAYbsXCAjmMMOhQSPY8abUo8dFhEpI5imZdiM2BpprwCj7SZM7q2wyiqykWk6UOxB-y8owjbQcb3YXLGDYPzW9EZ/s320/spain+145.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXorvFpG02U8pHW_3P0us-F_h7-rINiEcqwAzFXdA9tOfaxnRQ3InBD4flaAlIJiBX0jgXHhUlCHsmcd_vi4xitIE4TW70s3-3Pb1ThKJA47uQX2dWmM5jqNtVp-0bWIV2VrR8xkhiugC/s1600-h/spain+123.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223294591291472450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXorvFpG02U8pHW_3P0us-F_h7-rINiEcqwAzFXdA9tOfaxnRQ3InBD4flaAlIJiBX0jgXHhUlCHsmcd_vi4xitIE4TW70s3-3Pb1ThKJA47uQX2dWmM5jqNtVp-0bWIV2VrR8xkhiugC/s320/spain+123.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuhzjOFeCokx41fU-fPyz609w1z_mUaaiaQ16_brsQW6oQwFTABWjlE-qOG81pMgWssygBIvL2YQrWDtvd25Cc0lNzSjTfdQI2flJqAsbnSU6XxChY_d71XEf-TloDRVYKHdwhxeurS88/s1600-h/spain+116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223294237799490690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuhzjOFeCokx41fU-fPyz609w1z_mUaaiaQ16_brsQW6oQwFTABWjlE-qOG81pMgWssygBIvL2YQrWDtvd25Cc0lNzSjTfdQI2flJqAsbnSU6XxChY_d71XEf-TloDRVYKHdwhxeurS88/s320/spain+116.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-47897835751376555762008-07-14T04:51:00.000-07:002008-07-14T05:13:27.572-07:00DieterHello all,<br /><br />Again, sometimes it´s a bit difficult to find a computer so it´s been awhile since I last updated the blog. Many apologies.<br /><br />Anyway, in this entry I would like to write about my travelling companion, Dieter. It´s funny, the camino is a lot like life - some friends come into your life for only a season and others, if your lucky, are around much longer. I have met many pilgrims, most of whom I would share a meal, perhaps a glass of wine, spend an afternoon walking. And its the fellow pilgrims that make walking the camino so delightful. I have met wonderful people from Norway, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Spain. Of course, English is always the lingua franca and I feel fortunate to speak it as my first language. All of these pilgrims just blow me away with their language skills.<br /><br />Most often I would walk an afternoon with one group, or meet another couple of pilgrims during dinner. All delightful encounters but most somewhat fleeting. But Dieter has been a bit different.<br /><br />We met about a week ago. Sometimes we walk together and sometimes we walk alone. If we don´t walk together, I always know that I will definitely see him at the pilgrim hostal. Its a nice feeling to know that even if you begin your day on your own, at the end of the day there´s someone to hang out with.<br /><br />Dieter is from Germany but he speaks English very well. When I first saw him, I thought he was British. And, when we spoke he seemed to be a bit hesitant in English. I thought to myself, oh, seems like a nice guy but too bad we won´t be able to hang out much. But, ás we walked together, to my surprise his English just seemed to improve with each passing day.<br /><br />On the road we talk about many things like the differences in American and German politics, the importance of religion in one´s life, the philosophy of the camino, and our most favorite topic - our blisters! And one more thing - he is a whiz with maps, distances and schedules. he has saved me many times from going the wrong way. That is always nice in a travelling companion.<br /><br />Dieter is only walking from Pamplona to Burgos. Many pilgrims in Europe just do part of the journey only to start up again the following year to complete another section. He will be leaving on the 16th. <br /><br />I will miss him.<br /><br />Hasta luego,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-37260966473287782182008-07-09T10:13:00.000-07:002008-07-09T10:18:36.992-07:00Dieter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZDUMTrr-Z0d4Rc6g6f4bOrB5jghjnyrDLiBOWh1aXBGyZnC0m8cSLsL9rJmN3pJifgLd6zqvwkWknIiP6_aQgVZlJV0To0iBBV-n2MW0gFqrzK-_y0-BOz1tG_xD16Z0OxjCCp5RJiLF/s1600-h/spaintrip+112.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221064939878642898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZDUMTrr-Z0d4Rc6g6f4bOrB5jghjnyrDLiBOWh1aXBGyZnC0m8cSLsL9rJmN3pJifgLd6zqvwkWknIiP6_aQgVZlJV0To0iBBV-n2MW0gFqrzK-_y0-BOz1tG_xD16Z0OxjCCp5RJiLF/s320/spaintrip+112.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW3dfUvX_wQdPc_dOAU82WTGHKX3DSGVg9So0XuPYSp_X_yWvOmhcUAiZCvOh3OcA2h_Bp2unJkKJZkUDMGUWLByMf4Jv8-kZ7KwPtOgxJ_CuCBCJ1kyqqv9vDt54Z8efahxDKB6ylVRp/s1600-h/spaintrip+107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221064487183040434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW3dfUvX_wQdPc_dOAU82WTGHKX3DSGVg9So0XuPYSp_X_yWvOmhcUAiZCvOh3OcA2h_Bp2unJkKJZkUDMGUWLByMf4Jv8-kZ7KwPtOgxJ_CuCBCJ1kyqqv9vDt54Z8efahxDKB6ylVRp/s320/spaintrip+107.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH-pmOGgtNiAgB3ymzyZVNqby9eoFkT_1W2nZ6jmLXAkm6bynRf14BS0di1dc68k4HdpV2BO7njNSLswx2eSnhxwhsPhnBxqrF9E_KiATq8tCazxpzeykIQI1U17DNghdkA52vJcxqABv/s1600-h/spaintrip+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221064160779265298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH-pmOGgtNiAgB3ymzyZVNqby9eoFkT_1W2nZ6jmLXAkm6bynRf14BS0di1dc68k4HdpV2BO7njNSLswx2eSnhxwhsPhnBxqrF9E_KiATq8tCazxpzeykIQI1U17DNghdkA52vJcxqABv/s320/spaintrip+105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-12804796635256361792008-07-09T09:41:00.000-07:002008-07-09T09:55:28.535-07:00Why do the pilgrimage?Hello,<br /><br />Look below and you can see a poem written in Spanish about the pilgrimage. It was written a graffiti wall where pilgrims left their little bits of wisdom in German, French, etc. I was really taken with this one. It makes me think why I have chosen to walk the camino. I can only say, that as this urban wisdom suggests, there is a strong force within me that has called me for months. I am so glad that I have listened to this inner voice.<br /><br />Anyway, here´s the translation:<br /><br />First photo:<br /><br />Dust, mud, sun and rain,<br />this is the Camino of Santiago.<br />Thousands of pilgrims have come<br />over thousands of years.<br /><br />Pilgrim, who calls you?<br />What hidden force beckons you?<br />Not the countyside of stars,<br />not the huge cathedrals<br /><br />Not the bravado of the province of Navarra,<br />Not the wine of the rioja region,<br />Not the shellfish of Galicia,<br />Not the Spanish countryside<br /><br /><br /><br />Second photo:<br /><br />Pilgrim, who calls you?<br />What hidden force attracts you?<br />Not the people on the camino,<br />not the rural customs.<br /><br />Not the history and the culture<br />Not the rooster from the city of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.<br />Not Gaudi´s palace (in Barcelona).<br />Not the castle Ponferrada.<br /><br />Third photo:<br />Everything that you see as you pass.<br />Is a pleasure to see.<br />More than the voice that calls you<br />You feel it more deeply.<br /><br />The force that pushes me,<br />The force that attracts me,<br />I can´t even try to explain<br />Only someone up above knows.Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-59798922818276035072008-07-09T09:21:00.000-07:002008-07-28T12:19:32.659-07:00Spanish poem<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc4k6aPLhSYDIQiWUuWMaNFEalof6XWktLQIF2FBWh5FDdMF0S1Hx_RPBiBWY273RCScSWtY97-twTynJDOJBCmv4W78pdiEIOpg2YvFuIecMES0nZnz2WQ1sJbH0vh2eL5cLW5ROlOZK/s1600-h/spaintrip+103.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221054468683250914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc4k6aPLhSYDIQiWUuWMaNFEalof6XWktLQIF2FBWh5FDdMF0S1Hx_RPBiBWY273RCScSWtY97-twTynJDOJBCmv4W78pdiEIOpg2YvFuIecMES0nZnz2WQ1sJbH0vh2eL5cLW5ROlOZK/s320/spaintrip+103.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzP8h6D0wU-GAdii7kZ2qDG221S95IVAh3xBIBf0tHHeIPI4L9T5XLGrmGBMGqTqW2BL-e6N52Rtfq__JDpZ7CR9rLO7EZDpGE-DjA8tZOr36hXbTK-JqJ_a65ijLGgGZ7uLx3mxv3Fkt/s1600-h/spaintrip+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221054076084281778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzP8h6D0wU-GAdii7kZ2qDG221S95IVAh3xBIBf0tHHeIPI4L9T5XLGrmGBMGqTqW2BL-e6N52Rtfq__JDpZ7CR9rLO7EZDpGE-DjA8tZOr36hXbTK-JqJ_a65ijLGgGZ7uLx3mxv3Fkt/s320/spaintrip+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34wUPh44AJnVSWNM9Eq4nZuIkmaU6j9F2ot_qvIT4VKvOSqA6L1x8kuu1P6Nk686dOUibQFh1qTXrZYac3ch8fA_dOIqKyfOvT5AgMFvfmASAbFLMolXbpNXcGNL4KUo2iVVorWu6Qwcb/s1600-h/spaintrip+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221053457601903602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34wUPh44AJnVSWNM9Eq4nZuIkmaU6j9F2ot_qvIT4VKvOSqA6L1x8kuu1P6Nk686dOUibQFh1qTXrZYac3ch8fA_dOIqKyfOvT5AgMFvfmASAbFLMolXbpNXcGNL4KUo2iVVorWu6Qwcb/s320/spaintrip+101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Spain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-77833072438109581232008-07-08T22:25:00.000-07:002008-07-08T22:33:47.519-07:00Day 14 - whoops, forgot to update in awhileJust outside of Burgos (see map) about 40% there<br /><br />Temperature: Super cold in the morning, then over 80 degrees in afternoon<br />Mood: Having fun<br /><br />Hello all,<br /><br />Sorry its been a while since my last update. Been travelling, making new friends, laughing, having some vino.<br /><br />Ill be uploading some photos as soon as I find another usb port. In the meantime, the update:<br /><br />In the past few days, I have actually been walking an average of 18 miles are so. As you know, Im not in the greatest of shape but its amazing how quickly the body can acclimate. And, its so much better when you are walking with new friends instead of on your own. Not only can you talk about world affairs and stuff but they kind of carry you along in their own pace.<br /><br />Its cool.<br /><br />The last few days, Ive been hanging out with a guy from Germany named Dieter. He is really alot of fun. His English is pretty good but I do like his little Dieterisms like: I do declare it<br /><br />Well, I know this is a short entry. Ill wrîte very soon.<br /><br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736605159089922373.post-84029767641621082652008-07-05T02:38:00.000-07:002008-07-05T03:00:34.471-07:00Day 9 LogronoTemperature: Mild<br /><br />Mood: Feeling great!<br /><br />Woke up this morning with some blisters but nothing that some compeed couldn´t buffer. Had a bit of a late start because the pharmacy didn´t open until about 9 a.m. But, I think it was all part of a divine plan because I got to walk with Hernan, the Spanish man on the left, and Zoli, the Hungarian man on the right (he´s holding the flute).<br /><br />Both men were amazing in their own separate ways. Hernan, a 73 year old guy from the Basque country and with the strength of a race horce, spent the day telling me all about the Spanish history. For the most part I could understand him until he would get really excited and would speak rapid castellano - then I only got the gist of it.<br /><br />Some interesting factoids:<br /><br />The prince of Spain got a new law passed in parlament that now the first born female can inherit the throne. Never been done in the history of Spain. He has two small daughters.<br /><br />In Barcelona, bullfighting is never broadcast. It is not at all a popular sport in Cataluna.<br /><br />Spain suffered from an extreme shortage of food after the civil war. One reason, all of the farms were abandoned and two, Argentina sent many boats of food over to Spain but Franco, who was a friend of Hitler, sent them all to Germany. What a way to look out for your country.<br /><br />Anyway, Hernan was a joy, always laughing, giving me encouragement during kilometer 20 of the day´s journey when I thought I would drop, teaching me some new Spanish vocab. He was great!<br /><br />And Zoli - he was fun too. His English was limited and he spoke no Spanish. So I served as a traslator for these guys. Zoli is only 33 years old and is an accomplished musician from Budapest. He writes scores for various local operas. And boy can he sing. His voice as pure and as piercing as an angel. This he did by surprise when the three of us were exploring an abandoned cathedral. The acostics just carried his voice....<br /><br />The stretch of the el camino has plenty of roman bridges and aqueducts. The concept of the arch and a keystone really withstanding the test of time. I imagine myself following in the tracks of thousands, actually at this point, millions of pilgrims who have travelled over these same bridges.<br />I feel united with current and past pilgrims.<br /><br />Hasta pronto,<br />AndreaSpain Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517257703835729816noreply@blogger.com