tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77065537113824589682024-03-05T05:40:10.747+00:00Camino InglesJen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-78857400521102531502010-09-26T01:38:00.000+01:002010-09-26T01:38:27.243+01:00Walking in the dark ..........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The worse part of the walking day is right at the very start. Getting ready to leave is fine, packing your bag, getting everything sorted and in position and setting out. Psychologically and physically it takes a little while to get into a rhythm and then it just becomes what is you are doing. What makes it worse it that when leaving a town inevitably there is a steep uphill climb involved so that it is really hard work. Peregrinos tend to leave early so that they are not walking in the heat of the day and aim to arrive at 1ish at their destination to grab a bed at the albergue as they tend to fill early. It is usually dark and especially if you are walking through areas where there are no street lights you need head torches. On the french way there are many more people and on early mornings it looks like a load of miners going to work in the mine as there are dozens of people ahead of you with lights shing in all directions! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This clip is of an early morning on our way out of Pontedueme. We were walking uphill in the dark along a residential road where every house had a dog and every dog barked furiously at us. It was miserable.</span></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was also hard to find your way in the dark as you couldn't easily follow the written instructions and could not see waymarks and yellow arrows either. We got lost lost several times.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Me and Angela had our Blair Witch moment on the first night when the sun went down like a light being switched off and we were in the middle of a forest. We had told Martin to go ahead and we thought we were very near the Albergue. We panicked a bit, Angela kept running ahead and then stopping to let me catch up which was futile really. We were worried about Martin who wasn't in phone contact, was he ok? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FUjq-D5nyAHkMBHPjaqNdyGBaBVeTrH-ahoMX1Q0ZwM7xLQdDGHF2cjnV6nRoG29vz-birsMUlLlYq3bYRznKg_PS3E_9TgnACri2fyKIof1XqqI3mMXcln7coJIa1Owd-mKTxUZoVU/s1600/dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FUjq-D5nyAHkMBHPjaqNdyGBaBVeTrH-ahoMX1Q0ZwM7xLQdDGHF2cjnV6nRoG29vz-birsMUlLlYq3bYRznKg_PS3E_9TgnACri2fyKIof1XqqI3mMXcln7coJIa1Owd-mKTxUZoVU/s1600/dog.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We went onto a main road and called out to a man in the house with the intention of getting a cab to the albergue. In broken Spanish I was hoping that I was saying something like "Hiya, we are trying to get to Neda to the Albergue but we're a bit lost and we are a bit worried about continuing in the dark through forest where there are no street light. Would you mind awfully calling us a cab?" What I said was "somos peregrinos. Tenemos miedo! En el bosque, no luces!" Roughly translated this means "We are pilgrims. We are scared! There are no lights in the forest!" I think he got the message because of the wild look in our eyes and so he walked us back down the road where we came from and along the road telling us to cross the bridge via the main road where there are street lights and it was only 10 minutes. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU_HW2WvzKu4q1BgD7UhV-yljaaXrRMqkM-rA1QaGWromiDwzj3dcIAmzQSLnFFukVHljdT_UkzdTozix58UxI4X4ncUkrsJZTvLRVRdOTrw0Tb4LMdTCkXUA7YjNhjEciLxP1gpdEEo/s1600/dark_forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU_HW2WvzKu4q1BgD7UhV-yljaaXrRMqkM-rA1QaGWromiDwzj3dcIAmzQSLnFFukVHljdT_UkzdTozix58UxI4X4ncUkrsJZTvLRVRdOTrw0Tb4LMdTCkXUA7YjNhjEciLxP1gpdEEo/s320/dark_forest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">F</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">antastic! we walked along, picked up Martin who was getting really worried and went to the bridge only to find that we couldn't get onto the road. We had done something wrong. So we had to go via the original route through the forest in the dark right the way around the lake which took 2 hours! But we had Martin with us so we were safe!</span></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-24941037419109297072010-09-25T19:52:00.000+01:002010-09-25T19:52:35.227+01:00Day 7 - Home to Stansted<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzpSHm-lC4s5YmzmxS8izeWd7Pxp03kk90jNXo4l-v43OEB-kRIaoMzh-XxggYpC3RFUjJaIMIqJJkPtcO-KKPTkf8ULLvPsnCHYuRyaPAxfHdoeu4dr-LKCT4VYDf-KamHFqQY-bF5w/s1600/camino+inglas+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzpSHm-lC4s5YmzmxS8izeWd7Pxp03kk90jNXo4l-v43OEB-kRIaoMzh-XxggYpC3RFUjJaIMIqJJkPtcO-KKPTkf8ULLvPsnCHYuRyaPAxfHdoeu4dr-LKCT4VYDf-KamHFqQY-bF5w/s320/camino+inglas+033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The morning was a bit rushed (what day wasn’t?) and there was a bit of confusion over the time we were leaving and how long it would take us to get to the bus stop to get the bus to the airport. We ended up missing the bus but had plenty of time in the end. Phew! At the airport it was hard to believe that we had packed so much into the previous 6 days.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1ZiPhSCHySSt7JsSmFrPU57adH06ptligN4wNPKy_NWnSUgTowpiB9fzuFHW20id6N_hdDVGiBguf5KeI41VlKQ3Lm-EMoAWPnA0VZfPJM37iZBSqxcG4Qyfpp9QrK3Yw-aVyv2PXlM/s1600/camino+inglas+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1ZiPhSCHySSt7JsSmFrPU57adH06ptligN4wNPKy_NWnSUgTowpiB9fzuFHW20id6N_hdDVGiBguf5KeI41VlKQ3Lm-EMoAWPnA0VZfPJM37iZBSqxcG4Qyfpp9QrK3Yw-aVyv2PXlM/s320/camino+inglas+034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Angela’s Dave made us all a roast chicken dinner which was so, so appreciated after a fairly meagre diet! I still remember the roast potatoes which were crunchy and yummy. Did we have one of Dave’s crumbles? I think we might have! Double yum!</span></div><br />
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</div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-4606546965680479582010-09-25T19:49:00.001+01:002012-09-26T22:54:57.515+01:00Day 6 – Siguieros to Santiago (10 miles)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last day and experience told us that the fact that it was “only” a certain number of miles meant nothing and we were determined to be in Santiago in time for a relaxing walk around the city and time to enjoy the pilgrims mass. It had not been possible to attend mass at all or do any of the sight-seeing that I imagined we would do so I wanted to make sure that the last day was less rushed. Me and Martin set off early but decided that we needed sustenance in the shape of hot chocolate and cakes so went back to the cafe we were at the day before but there was no late night / early morning partying this time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again, lovely to be walking in the dark but we missed our way mark again because we were talking! By now we were a bit reluctant to follow Spanish directions so when a driver told us to go back where we came from I sent Martin back and he was to blow on the whistle 3 times if it was ok to come back! Like a sheepdog scampered back to climb yet another hill in the dark. Too much for me and I cried my eyes out walking in the dark. Triggered by tiredness, and anger that we missed the turning and yet more anger at having to walk up a hill in the dark, my tears were about other stuff. So I told the concerned Martin to just ignore me and I spent time in quietness, walking in the dark, thinking about things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a very pleasant walk, sunny, but not too hot and we made good progress. Roy and Veronica caught us up and we stopped at a cafe for beer and coffee and after a bit continued in together to Santiago. Unlike the French way and the Portuguese way the outskirts of Santiago was suburban and not industrial and therefore pleasant to walk through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Had a good old chat with Veronica en-route and this was good as there hadn’t really been the opportunity to do so before now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was an impressive metal structure / archway to walk under about ½ km long as we came into the city. Very modern and chic. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We turned a corner and then another and suddenly we found ourselves in the main square at the rear of the cathedral. This is so huge and amazing and we spent time just looking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next stop the camino office for our certificate! The queue wasn’t too bad and we collected our certificates and then the four of us sat outside the bar opposite drinking rather a good red wine waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. It was a really nice feeling to sit there knowing that all we had to do was to check into our hotel, come back for mass and something to eat. When the others arrived, we set off to the hotel to get ready for the 6:00 mass back at the cathedral. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hotel was lovely, what a shame we were not going to spend much time in it! Time for a shower then back we went to the old city. Martin and Roy had kind of decided not to go to the mass but somehow they came in to have a look around the cathedral and were rewarded for their efforts as the botifumeiro was just being put into position as the mass was ending and we all got to see the swinging in full action! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Veronica and I positioned ourselves in the front row ready for mass and Angela texted me to say they had made it and were sitting at the back. There was a surreal moment when Angela T went up for a blessing, crossed her arms across her chest and bowed her head awaiting a blessing. It was a blessing for her that she could not see the priest’s face as he was evidently perplexed at this strange behaviour and looked around desperately for divine or otherwise intervention which was sadly not forthcoming. Oblivious to this Angela moved on (I am laughing out loud even as I write this) but more humiliation was to follow. Sue had witnessed all of this but as the next and last person in the queue she could not make a quick exit. She approached the priest with trepidation as she could see the bewilderment on his face as yet another strange woman with dodgy hand signals was approaching. Sue’s unique approach to reassure him however was to wink with alternate eyes and make amusing face gestures as she felt this would nudge his memory as to what he had to do! This was not successful and he now was resorting to looking around desperately for assistance. Sue simply scurried off and this drew an end to the matter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Had a nice meal in a restaurant called Monroy (thought it was similar to RonRoy after Veronica and Roy and therefore a ‘sign’) and made our way back to the hotel stopping for drinks at a couple of bars as we went. Naturally I fell asleep at the last bar (I was up very early) and staggered back to the hotel for a well earned kip.</span></div>
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Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-19684859917997569542010-09-25T16:56:00.001+01:002010-09-25T19:55:31.536+01:00Day 5 – Hospital de Bruma to Siguieros (15 miles)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbjLRTqTcT3IAlEOGbALIFDUkVRd_DPCqIgcub1SWl2j0I6VSezbielivWyRc0f5abt_CuQOei-h8IIb78TgKKXdlKx2j0Knr5Di2hMffChyD9MUFIgTCq6NUP7v_MP8KR4kcaZ6Ke5g/s1600/camino+inglas+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbjLRTqTcT3IAlEOGbALIFDUkVRd_DPCqIgcub1SWl2j0I6VSezbielivWyRc0f5abt_CuQOei-h8IIb78TgKKXdlKx2j0Knr5Di2hMffChyD9MUFIgTCq6NUP7v_MP8KR4kcaZ6Ke5g/s320/camino+inglas+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I checked on Angela at 4 in the morning and she had decided to stay in bed a little longer and leave with Sue and Angela T and Dave in daylight hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me and Martin got ready in the dark and made our way out of the Albergue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First problem – all doors were locked and we didn’t know how to get out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like cat burglars we removed our rucksacks, pulled up a chair and climbed over a wall to freedom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It was lovely walking along in the early morning but unfortunately there were no cafes open, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so only water, banana and do-nut to sustain us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we hit a T junction with no signs as to which direction to go in we chose and went the wrong way and this brought our spirits down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfQV3Mlr4-PmiAYSL_8dtBnbItPSfESLsWO4lVLmT3XOIWpQRqoTCX_vHzqW7pdB8lag7EaVWqv_MlvnYylZi0HMu1xajFIaLzD4jrGvB_BlALSa6Ru1RVaJ_bteH03X3eMeAsCoArts/s1600/car+headlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfQV3Mlr4-PmiAYSL_8dtBnbItPSfESLsWO4lVLmT3XOIWpQRqoTCX_vHzqW7pdB8lag7EaVWqv_MlvnYylZi0HMu1xajFIaLzD4jrGvB_BlALSa6Ru1RVaJ_bteH03X3eMeAsCoArts/s320/car+headlights.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjWrnKNIGjpLgDQh2AWpUM2lalbpEBCLjiy8SIBpSFrIfPEFzKd7yuozLzs3VG2UXyHuosfT03lPZoAV9rHcPKImiUBBsjahqAEQumCpeGaWcqoLnbnqllASjjzEK0ryxjRP31Gn__vQ/s1600/car+headlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>There was no-one to ask and so we tried to flag cars down but no-one stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continued forwards in the hope that we would find some kind of main road and finally a car stopped and told us we were completely in the wrong direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we made it to Buscas only 8kms on our route but having walked at least 12km we were feeling a bit rough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wrapped up in sleeping bags in the bus stop to have a nap to feel better and to wait for the cafe to open. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The trouble was that unlike other early starts there was no cloud cover and so we were actually very cold and damp all the way through from the dew. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 7.30 we found someone <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to speak to and found out that as it was Sunday the cafes were not opening until 10 or 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was going to be another totally rural day and the next cafe was 6km away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this was closed too then we might find ourselves in a dodgy position without any option but to go on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was probably due to a build up from the day before as well, but we both were feeling quite unwell, chilled and exhausted so we took an executive decision to call a cab and go straight to our destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were proved right about the cafe and so knew that we had made the right decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhey-3VbVYTnoP0QowO1qvL3SChkBQYifkIGYZ4LPJHsLju0v9IOicukxVfLDS0GrpEWrYJzcUPyHZ5PaakmecamIMWNUMOGmpS9ZE-QbTkLGmuIWWw0MRlWmbsNGs62VIjpo4sFonaQbw/s1600/churros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhey-3VbVYTnoP0QowO1qvL3SChkBQYifkIGYZ4LPJHsLju0v9IOicukxVfLDS0GrpEWrYJzcUPyHZ5PaakmecamIMWNUMOGmpS9ZE-QbTkLGmuIWWw0MRlWmbsNGs62VIjpo4sFonaQbw/s1600/churros.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It was still very early when we arrived and went to a cafe to get a hot drink and breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a really strange set up as at one end of the cafe there were loads of drunk young people who were still enjoying their Saturday night out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a bit surreal to be sitting there with our rucksacks feeling like death warmed up (and completely sober) watching them falling over drunk, drinking our hot chocolate and cakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat there for a little while and then families with young children came in and sat there as well. How bizarre! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We found a place for us to stay in Sigueiros in rooms above a bar / restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did investigate the option of staying at the sports hall but we went for the rooms as they were pretty cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me and Martin laid out our sleeping bags in the park and slept for a couple of hours until the rooms were ready and then proceeded back to the bar to wait for the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were feeling quite restored by now and as you do thinking what was the fuss about but there you go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">T<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he weary wanderers turned up, beers and dancing followed as a group of musicians turned up stopping at all the bars in the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angela got her massage oils out and I massaged feet and shoulders in the bar as the beer did its magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staggered back down stairs after showering for a really good meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sue claimed her foot massage then and there as she had been too busy</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> dancing and had missed out earlier!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpnfDiTQkjiUan6n41UVfxNckpE1Q0DGA-AI7lBy1sE8oPWW-A53344bIF6uUYhCx4ngg2UKbz3mbqH3_i2A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-83085135512499413752010-09-25T16:21:00.001+01:002010-09-25T18:09:05.615+01:00Day 4 – Betanzos to Hospital de Bruma (18 miles)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q62e2UcWs0oKd3-nuFODWJGtRg2xrwyuNXfzk0NrRO3DAxv9UXaCbEphA0VMWo3LOGptStVE7DoKCxTABDSo7Nn8FhcGcxSepL1jDIZEVe7TLV8dwI1PcDpAW_HZUdZlEk0oj8Cy4M8/s1600/camino+inglas+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q62e2UcWs0oKd3-nuFODWJGtRg2xrwyuNXfzk0NrRO3DAxv9UXaCbEphA0VMWo3LOGptStVE7DoKCxTABDSo7Nn8FhcGcxSepL1jDIZEVe7TLV8dwI1PcDpAW_HZUdZlEk0oj8Cy4M8/s320/camino+inglas+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Confusion about leaving time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set our alarm for 3 with the view to leave at 4 and Angela set hers for 2.45 with the view of leaving at 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 3.15 she impatiently knocked at our door and wanted to know what was happening!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Left at 4 for the long and winding road to Hospital de Bruma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now picking up writing this blog a month after our return (Sorry! New term at a new school has left me in bed at 8:30 every night!!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer7cFgPUHIB9h0iWnAbQzz5YythIfv8ggG2O1ROGI5thmQAwLS2UXEF0emf_Pgha6iZASoqJ3rP_7BRUX66nWYC5Ro0I_pTO7DISzzJqsI2OP_VYyF8ViNt-sPfOXD9nss3dca7K8JJY/s1600/john-lewis-apartment-chair-matisse_280021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer7cFgPUHIB9h0iWnAbQzz5YythIfv8ggG2O1ROGI5thmQAwLS2UXEF0emf_Pgha6iZASoqJ3rP_7BRUX66nWYC5Ro0I_pTO7DISzzJqsI2OP_VYyF8ViNt-sPfOXD9nss3dca7K8JJY/s1600/john-lewis-apartment-chair-matisse_280021.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was led to believe that the Camino Ingles <br />
was lined with armchairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing about caminos is that is can be horrible in that you are stretched to your limit physically and you want to at times stamp your little feet and go “I am not moving this has to all stop”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So like Shannon in Lost series 1 I had a couple of sulks today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Round about dawn, I remember there was some light I said that I was stopping and sat outside someone’s house on their bench (surely they wouldn’t begrudge an old pilgrim?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martin and Angela ignored me and continued uphill round the corner where they found a bus stop with a seat!! I thought this was an ideal spot for breakfast but Martin was anxious to make headway and made the fatal mistake of trying to separate me from a banana moment, by telling me there was going to be somewhere much better to stop further on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What? Do think there are ****ing armchairs waiting for us 2 miles down the road???!!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because, as we all knew, there was not going to be anything to sit on unless we found a cafe or (not).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was only trying to be helpful poor man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcdryDhEqBWCAa2WePJ1aB6Amv1JJla8IOAhIRHj3TSdZtYc3HFrN4zd_YkONagy5vcdXVacjN_u8bJfXoTLFt0oyRPwMf58Dcwba0EBR1cWrh6Bcc6ZByUj42DiVh-_V1UWrRdzxKlM/s1600/camino+inglas+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcdryDhEqBWCAa2WePJ1aB6Amv1JJla8IOAhIRHj3TSdZtYc3HFrN4zd_YkONagy5vcdXVacjN_u8bJfXoTLFt0oyRPwMf58Dcwba0EBR1cWrh6Bcc6ZByUj42DiVh-_V1UWrRdzxKlM/s320/camino+inglas+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>One banana later my sugar levels started to rise and my enthusiasm with it and we continued until we stopped and laid down on the side of the road. Literally. Martin went first then Angela then me all in a line by the edge of road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No pavement or pedestrian area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t bother to take off our rucksacks so laid there like upturned turtles and went to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did think that it would make a good photo but felt too knackered to reach to the bum bag for my camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woke up to the noise of lorries driving past our heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMQj8LzNgy2Ku7pGRSPZW6LcL0nLX_Gutz4g2T-sebBpAVowO1_DKERepOggMJleSg83jJgW9g91OlTRUx0_kvDLTZulBZNkb3BDWQEQjqyprq33Jd0XKNEMnIFCIF3g7JF2erq1QsII/s1600/camino+inglas+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMQj8LzNgy2Ku7pGRSPZW6LcL0nLX_Gutz4g2T-sebBpAVowO1_DKERepOggMJleSg83jJgW9g91OlTRUx0_kvDLTZulBZNkb3BDWQEQjqyprq33Jd0XKNEMnIFCIF3g7JF2erq1QsII/s320/camino+inglas+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We got up and went looking for some armchairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Stopped briefly at Leiro a small hamlet to: you guessed it take off our boots and socks and rest up.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Arrived at Bar Julia having seen only forest and country lanes on the way and rested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boots and socks off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hot chicken noodle soup and beer is a fantastic combo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now this was half eleven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With hindsight, we should have left when we felt restored an hour later. But, we wanted to walk together as a group and we didn’t think we had too far to go and we had called the others who were only 15 mins away and so we decided to wait a bit longer and finish the walk together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone arrived we had a nice lunch and then decided to wait till the heat of the day was gone as it was too hot to walk in the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left at 5 thinking that we only had 11km to go but the problem for me Martin and Ang was that we had been up since 4 and it was to prove too long a day for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKL62BfTJdmlgxTFJKNGaxl8oPm9awRdwpJ-itoqGLflQJKfNQKG3WOQq8d8lltLjMATxjkTu-uh54KVtE5YIT1x5j76NfAm9fovqPeXfQtI8S7fLSnhvZWg7xBZqlST01tFPRCspmtQ/s1600/camino+inglas+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKL62BfTJdmlgxTFJKNGaxl8oPm9awRdwpJ-itoqGLflQJKfNQKG3WOQq8d8lltLjMATxjkTu-uh54KVtE5YIT1x5j76NfAm9fovqPeXfQtI8S7fLSnhvZWg7xBZqlST01tFPRCspmtQ/s320/camino+inglas+019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot tip: How to take a rest without anyone else knowing<br />
- talk about the pretty flowers!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The scary steep climb proved to be fairly insignificant after all we had been through so far and we stopped for a celebratory beer at the Cafe in Vizono.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left at 7 with only 7km to go but somehow this took forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did we get lost I can’t remember but Dave and Martin went on ahead to make sure could get a place at the Albergue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were on our last legs when we arrived at 10:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was lights out at 10:30 and we had to have a shower and it would have been nice to have eaten something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angela had her “losing the plot on the camino moment”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>while me and Martin saved ours for the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t sleep well for some reason (we were sleeping right by that woman in the video of the empty albergue earlier and I did hit my head when I stood up)</span></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-1284435498167204912010-09-25T15:51:00.004+01:002010-09-25T19:59:06.132+01:00Day 3 – Pontedueme to Betanzos (12 miles)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me, Angela and Martin set off early at 6 this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Estimates in walking time had been way out so far and with this being a 12 mile day wanted to set off early to miss the heat and in the hopes we would arrive early afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having missed out on the beach yesterday wanted to have time to visit the ‘theme park’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in this town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It is a really, really, really, really steep that takes you out of town, and it goes on for ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the disadvantages of walking in the dark is that you don’t pick up the yellow arrows and waymarks and so we missed our turn off and walked up to the main road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘helpful’ locals will give directions as if you are travelling by car and once you are off the signs it is virtually impossible to find the route again and you have to follow the roads to the villages you are looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyM4Mw3Lf96CijAux_3hRyawkT_BuZqBg6GNHO-4vaT-CajG-f1QE9l6IZaMuSvEPUAVo3J2V7tvjdfKwWQ1w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Secretly, Martin loves these detours as he is in his element, leading us out of the wilds, sniffing the ground for animal tracks and broken twigs to deduce the presence of recent peregrinos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally I prefer the technical advantage of my ‘HTC legend –not-quite-an-iphone’ and the maps app plus free wifi in the cafes and asking locals to point to the route on the touch screen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, neither option was successful and we did not pick up the trial until we reached Mino and asked at the tourist information office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Went to the nearest cafe, took boots and socks off and drank more beer, ate calamares and cured ham with bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excellent!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the gang by this time were at the other side of Mino and didn’t not miss the turning! (We were like the advance guard, texting our mistakes so they didn’t do the same!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NxURXb1bsASRBTU7l3KfqnRJzC27Viy1CdHFlno-ceT3GhHqAt0pnofMb0DDEJeNnVOPiuXqpbdv9BLMYeYzp39kD5vuP3blOg4JFylqA9vNkkPUPjo95J34EqOGAVodRj1SBlDac0s/s1600/camino+inglas+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NxURXb1bsASRBTU7l3KfqnRJzC27Viy1CdHFlno-ceT3GhHqAt0pnofMb0DDEJeNnVOPiuXqpbdv9BLMYeYzp39kD5vuP3blOg4JFylqA9vNkkPUPjo95J34EqOGAVodRj1SBlDac0s/s400/camino+inglas+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again this was a very nice walk which led us past the beach and although we were very tempted to run into the sea we were concerned that our plasters would come off! And we had run out of supplies!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike yesterday we did not meet up for lunch as a group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were the other side of Mino and were just starting lunch as we finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0pbKCspbAnQ1pED2IJlXLpajhXIoSaw6E0ApjD13Pku4p78NAoPQEJsS9Uk665Y9t8FXSyR0xPanGRPfTjnWGrtXKQYIVxM84IVwtHQOMU9jQ7trFQg3axqSzhxkjJpZGwrWX4GD4Dg/s1600/camino+inglas+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0pbKCspbAnQ1pED2IJlXLpajhXIoSaw6E0ApjD13Pku4p78NAoPQEJsS9Uk665Y9t8FXSyR0xPanGRPfTjnWGrtXKQYIVxM84IVwtHQOMU9jQ7trFQg3axqSzhxkjJpZGwrWX4GD4Dg/s320/camino+inglas+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Angela regressing as we stop for a rest and a play at the top of the hill</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We expected to see them on the road later or for them to stop at the cafe and to walk in together but as it turned out they passed us while we were sitting there and so we arrived just after them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Great to see a cafe that was not on our itinerary and couldn’t resist!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ang dropped the beer for a brandy and coffee and boots and socks came off for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally I went to sleep!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Stayed in an apartment above a bar called Betanzos Chocolaterie which was ok and found what looked like a nice restaurant but there were concerns from those the next day who braved the seafood paella!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Concerned about the lack of cafe opportunities for the next day the Angelas and myself caught last bell at the supermarket for some goodies to eat on the way.</span></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-30627638428435363752010-09-25T15:37:00.000+01:002010-09-25T15:37:44.455+01:00Day 2 – Neda to Pontedueme (8.5 miles)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicxAlcQcdHhDFWjQ8nB6Zn5cRbpq9A2_j93jc7ZY1JUzuMp9kTZ94qS0tdHhmGjkYtWQ3VC5GHOm2PeDbkB_MdpWnqU7-qZW8ueOFnq32usXs4wS4Z8coKEVtP-SfM8bl3KPsvrldXnU/s1600/camino+inglas+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicxAlcQcdHhDFWjQ8nB6Zn5cRbpq9A2_j93jc7ZY1JUzuMp9kTZ94qS0tdHhmGjkYtWQ3VC5GHOm2PeDbkB_MdpWnqU7-qZW8ueOFnq32usXs4wS4Z8coKEVtP-SfM8bl3KPsvrldXnU/s320/camino+inglas+009.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Angela has recovered from her ordeal in the forest and is now confident she knows the direction to go in.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Given that we had had such a long day with the travelling, we decided not to set off too early this morning as it was ‘only’ 8 miles or so again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We expected to get to our destination with enough time to sit on the beach and have a nice swim!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what! Didn’t happen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t end up leaving until 11 o’clock but it was a cloudy day with a bit of drizzle and so I wasn’t unduly concerned about the late start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A really pleasant walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ9WoQxFqUedbbg6xs-uD1tOWjRcQhkMut-RexlGupJUkz4t5C2V48VkHhMYBy11UhagpmMWoKuTn5Yi0HJ89FndVe6KHk3SrNWOYBjU7DslW6OTfe_xtoAJhPJliatQwbcQfVBY_f_g/s1600/camino+inglas+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ9WoQxFqUedbbg6xs-uD1tOWjRcQhkMut-RexlGupJUkz4t5C2V48VkHhMYBy11UhagpmMWoKuTn5Yi0HJ89FndVe6KHk3SrNWOYBjU7DslW6OTfe_xtoAJhPJliatQwbcQfVBY_f_g/s320/camino+inglas+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We chose the most comfortable walking speed for ourselves and me, Nurse Ang and Martin hung to the rear and the rest of the group forged ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Caught up a couple of hours later, drinking beer outside a cafe!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So sat down for our first beer which moved to another and then we felt peckish and then there were delicious tapas all served with fab home-made chips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tasty calamares, little chorizos and chicken goujons made with fillet. It was yummy-yum yum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group of Spanish peregrinos stopped and we had a good chat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were having their backpacks carried by car and we were a bit jealous! </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYJNNLAaqG7oQxCYMu4psyIEU__cIPvaWrGzb7UVuMk5RDH-asFOH1-Z1ul-gSBi0kS7jgVIEwCrLPrqFhfIwkfgRz6rthVK8VZtzucj-9o8WSp5SommXsnTUUePbzmtFqeh7K5TrXc8/s1600/camino+inglas+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYJNNLAaqG7oQxCYMu4psyIEU__cIPvaWrGzb7UVuMk5RDH-asFOH1-Z1ul-gSBi0kS7jgVIEwCrLPrqFhfIwkfgRz6rthVK8VZtzucj-9o8WSp5SommXsnTUUePbzmtFqeh7K5TrXc8/s320/camino+inglas+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Resumed walking and Martin sped up and walked with the others for a while. Me and Anglela took our time and did a bit of blackberry picking (they are honestly the most tasty and musky blackberries I have ever tasted!) and stopped at a little house that looked really interesting and went to ask someone if they could take a photo of us because it was so picturesque. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A woman came out shouting loudly (difficult to tell if they are friendly sometimes cos they shout a lot when they are being nice too!) "etc etc Molina etc etc" I thought it was her daughter's name or something because she poked her head out but what it was she thought we were wanting to have a look at the Molina which we discovered means Mill. To our amazement she had a really old functioning water mill that ground up different types of flour and she showed us around and turned it to demonstrate how it worked! I did video it so if I can get it on the blog I will do so later.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAkewt0-8h7gsDVy_y5-2t1CZYsVK6FDWFrTnUsbafHHb9xVignhHl25ha8xvoLFdxuio97SJ7jfnjEnuDV7mHj4eYjFy2rrr7-xqAKeIxxw5CbaGOOZKlEiL6YlSGZ9f1Ut_Clt-RgQ/s1600/camino+inglas+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAkewt0-8h7gsDVy_y5-2t1CZYsVK6FDWFrTnUsbafHHb9xVignhHl25ha8xvoLFdxuio97SJ7jfnjEnuDV7mHj4eYjFy2rrr7-xqAKeIxxw5CbaGOOZKlEiL6YlSGZ9f1Ut_Clt-RgQ/s320/camino+inglas+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Martin like the true gent he is sat in a bar supping ale on the edge of the town until me and Ang turned up again and we walked together into the centre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived at about 7.30, an hour after the others and we checked into accommodation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Dinner at 9 and walked around the town trying to find somewhere that wasn’t tapas and ended up eating back where we started close to the hotel.</span> </span></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-81600274201318262692010-09-25T15:04:00.002+01:002010-09-25T15:14:33.294+01:00Day 1 – Ferrol to Neda (8 miles)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0Sdp6N0d_oF_sNPok9YObSav7xkCNj-UWXtNXX3kfVuosKC_ZWfDCoAw5_MuVjM2PwJjuat-DB3tXAmMH8pj9jz18Bxd7y6JlYiPzQy5pCLmqAb2BHocuoIvacN6QVlp5eWdICvm-1Y/s1600/camino+inglas+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0Sdp6N0d_oF_sNPok9YObSav7xkCNj-UWXtNXX3kfVuosKC_ZWfDCoAw5_MuVjM2PwJjuat-DB3tXAmMH8pj9jz18Bxd7y6JlYiPzQy5pCLmqAb2BHocuoIvacN6QVlp5eWdICvm-1Y/s320/camino+inglas+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the bus station in Santiago - Looking a bit nervous?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plan was that having flown into Santiago, we would catch the bus to Ferrol and visit the tourist information office to collect our ‘Credencial’ which is a kind of passport or booklet that we get stamped along the way to demonstrate that we have walked the route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were then going to lunch and start walking to Neda which was ‘only’ 8 miles after all to the first stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there were any problems, such as plane delays etc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we would camp down in Ferrol for the night although this would have meant a 16 mile walk for the first day, so it was to be avoided if possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plane wasn’t delayed but we had to wait an hour for the bus to Ferrol and then the tourist information office was closed till 5 and so we found a nice bar which served nice beer and we waited .....<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were'nt really posing!!!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did not start walking until 6 in the evening and we fully expected to be there by 9 at the latest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a nice walk that took us round by a sandy beach and pleasant recreation areas and then into the forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The faster walkers picked up a pace as it was getting late and were trying to get to the Albergue before they locked up for the night at 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6Ncfu4dv2-dThqJRoclHJ-SqoEXOjaRxFZUfrSRW16QMBsbpA8cwlKb0gVqHqxSkitI07SxOjKwQNmNUTThQL_Y8aKUId-ox2ydADq5pahm9zsFHlYdEM5e-PXQNpUN1Z_l1F5f2TJU/s1600/camino+inglas+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6Ncfu4dv2-dThqJRoclHJ-SqoEXOjaRxFZUfrSRW16QMBsbpA8cwlKb0gVqHqxSkitI07SxOjKwQNmNUTThQL_Y8aKUId-ox2ydADq5pahm9zsFHlYdEM5e-PXQNpUN1Z_l1F5f2TJU/s320/camino+inglas+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Angela before it got dark and we were running through the forest like crazy people.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The final stragglers (me and Nurse Ang) and Martin who waited for us to catch him up, made it at midnight</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-40844284172271027232010-09-25T14:52:00.000+01:002010-09-25T14:52:07.164+01:00Camino Ingles - Where are all the Cafes?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaAlJfaz3daRRyNeA6DYi4_HWa1qv7EgTeK1j6d9v-OzH_pZ2ts3HHh5VmuTFfSfPn8gN8n2rFiWgAwD3EIi0WL7YGQlNpblLc62wXdj0yBEvzxgYTkoEUZFevrSfxjKtMW0j5bZbiGg/s1600/camino+inglas+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaAlJfaz3daRRyNeA6DYi4_HWa1qv7EgTeK1j6d9v-OzH_pZ2ts3HHh5VmuTFfSfPn8gN8n2rFiWgAwD3EIi0WL7YGQlNpblLc62wXdj0yBEvzxgYTkoEUZFevrSfxjKtMW0j5bZbiGg/s320/camino+inglas+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each camino is very different in character. The Camino Ingles is very rural with beautiful countryside. The route took us through a lot of forest and farmland, we saw a lot of corn on the cob, cabbage and potato picking. So no truly nasty smells! It was also very hilly and it was physically demanding. We did go through a couple of seaside towns but these were more Whitstable than Blackpool and as we tended to arrive early or late evening we didn’t have the opportunity to explore. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you are walking like this, one of the highlights is the cafe! It isn’t JUST for the opportunity to drink an ice cold beer or a caffeine laden coffee it also a sign of life! On this walk there was very little opportunity to sit on a seat, it was the forest floor or sit by the side of the road. A cafe is also a psychological signpost to say “only 20km to go!”. Not forgetting the all-important-loo-stop! We didn’t come across nearly enough of them and when we did we didn’t want to leave! Even the walk into Santiago itself was very pretty with very little motorway walking. The outskirts of the city from the other directions were quite industrialised but this was suburban and pleasant</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were walking for 6 days in all with relatively short days building to 2 longish days then a nice and easy walk into Santiago so that we would be able to spend some time in the city. Or so we thought! For some reason every day took far longer than we expected! So that we only had time to get in, eat and go to bed. Sometimes we didn’t get to eat haha!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-3337764966247494322010-09-25T14:45:00.000+01:002010-09-25T14:45:30.496+01:00We are BACK!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjJW5SVvF5SXKkJvqwWeodG-RWaHF6z2Bp5EHOnBBmGEIgMFsznYQvpZmrDmG1WRuIBEysj3poEsCYIwcX0BI6e8IIvJOxF3od3SNrZ7ZVuELaLCSz9oDJYC50JRTZK5NhQBIFqC9jJU/s1600/camino+inglas+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjJW5SVvF5SXKkJvqwWeodG-RWaHF6z2Bp5EHOnBBmGEIgMFsznYQvpZmrDmG1WRuIBEysj3poEsCYIwcX0BI6e8IIvJOxF3od3SNrZ7ZVuELaLCSz9oDJYC50JRTZK5NhQBIFqC9jJU/s400/camino+inglas+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi everyone! The plan was that we would update the blog en-route and give you a step-by-step account of our daily adventures but alas that was not to be. Apart from exhaustion and zero if not minus zero time, it was difficult to find technology along the way.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here we are at 3 in the morning waiting for the Stansted flyer to come and collect us. Little did we know that we were not going to be in our beds until gone midnight having got lost in the forest! More of that later!</span></div><br />
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</div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-69468728860674776992010-09-13T23:02:00.009+01:002010-09-14T11:01:32.514+01:00Sue's Memoirs of the Camino Ingles 2010As Jenny has already said elsewhere the longer the period between the event and the recalling of that event the more we edit our memories and so I had intended to write something as soon as we got home while everything was still fresh in my mind. We’ve now been home just over a week and I’ve only just got round to writing these thoughts and it has surprised me to realise that it is already difficult to separate and recall the events of each day but I hope that the memories are still fresh enough to capture some of the smaller details of the trip. Even so, my memories will no doubt be different to others who were there at the same time at the same events but this is how I remember the days of our pilgrimage.
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<br /><strong>Wednesday 25th August 2010</strong>
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<br />The day starts well. The Pilgrims – Jenny, Martin, Angela T, Angela A, Roy, Veronica, Dave and me - all meet up at Stansted airport as planned and everyone is in good spirits despite the early start to the day. After arriving at Santiago de Compostela airport we take a bus to the main bus station and then have to wait over an hour for the bus which takes us to our starting point for the walk in Ferrol. This bus turns out to be a travelling sauna so by the time we arrive we’re all flagging from heat exhaustion and have already sweated out what feels like about half a stone (though this turns out to be wishful thinking). We arrive at the office which distributes the ‘Pilgrims Passport’ papers only to find that it is siesta time and that it does not re-open until 5.30 (‘ish’ in true Spanish style). So we happily go off and have a welcome beer, pick up some food supplies and when we’ve all finally collected our paperwork proceed to the first leg of the walk – a mere 8 miles to Neda, which we estimate should take around two hours. So four hours later and we’re walking in full darkness across some bog land with no sign of the hostel to which we’re heading. By this time me, Dave, Veronica, Roy and Angela T have lost Jenny, Martin and Angela A who are somewhere behind us. We frantically race to meet the 10 o’clock deadline for getting into the hostel and just about make it by the skin of our teeth. (Actually the door had been locked but luckily the ‘commandant’ was kindly and let us in and was sympathetic when we explained that others were on their way.) By now we are all quite concerned about the others when Jenny calls to ask for directions from a nearby bridge – in her words they are ‘shanked’ – and they arrive about an hour after us.
<br />So for most us this is our first experience of staying in an ‘Albergue’. Albergues are government owned hostels – but hostels only for pilgrims. Therefore you need a Pilgrims Passport to stay in one (and a touch of madness also helps). Angela T’s face says it all as she espies the funky showers and the ultra-cool row of bunk beds in the 24 bed dorm. If you ever felt that you missed out on those girl guide/scout holidays get yourself off to an albergue! The only difference is that with age comes snoring but let’s not mention the snoring…….
<br />Oh sod it, let’s talk about the snoring. The next morning, having not slept a wink, Veronica is just about ready to kill anyone suspected of snoring and it has to be said that there was a full symphony of snoring going on for most of the night – no wonder those Italian kids left so early! For some reason this was Veronica and Roy’s first and last Albergue experience.
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<br /><strong>Thursday 26th August</strong>
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<br />Jenny, Martin and Angela A set off ahead of the rest of us as they want to get a head start before it gets too warm. The rest of us set off a while later and it’s not long before we find a little coffee shop serving delicious ‘coffee con leche’ served with cakes. Fortified, we set off happily on our second day of walking. Somehow we seem to miss the others but when we stop for lunch they arrive behind us so we all have lunch together – delicious tapas with a beer…or two…and maybe a glass of wine….or two…. While we are eating lunch another group of pilgrims come along – a lovely family from Seville, two brothers and five of their nieces and nephews, who we were to see fairly regularly over the next few days. We all set off again and it’s not long before our group separates again and the afternoon stretches out ahead of us. Alarm bells should have been ringing at this stage because today is supposed to be just over 8 miles yet we started out at about 8.30am and it’s now about 7pm. Eventually, the leading group arrives in Pontedueme to find that the lovely family from Seville are installed in the accommodation Jenny had earmarked for our stay here – waving to us from the windows! There is another hostel opposite but it is closed and doesn’t appear to be opening in the foreseeable future. Oh we should have known the Spanish ways better by now – by the time Jenny comes along it has re-opened and she manages to get a room but by now we have already booked into another hotel. It has to be said though that those white fluffy towels seemed so luxurious after the night before. Our evening finishes with dinner all together and our spirits are revived.
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<br /><strong>Friday 27th August</strong>
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<br />Jenny, Martin and Angela A leave at some ungodly hour in the dead of night but the rest of us decide to take advantage of the fresh croissants and coffee on offer in the hotel and it’s tempting to linger there. Nevertheless we set off at the planned time of 9(ish – we are beginning to get the hang of the Spanish timekeeping) and climb our way out of Pontedueme heading towards Betanzos. We seem to keep on climbing for most of the day and, oh boy, some of those hills are steep!<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516548074731493330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p3e7BVCFpXrxyPY-m3b6rranoiSAsJqmG6W2bSJpZyicJ7CocXnOrPMKAdgB4ue3iNeUhrR0JRt-Wiw-OnMuLaI2iMN1MKTvfgn6-Ndr1wPT73L8VbDmqJtV0gQH7kOnZRlGU9QzwPc/s320/P8301918.JPG" /> </a>
<br />We stop for drinks and a snack in a small town called Mino (I think) and get a text message from the others to say that they are there too but somehow we manage to miss each other. Did we meet up with them later? I can’t remember but we meet the family from Seville again and they tell us that they have been unable to book accommodation in Betanzos because the hotels are full. As we didn’t book in advance this doesn’t bode well for us. We arrive and start to scour the town for somewhere to stay and it seems that we have no option but to stay in a fairly expensive hotel but we are saved from this by the ever resourceful Jenny who manages to find some cheap rooms which turn out to be four rooms in an apartment. Some strategic planning puts the snorers (no names) conveniently at one end of the apartment while the other bedrooms are at the other end! Happiness all round! We find a bar which sells interesting cloudy wine and then go to a restaurant which sells interesting paella. Upset stomachs are the order of the night and so, somewhat queasily, we wake up to face our longest day of walking.
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<br /><strong>Saturday 28th August</strong>
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<br />The night before we had decided that today we are going to walk together as a group. Although Jenny Martin and Angela A once again set off under cover of darkness the plan is to meet at lunchtime and then stay together. The morning walk seems to go on endlessly and we keep thinking that ‘Julia’s Bar’ is going to come into view with every bend we go round but it never seems to materialise. Just as we think we can’t go another step we get a text from Jenny to say that they have arrived and we are only a short distance away. The place is worth waiting for and we have a lunch in true Spanish style. So now we are all together and we decide to go and sit by the river until the sun has lost some of its heat – it is fiercely hot today. This doesn’t prove to be as easy as it sounds but soon we are all collapsed in a field in the shade with our boots off and taking a well earned nap. The walk resumes a couple of hours later and we think we will reach our destination by early evening. Ha bloody ha! Once again we find ourselves desperately trying to get out of the forest before it gets dark and trying to reach the Albergue in Hospital do Bruma before they lock us out.
<br />And so our next Albergue experience begins – hmm – well for some of us! Roy and Veronica decide that they will decamp to a hotel in order to preserve their sanity but the rest of us proceed for our next dose of self flagellation. The commandant here turns out to be a headmaster of the old-school kind and starts clapping his hands and telling us to move quickly as it’s ‘lights out’ at 10.30pm. No time for dinner then. It was more than Angela A could bear and causes what I like to think of as her ‘I’m too f****** tired to eat my f****** banana’ moment. It wasn’t funny but it kinda was.......I’m sure she’ll think so too, now. And if Angela T’s face was a picture at the first Albergue then it was nothing compared to the look that emerges when she realises that the showers and toilets are in an outside courtyard – oh yes they are!
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<br /><strong>Sunday 29th August</strong>
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<br />So we have survived our second night in an Albergue and we have persuaded Angela A to set off with the ‘late’ morning crowd. Jenny and Martin have already left by about 4am but we decide that it is worth taking time to reorganise bags and have something to eat before setting out this morning. It’s like the division of last rations as remnants of cakes, oat bars and portions of bananas are shared. Desperate times. Off we go and lo and behold we find a cafe open and stop after about 10 minutes for some proper sustenance – it’s amazing how our spirits are revived by the sight of KitKats behind the bar! We also see the older members of the Seville group followed by Veronica and Roy looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after their peaceful night! As we leave the cafe behind it’s not long before the Seville family overtake us looking like they are on a mission to somewhere. When we stop later at another cafe for lunch and see them again we discover that they were hurrying to get to Sunday Mass in the village and we wish that we had done this too. This group also prove to be our friends when they manage to secure a plate of food for us even though we have been told by the grumpy owner that food is not available on Sundays. As it happens it emerges that the ‘grumpy owner’ is recovering from illness and listening to his story turns out to be the most spiritual part of the pilgrimage for me.
<br />The next part of our walk is probably the hardest to endure. The road is flat but seems endless and often we are in the full glare of the sun and there are hardly any places to fill our water bottles. Dave finally resorts to knocking at a house door and the owner allows us into his garden where there is a well and cool running water. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZM9CBa-PPYDhJRKSVwT0kmtXNsbrBGWNVO1BWMm9CcuolzNq0nckfAHuVaRSY9KblHr8jIv4ikfIig4B-0-RP0W71l1KOt6qGpNKY4ok9EWVZke_DO4oqZBP-uvQOMMgw1IRvorhU68/s1600/P8291910.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516546649374372258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZM9CBa-PPYDhJRKSVwT0kmtXNsbrBGWNVO1BWMm9CcuolzNq0nckfAHuVaRSY9KblHr8jIv4ikfIig4B-0-RP0W71l1KOt6qGpNKY4ok9EWVZke_DO4oqZBP-uvQOMMgw1IRvorhU68/s320/P8291910.JPG" /></a>
<br />We fill the bottles and although Angela T takes some coaxing we are on our way again and eventually we reach Sigueiro where Jenny, Martin, Roy and Veronica have already arrived and are waiting in a bar. Cold beers all round and suddenly a brass band appear as if to welcome us and we even manage a little jig in our walking boots! Our rooms are just above the bar so no more walking tonight and as there is also a restaurant attached to the bar that’s where we decide to eat dinner.
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<br /><strong>Monday 30th August </strong>
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<br />Although there have been a few shaky moments we are complete in number and ready to face the final day’s walk into Santiago de Compostela. Jenny and Martin set off early followed by Veronica and Roy and me, Dave and the two Angelas bring up the rear. By the time we leave, the shops are beginning to open and we stock up with fruit and bread for our lunch because it seems that we are unlikely to find any bars en route. Although this is a short walk compared to the previous two days it still seems to be a long haul. We do, however, find a bar and decide that we simply have to get out of the sun and why not use that time for some beers and maybe a glass or two of wine to wash down our little plates of sausages and chips ;-) And so the final leg of our journey sees us walking into Santiago de Compostela where instead of the euphoric sense of achievement we might have expected to feel we’re simply ready to collapse into the nearest bar. Eventually we move and after surviving the walk Angela A decides to make a spectacular fall off the Cathedral fountain steps and nearly breaks her ankle. Luckily she seems to be intact and we finally seek out the Peregrinos office, collect our Compostela and make our way to our hotel where we meet up with the others. After a quick shower it’s back to the Cathedral for Mass. Unfortunately we don’t see the famous botafumeiro swinging high across the cathedral (though Jenny, Martin, Veronica and Roy were lucky to catch this at the end of the previous Mass) but the Mass is still quite special. Unfortunately the priest doesn’t seem to understand the universal practice of giving a blessing when someone approaches with their arms crossed over their chest and I am left exchanging quizzical looks with the priest before I skulk away back to my pew leaving him helplessly waving the host in the air. Awkward moment.
<br />It’s our last meal together and although we’re all tired there is nevertheless a feeling of ‘mission accomplished’ and it’s also an appropriate time to celebrate Jenny’s 50th birthday. I really hope it has lived up to her expectations as she put so much effort into the preparation of the trip. Without a doubt it has been a challenge but I can honestly say that it’s been a great experience for me. I’ve enjoyed the camaraderie and spending time with old friends and getting to know new ones. Yes, there have been highs and lows but the highs have definitely outweighed the lows for me. So would I do it again? Well, I don’t know about anyone else but Dave and I are already planning our next expedition – maybe the Portuguese way next year!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOm72-8-lzqkeU-0FacuaQN8t3nsR-gE0WEvx5vaA2IeWzF2RZYsyhbAb0t6Csh_Mzru_yFi3kmQC76SYNcNH5T0J0PP4QCm3LBRzT_OIynPmNUzgUnLUpnLEeiWbzx0WwWAaojtyCOo/s1600/P8291903.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516528248662984914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOm72-8-lzqkeU-0FacuaQN8t3nsR-gE0WEvx5vaA2IeWzF2RZYsyhbAb0t6Csh_Mzru_yFi3kmQC76SYNcNH5T0J0PP4QCm3LBRzT_OIynPmNUzgUnLUpnLEeiWbzx0WwWAaojtyCOo/s320/P8291903.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Tuesday 31st August – Friday 3rd September </strong>
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<br />After waving everyone off (well, in our thoughts anyway even if we didn’t get out of our beds) we spent the morning in Santiago and then moved on to Baiona, a small coastal town south of Santiago heading towards Portugal. The journey was interesting as we decided to take the train to Vigo and then a bus connecting to Baiona. When we came into Vigo we wondered what we were letting ourselves in for but we needn’t have worried – Baiona was beautiful with sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Wednesday was spent exploring the place and on Thursday we took a boat to Las Islas Cies, voted no.1 in the Guardian 2007 as the best beach in the world. On Friday we travelled to Oporto and spent a few hours in the city before returning home on Friday evening. It had been a really relaxing way to end the holiday.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrn13QE_uSS1ElRBlSuTTxZbHZKJJjHfrZFfDnjy5Dg9-WYaHx94D940RQKZM6xcczwPM_lXD2TFftZzrbLdRSpeIc5FeUaY7iHyzOKEr7rtbdvJqvtWv6rWLK3BQLP0m2UtUkczbk6Y/s1600/P9021942.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516549216125911810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrn13QE_uSS1ElRBlSuTTxZbHZKJJjHfrZFfDnjy5Dg9-WYaHx94D940RQKZM6xcczwPM_lXD2TFftZzrbLdRSpeIc5FeUaY7iHyzOKEr7rtbdvJqvtWv6rWLK3BQLP0m2UtUkczbk6Y/s320/P9021942.JPG" /></a> Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05100573030401547729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-5356688365504664612010-08-23T01:39:00.000+01:002010-08-23T01:39:38.042+01:00Official notification - Angela A is a STAR!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UZ797dqkMtPlx5JdsJ51Go_6SCgeErbapdIM1SQjmhW82X4FJr8rJ_FPAlhD3HFvE1c0LddBAer3qc-6P9xD-SvQHvlez01oDSKjytPnlsmLVGuzwIOaliHhbPcLetkWCFlKY9soerA/s1600/starpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UZ797dqkMtPlx5JdsJ51Go_6SCgeErbapdIM1SQjmhW82X4FJr8rJ_FPAlhD3HFvE1c0LddBAer3qc-6P9xD-SvQHvlez01oDSKjytPnlsmLVGuzwIOaliHhbPcLetkWCFlKY9soerA/s320/starpic.jpg" width="315" /></a><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Angela A has raised over £600 for the Magic Moments charity in memory of her friend Lynne. </em></strong></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>That is a fantastic achievement - so well done to you hun!!!</em></strong></span> </div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-38672116822166530952010-08-20T02:28:00.000+01:002010-08-20T02:28:59.145+01:00Day 4 - Sleep tight!<object width="500" height="306"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/De9_l6C9_Lg?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/De9_l6C9_Lg?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="306"></embed></object>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-50616906057841714142010-08-19T11:10:00.000+01:002010-08-19T11:10:46.563+01:00Introducing Angela no. 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiAad3mM51u2d0_ylivQ-nfWreuYH7YxpxijjkIEL2wxA3CkHxsjhv-IG9GHv1iPJ9Ay1mAZny6YxG6aOBpIXBFg29j4k5dnX97VIp5ax7ANmFerhiRVuNAahfrZ40Z7kLKUB6_OPx-w/s1600/ang3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiAad3mM51u2d0_ylivQ-nfWreuYH7YxpxijjkIEL2wxA3CkHxsjhv-IG9GHv1iPJ9Ay1mAZny6YxG6aOBpIXBFg29j4k5dnX97VIp5ax7ANmFerhiRVuNAahfrZ40Z7kLKUB6_OPx-w/s320/ang3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am really looking forward to going on this trip with a great bunch of people. I have never done anything like this before and I hope I can keep up with everyone! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">And never mind the hair!!!!! Watch this space!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am most looking forward to the camaraderie and a totally different experience. I have never stayed in a hostel or back-packed before. With so many kids going off doing this now I have been able to beg and borrow loads of stuff and then I can invest in my own if I like it!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">There isn't anything I am not looking forward to. I suppose that if I have to say anything it would be sore feet and blisters.</span></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-63330221519790390602010-08-17T19:01:00.002+01:002010-08-23T01:26:55.208+01:00In memory of a good friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_0LQ7-5dU9Y8iIgWzYfQPQpTQ__TjH30YKZ4kDtDr9xO8x45DA4tRIe9QN5OB2g-YH-AEDiZfMQBU5iinruGiS44d54Nwv_aeuXotHFEa60f69iDIZhUgmOGO26yowqaKxoP4piC2gI/s1600/lynne+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_0LQ7-5dU9Y8iIgWzYfQPQpTQ__TjH30YKZ4kDtDr9xO8x45DA4tRIe9QN5OB2g-YH-AEDiZfMQBU5iinruGiS44d54Nwv_aeuXotHFEa60f69iDIZhUgmOGO26yowqaKxoP4piC2gI/s320/lynne+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>I am (Angela A) walking in memory of my good friend Lynn McFaull who died of ovarian cancer 3 years ago. She is pictured here with her daughter Megan and is sadly missed by all of her family and friends. I am grateful for this opportunity to raise awareness and funds for this charity which was a great support to her and a place where she was able to speak to and befriend people in the same position as herself.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Mark McCarthy's Magic Moments is a charity offers special treats to patients undergoing cancer treatment. This may be a short trip away to provide a welcome lift after treatment or the opportunity to spend one last holiday with the family. They also take out large groups of patients twice a year, once in the summer on a boat trip up the Thames and again at Christmas to a panto followed by lunch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a local charity for people in the Barking, Havering and Redbridge area and was brought about by nurses in Queen's Hospital (Oldchurch) and King George hospital in Ilford. They now have several volunteers.</div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-size: 180%;">If you'd like to pledge a donation please add a comment and I will email you with details.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-size: 180%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-size: 180%;">Thank you so much for your support and thoughts.</span></div>ang ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15375175788463827742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-47984407417168890612010-08-17T18:06:00.000+01:002010-08-19T15:24:54.010+01:00Introducing Angela<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEOgKdlx_2ujsmvs9bIiMfLfCbIWqEmbYnDlVW__t4xI-024d2zDRMgQjV-zyWqrD3CCSEWEvwinp42MfB5fIOPNmPUPXcA_u-MaZ_ZSQIGp4OZm3csk3-wQ7QldKyOBidHC4Pk20PigO/s1600/Ang1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506427579631004450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEOgKdlx_2ujsmvs9bIiMfLfCbIWqEmbYnDlVW__t4xI-024d2zDRMgQjV-zyWqrD3CCSEWEvwinp42MfB5fIOPNmPUPXcA_u-MaZ_ZSQIGp4OZm3csk3-wQ7QldKyOBidHC4Pk20PigO/s400/Ang1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 292px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 276px;" /></a> My mate Jenny came up with this mad idea. At the time I dismissed it completely then a little I don't know what came over me, a little challenge I thought! A big bloomin' challenge. So that's how I became involved!</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I thought I would do it for a reason, and make it worthwhile (I know it's her birthday but you know what I mean) so now I am being sponsored! More about that later!</div><div align="justify">My preparation so far has been walking to work (well once) and proudly texted everyone to say that I had managed 13 miles in 2 hours 50 mins! Jen got a minute by minute update! However .......... the next day I drove the same route and had to revise my distance. It was only 8.7 miles - damn those pedometers! That and another 2 hour walk has been my only prep. But by all accounts that's more than anyone else!</div><div align="justify"><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506432871494630610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnM5Rr0R3dEyuetzzdnWwNsNKe9pe-Tjsqsu1G3Mwr8zAOyS6cik9CLZcL9z0JckYLcaZi0y8e8Uu_RhntgqQMwhseiCNjTb43z0mfNR_Nj6oq4Kv6_xEy576Lz082u_A0OK5-XyPW1Pk/s320/Mount_Tongariro%5B1%5D.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 172px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 275px;" />What I am looking forward to most about the walk is ....... the feeling of accomplishment. I have walked 7 hours over mount Tongariro in New Zealand in awful weather, feet soaked from the very first hour, being pushed on by a girl half my age. But what a feeling when I got to the other side! To be able to do it. That is what I am aiming to do. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">What I am not looking forward to is if the weather is too cold or too hot, sleeping rough, aching body and feeling hungry and pretty much everything about it!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">On the spiritual side I'll take whatever I can get. Let's hope God gives me some wings so I can fly it!</div><div><br />
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</div><div></div>ang ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15375175788463827742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-81671824970835138132010-08-08T02:04:00.001+01:002010-08-08T02:04:35.209+01:00Finisterre 2008 - This is the way to camp!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hurriedly picked up a 2-berth tent before we left England, just in case we had to camp en route and Martin carried it the 150 miles across Portugal and Spain. When we arrived in Finisterre at Cee we assembled the tent - that is me reading the instructions to myself while Martin did his own thing. At the same point we both realised the mistake we had made ..........</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqn-DdYHBPxibzzgdWcHGtUiwJ-60dz3nPYVQqQMVwYxMW17Aj0IpxxmIVN4q4uIp9Dc-LkWVuh7JPMzcmEgInlYbrsl1vTmxarHFB39OhJQ_1M_rp6hyphenhyphenfwsPCvQ5HsZeOtSXPg7LZoo/s1600/camino+port+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqn-DdYHBPxibzzgdWcHGtUiwJ-60dz3nPYVQqQMVwYxMW17Aj0IpxxmIVN4q4uIp9Dc-LkWVuh7JPMzcmEgInlYbrsl1vTmxarHFB39OhJQ_1M_rp6hyphenhyphenfwsPCvQ5HsZeOtSXPg7LZoo/s400/camino+port+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a sun shelter for the beach!!!!!! How totally embarrassing!! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naturally at that point it started to rain and the only option other than sleeping in the toilet block was to book into the expensive sea-front hotel!</span></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-9603447875078248412010-08-08T02:04:00.000+01:002010-08-08T02:04:10.952+01:00Camino Portuguese 2008 (Part 2)<div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-pt4M04-4mXhNNn-zPdU_sUPnXeC8EXOXiaRFSkoUD0HBrtimRq9HSXAc5DxGydR2nNSUSE5b0tdWFRmVK6e4gM67anvlpdBIkziWLDoSWISiyQYsjTf4PQKfS1uGY5QhFoMZq5BlfE/s1600/Dad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-pt4M04-4mXhNNn-zPdU_sUPnXeC8EXOXiaRFSkoUD0HBrtimRq9HSXAc5DxGydR2nNSUSE5b0tdWFRmVK6e4gM67anvlpdBIkziWLDoSWISiyQYsjTf4PQKfS1uGY5QhFoMZq5BlfE/s200/Dad1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started our Camino in Porto - 150 miles from Santiago de Compostela - which can be split roughly into 11 days of walking of 11 stages. During that time I sent emails to my Dad (via my daughter and sister) as I was going to be away for a month and was a way of staying connected.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmCb7tVYV015vWMUDM42r7b97gcp_0RwRmOiNiZ66gxbQg2cPcIOgNmHG-xBgMKs-wrXp-Xx83YzmpF3FHrgXXHTuKyXgYfmvkZai1eja3Wa6p3ErBZURMHU6fR5iGbQgonT1cYIHRfc/s1600/Camino+port+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmCb7tVYV015vWMUDM42r7b97gcp_0RwRmOiNiZ66gxbQg2cPcIOgNmHG-xBgMKs-wrXp-Xx83YzmpF3FHrgXXHTuKyXgYfmvkZai1eja3Wa6p3ErBZURMHU6fR5iGbQgonT1cYIHRfc/s320/Camino+port+3.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial;">We stayed in Porto for a couple of days and took the train to Vila do Conde on the coast and walked to Rates the next day. Martin tangled himself up with his sticks and feet and the kerb within moments of walking and fell face down wrenching his shoulder. His pride recovered but his shoulder gave him trouble throughout the camino. The albergue in Rates was empty and we had to collect the key from the local shop and was apparently clean. However I used one of their blankets and woke up in the middle of the night thinking that I had been bitten on my eyes; but I had had a reaction to the dirt in the blanket and the area around my eyes had swollen so that I looked like I had been hit full on the face with a frying pan! What a start!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barcelos stage 3</span> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="justify" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6LzNj9XCD4lSPuNRPPils1XL7kXRzf2A2nErH_NZhDaqkpzHNFdnuF9gekSpNmhuEQ7RlIoaR49jCJRxG5MV4rVjkqeJVOFcOKunwlXiY4Ro8GMsmyYmqiHO7b1EbpOikPCdMe7s6Mc/s1600/Camino+port+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6LzNj9XCD4lSPuNRPPils1XL7kXRzf2A2nErH_NZhDaqkpzHNFdnuF9gekSpNmhuEQ7RlIoaR49jCJRxG5MV4rVjkqeJVOFcOKunwlXiY4Ro8GMsmyYmqiHO7b1EbpOikPCdMe7s6Mc/s200/Camino+port+7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi Dad,</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was no albergue but we found a lovely hotel for only 35 euro as they gave a discount for pilgrims. Really good room and bathroom plus a balcony and so like gypsies Martin erected a washing line and we washed all our clothes! Very posh!</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We liked Barcelos very much. It was a nice medieval town with a friendly atmosphere and be decided to stay another day and visit yet another medieval town called Braga. This wasn't as nice as Barcelos, quite busy and business like. We feel like tourists at the moment as there are no other pilgrims and with no albergue (cheap municipal hostal) we are staying in tourist hotels generally at tourist prices and even with the discount we are still exceeding our budget. It is harder to get into the necessary pilgrim mindset of hard walking when you have a nice place to stay in and everyone is asleep in their nice beds when you start the day at 4.30!</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My eye is still inflamed and I have to wear sun glasses all the time even inside cos I am SO embarrassed by how they look!</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of love</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennifer and Martinxxxx</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ponte de Lima Stage 5</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyGCXLMI_lF58AqyfWPRY7c7nJzBQLl1vVnwaBvK0mnYWBvE7Ot8o0xpEbgv7GwobOne6IKd9OkryW2_IyfpEvHW814ZWS_vk5vcDeFnfrH5TTHSozxsvuwESkJGnR3HnLiUDxNDQwmo/s1600/Camino+port+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyGCXLMI_lF58AqyfWPRY7c7nJzBQLl1vVnwaBvK0mnYWBvE7Ot8o0xpEbgv7GwobOne6IKd9OkryW2_IyfpEvHW814ZWS_vk5vcDeFnfrH5TTHSozxsvuwESkJGnR3HnLiUDxNDQwmo/s200/Camino+port+10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello Dad,</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Ponte de Lima and is the prettiest and loveliest town you can imagine! This is day 4/11 of the walk and started the 20.9 mile walk from Barcelos at 5 o clock in the morning. We didn´t know how we were going to get on but thought we would be able to find accommodation en route if it was too far. We managed for 12 miles and then we knew there was no way we could finish it. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However there was also no accommodation either and as it was Saturday, there were no buses as well! So I had to find a shopkeeper and ask him to ring for a taxi! I can´t speak Portuguese and he couldn't speak much English so it was very interesting.</span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbTKWR3u5xmjTC8crwl3jbpM2KJEz92HrzX8wajHscPBZ5oDexq3KQzytORwlRqAQ8jy1AgCNpLk41EOqrk2WOsFPqltdoLnZ-3FcW4kX5Wl-kxvG8Ftq13RiheO_blro2awnq8zet7c/s1600/Camino+port+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbTKWR3u5xmjTC8crwl3jbpM2KJEz92HrzX8wajHscPBZ5oDexq3KQzytORwlRqAQ8jy1AgCNpLk41EOqrk2WOsFPqltdoLnZ-3FcW4kX5Wl-kxvG8Ftq13RiheO_blro2awnq8zet7c/s200/Camino+port+8.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There was no albergue so we found a pension just by this church. A toothless hag was the landlady and charged us an exorbitant 40 euros for a a room with a bathroom that came straight out of the early 1950s and not in a good way. Martin was scared. It reminded him of a hammer house of horror film set. We did the usual bit of washing and hung it out of the window which had a pretty view of the main church of the town. We were very close. </span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FqcpL_Q_5MIIwwTXVZeBV1xSvVGbu4oDWGZY9-kupVBtG9lNcJqhhBrhV5vKwqu7VR8pFAcgTE47u2d2P9q2Z3PX_nIkrZrR7HW7G3C1yXujse9xJLcNb43jo4VJu2Q2PIem2cT1bPM/s1600/Camino+port+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FqcpL_Q_5MIIwwTXVZeBV1xSvVGbu4oDWGZY9-kupVBtG9lNcJqhhBrhV5vKwqu7VR8pFAcgTE47u2d2P9q2Z3PX_nIkrZrR7HW7G3C1yXujse9xJLcNb43jo4VJu2Q2PIem2cT1bPM/s200/Camino+port+9.jpg" width="148" /></span></a></div><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can just see our bathroom window in the house on the left. We could hear the priest saying mass but worse of all the bells went off EVERY 15 minutes ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT. It was loud. Literally we would sit up in bed wondering what the hell was happening. Our alarm was set for 4.30 again as we had to be out by 5 cos hagless tooth was off to Santiago at 6 herself she claimed. We had decided to take another day off and to swim in the river so we had nowhere to go for 2 hours before the sun came up and we could go in a cafe!</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a fabulous place with lovely gardens and cold river to swim in we had a lovely time there.</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have to go now,</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you lots</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennifer and Martin xxxxxxxxxxx</span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were only given the hotel room on the condition we left at 5.30 (all negotiated in Spanish - how?) because the landlady was going to Santiago herself at 6. We had decided to take a rest day and so had nowhere to go and had to sit in the square with all our stuff on a bench. We did not have enough clothes to keep warm and the square was dirty with food and drink from the night before. Tired and cold, we felt a bit sorry for ourselves (me that is) and to top it all, we saw the landlady going to 8.30 mass. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">A quick mention of the area around the borders of Spain and Portugal. Memories of pre-dawn walks, cooling down in ice-cold forest streams in the heat of the day, yet another medieval castle not forgetting the brilliant views at the top of mountains (but forgetting the tiring walk u</span><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">p them!)</span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE3WqJIQONnGTUmgHUTGpdH4MvuVYxo8NtW572V4D3sZZNdU41dvCVngYFzCkTaYen3AHi3QMIbAMw1G-neVSUEKAFiTxTIUKgFsGFdTciILvs3zghSGDFhFFu5aWUl4iOQka3IC87Tc/s1600/Camino+port+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE3WqJIQONnGTUmgHUTGpdH4MvuVYxo8NtW572V4D3sZZNdU41dvCVngYFzCkTaYen3AHi3QMIbAMw1G-neVSUEKAFiTxTIUKgFsGFdTciILvs3zghSGDFhFFu5aWUl4iOQka3IC87Tc/s320/Camino+port+19.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Porrino to Redondela stage 7</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8YJFlCA13mDDKecVmw4Q2mAJbxIfSPLUYhlDrB-9ZrOnpXZmnedc3_g0rFIIXvps8c5-8xnH9irzKEJEM6e5A5o1HimYmk3B4gXlgq5OSOqfZt9G-ezsHj5f9M7V1Omhw7-mWK4ybUQ/s1600/Camino+port+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8YJFlCA13mDDKecVmw4Q2mAJbxIfSPLUYhlDrB-9ZrOnpXZmnedc3_g0rFIIXvps8c5-8xnH9irzKEJEM6e5A5o1HimYmk3B4gXlgq5OSOqfZt9G-ezsHj5f9M7V1Omhw7-mWK4ybUQ/s200/Camino+port+6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><em>Hi Dad,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>This walk was from Porrino to Redondela which was one mountain that went to 210 metres in only 2 km and down in 5km. It was really hard. No, really hard. Words cannot express how hard!!!! Our book is not up to date and where it said there were cafes there were not and any cafes we saw were closed. It was physically really hard but also psychologically because we we pinning our hopes on finding a cafe and food and a coffee and we were constantly being disappointed. The landscape didn't seem to match the book at all and the last 5 km went on for ever! miles in fact! We always seemed to have another 3 point bloody 4 km to go no matter how far we walked!</em></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKJylPnu2PwzaRva_lH3sArtYrDE0rQYpTzkddWHmAHAGl9Hpz1Nle6Af4qpBVdnjZLEKcCbhp7JAGrblrltIk3UIwxRhyphenhyphen4gYiPvzriuqgnf1MXqY_8gbnGkjhuYqrdPEl5haLZBhIZs/s1600/camino+port++12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKJylPnu2PwzaRva_lH3sArtYrDE0rQYpTzkddWHmAHAGl9Hpz1Nle6Af4qpBVdnjZLEKcCbhp7JAGrblrltIk3UIwxRhyphenhyphen4gYiPvzriuqgnf1MXqY_8gbnGkjhuYqrdPEl5haLZBhIZs/s200/camino+port++12.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Stayed in the Albergue (government run hostals which are for pilgrims) which was a converted medieval tower. So exhausted after the days climb that couldn't be bothered to go out and look around the town. Not looking forward to the climb the next day which is 2 mountains but not as high as today's one.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The next day we started off early - left at 5 - and made good progress but then we reached a point where we had to climb down a dirt track with forestry and no light. So we had to sit until dawn broke as we could have broken our necks instead. That was the low point of the whole walk so far. I was at my physical and psychological low of all time and just couldn't face the day. Martin was a star. When we did get going I cried with relief when we got to the top of the first mountain and knew it wouldn't get any harder.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Anyhow gotta go now. I have to say that the earlier days have been really good fun and I will write to you about them as soon as I can. Portugal is a really beautiful country and really friendly people. The medieval towns are a real treat and Martin´s need for history in the holiday have been more than satisfied.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Love you lots,</em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Jennifer and Martin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Redondela to Pontevedra stage 8</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Hi Dad,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The walk is 11 days long in all. The walk to Redondela to Pontevedra was only 11.3 miles but involved 2 mountains. I didn't like the town very much as it was quite commercialised although it was another example of a medi</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eval town with much of the original features. Its funny how they are all different! You would think that one medieval town would be like another but in fact they all had their own character. Pontevedra was a bit of a rip-off place I felt. it was expensive and busy. </span></span></span></em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uRn9Fi7iZK2o8A_0sg-nPle3zKbSuog4cY7CIjnMrggTuVhmrDFp4dxrot3E8MvGU2YV0T_4iefOb3tjUZVpu4sziSPmN1taBHs2iSEI7fmMpa5MGotoaPHwvqBNYaQcg-MqK1mqVEc/s1600/camino+port+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uRn9Fi7iZK2o8A_0sg-nPle3zKbSuog4cY7CIjnMrggTuVhmrDFp4dxrot3E8MvGU2YV0T_4iefOb3tjUZVpu4sziSPmN1taBHs2iSEI7fmMpa5MGotoaPHwvqBNYaQcg-MqK1mqVEc/s200/camino+port+13.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The best bit was the roman bridge that we crossed to leave! The albergue was full up (much to our relief) and so we stayed in a basic hotel which had a TV and en suite bathroom. This was great! We watched badly dubbed Australian programs which was strangely soothing, had a take-in meal (as restaurants so dear) of pie and rolls and was just what we needed to do. The albergues are cheap (3 Euros each or donation) but there is no privacy and it is quite stressful being in such close proximity to so many foreigners lol! We seem to be hanging around with the same group of people now. They are mainly Italian and Spanish and we cross paths during the day and meet up in the Albergue or the bars in the evening. It is a shame there are no English as it would be good to have conversations with people. They do not speak English well enough and I guess that after a hard days walking and for them being part of a group anyways, it is probably too much effort to try and engage with us too much. </em></span><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The next days walk is to Caldas de Reis and is a gentle mountain. It is 15 miles though and as there is no such thing as a piece of flat land in Spain I guess it will still be hard.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Love you lots</em></span><em><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue;"></span></em></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Jennifer and Martin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caldas de Reis stage 9</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Hi Gill, </em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Having problems with stamps, postcards and post boxes so can you print and give to Dad for me please!</em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Hi Dad, how are things? Having problems with finding stamps and postboxes and now I am in Spain with 2 postcards for you with Portuguese stamps on!</em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdmmoI_YjSBad9WVSF4TULlh82YwYVcrkmsnvKQAbmsTvRer8_NJpehxBknexQ2UQTYSWQSF-BmXttFRdbKTpOduOMrftxz1o6IJUkH_AEqoT4Pk0mW0H7exRpJD2Gz7_mLmKE49JgpU/s1600/camino+port+14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdmmoI_YjSBad9WVSF4TULlh82YwYVcrkmsnvKQAbmsTvRer8_NJpehxBknexQ2UQTYSWQSF-BmXttFRdbKTpOduOMrftxz1o6IJUkH_AEqoT4Pk0mW0H7exRpJD2Gz7_mLmKE49JgpU/s200/camino+port+14.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>We are in Caldas de Reis in Spain which is a Spa town where people come to 'take the waters'. We arrived having walked for 8 hours up a gentle mountain and we were on our last legs literally. </em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the front of this hotel is a fountain where you can bathe your feet in the healing waters, so the first thing we did was to throw our rucksacks down, boots off and into the fountain with our painful feet! It was really hot! 40 degrees and the floor of the fountain was covered in moss and slippery. Martin slipped in his haste and nearly got another part of his anatomy scalded! It smelt like rotten eggs but we persevered and it was lovely. We lay out on the floor with our feet dangling in it which shows how bad we felt. It was a build up from the previo</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">us 2 days of bloody hard walking up sodding mountains! Yes we ARE having a great time but this was really hard haha. We found a place to stay and the woman offered to do our washing for us which was fantastic as we were down to our last bits and my rucksack was a washing line with 2 pairs of socks pinned to it so that would dry during the day. It was washed and ironed too! </span></span></em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIpE1BQ-IaPNaHrDCSaqPYDkPBa-pZ2mlYukGVoGSXgRKz9zhfVWOzee4uPTbiz8sIoLQk5-A4-cWsC54kzscOdq_Zi3rdOvR3us8WrcwAP40H3Rxuo-kk2kxPWuu6zmelNmN4nDom04/s1600/camino+port+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIpE1BQ-IaPNaHrDCSaqPYDkPBa-pZ2mlYukGVoGSXgRKz9zhfVWOzee4uPTbiz8sIoLQk5-A4-cWsC54kzscOdq_Zi3rdOvR3us8WrcwAP40H3Rxuo-kk2kxPWuu6zmelNmN4nDom04/s200/camino+port+15.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to take a rest day today and so went out for a nice tapas meal by the river and drank 2 bottles of wine between us followed by brandy and coffee - excellent! A lovely, lovely lie in until 9 o'clock rather than the usual 4.30 and a nice breakfast in the bakers. However we do have a bit of a headache this morning so that's one more to add to the list of aches and pains. We are actually hobbling! When I find another internet cafe I will send you another update as I am giving up on the snail mail.</span></span></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Jennifer and Martin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx </em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an atmospheric taverna, situated overlooking the river, with an enigmatic waitress who while taking our order swiftly stuck her chewing gum under the table after it fell out of her mouth while she was speaking!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Santiago stage 11</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTI_qW6z15apojNXv61y6bOlB-yx_YXXJPZnDYOLSivJKflqf1_Fd93lRbAP_voD4RQ8oKKTN9evnMWsVIVfzrQQD2C-6HPIs59FZszzCY_7vHADHBPCtpNCbnbf-i1xkU3bXHCMk1Vc/s1600/camino+port+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTI_qW6z15apojNXv61y6bOlB-yx_YXXJPZnDYOLSivJKflqf1_Fd93lRbAP_voD4RQ8oKKTN9evnMWsVIVfzrQQD2C-6HPIs59FZszzCY_7vHADHBPCtpNCbnbf-i1xkU3bXHCMk1Vc/s200/camino+port+17.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Hi Dad,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Well we made it. It was bloody hard going that's all I am going to say haha as you have had enough of my moans already. We did it on a bit of a hangover as well. The first part was ok but there was a really, really, steep mountain just to finish the day off. </em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ZgVD8HXgyNkB-lcMuCLFG-0wBZI3P9psHbs-CR6BcZsVmUzeC5V98SG9_ZYzyOrKB_jMbwEOaW_V1a8MCu8_xa63LL6aqTWdzk1ATGn8LGJggqehn5kYxitx66CxyZhhjXwcvz2QC4/s1600/Camino+port+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ZgVD8HXgyNkB-lcMuCLFG-0wBZI3P9psHbs-CR6BcZsVmUzeC5V98SG9_ZYzyOrKB_jMbwEOaW_V1a8MCu8_xa63LL6aqTWdzk1ATGn8LGJggqehn5kYxitx66CxyZhhjXwcvz2QC4/s200/Camino+port+18.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>We had to queue for 1 1/2 hours to get our official certificate which added insult to injury. As before it is a bit of an anti- climax as Santiago is busy busy and full of pilgrims and tourists. </em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><em><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are staying tonight with the woman I stayed with before which is nice. She doesn't remember me though! We have just booked a place on a campsite for 7 days in Cee (pronounced Thee) which is great although I don't know how much it is going to cost as we asked the woman in the internet cafe to book it for us! It is near the bus stop so that is very good for our feet but we didn't want to turn up at the site and be told that they were full and we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">have to walk 10 miles to find another! </span></span></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>It looks really nice and we hope it will solve our finance issues! The first part of our holiday was more expensive than we expected.</em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>OK bye for now love you lots</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Jennifer and Martin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</em></span></div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5hydHCwjGGTT8JEDtmSaqPw_FqosiMpFhYt03k_VHd2clUc2TOpw4GKpY0YYzbXjm7EqKiDcf6N_xeCUo5Gx-OAnVRlGXTU5lslidPBwwL7EPrjyyOWOZc1uZUcoSwVym0rqnBj7IbM/s1600/camino+port+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5hydHCwjGGTT8JEDtmSaqPw_FqosiMpFhYt03k_VHd2clUc2TOpw4GKpY0YYzbXjm7EqKiDcf6N_xeCUo5Gx-OAnVRlGXTU5lslidPBwwL7EPrjyyOWOZc1uZUcoSwVym0rqnBj7IbM/s320/camino+port+16.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cannot resist including this picture of my favourite thing in Santiago. I want it!!!! It is actually a piece of furniture but it is fantastic! Where can I put it in the cottage? It's like a big happy welcoming mumma! And I just want to hug it!</span></div></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-70895491647075474372010-08-08T02:03:00.000+01:002010-08-08T02:03:42.827+01:00Camino Portuguese 2008<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBiCU-tbmw06TJYQ3zk0oZOyhfVV3gml6DzuFbPFjbeLk-0eHhBRFATm90UkD57u3aI6lr4hQdy4LLdUERTDuMRmQ3T1AglvYcLTuGsMps_YR9agTTqaisSvRCGKXV-jAD-wuHSeuXLQ/s1600/Camino+port+0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBiCU-tbmw06TJYQ3zk0oZOyhfVV3gml6DzuFbPFjbeLk-0eHhBRFATm90UkD57u3aI6lr4hQdy4LLdUERTDuMRmQ3T1AglvYcLTuGsMps_YR9agTTqaisSvRCGKXV-jAD-wuHSeuXLQ/s320/Camino+port+0.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I met Martin 2 weeks after I came back from Spain in late August 2006. It's quite difficult to write this in retrospect as we edit our memories and this blog isn't about "Our story" but of course the two are deeply entwined. My aim is to show that walking the camino can be a one-off experience or can be the first of many. That the experience is different depending on the stage in your life, the people you are with and the place you are in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We decided to do the Camino Portuguese but I quite fancied the Camino de la Plata (SIlver way that runs through the centre of Spain through Madrid) as neither of us had been to Portugal. The walk was 150 miles long which could be broken into 11 days of walking. We planned to allow for rest days to explore towns and then to finish with a spot of camping in Finisterre for the rest of the time. I think we were away for just under 4 weeks. The picture shows us at the border of Spain and Portugal. We are still in Portugal and the other side of the bridge is Spain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I found that the characteristics of this camino was quite different to the French way. There were far less pilgrims, we saw less than 10 while we were in Portugal, and correspondingly less albergues, so we were staying in hotels very much as tourists. Hotels generally gave a pilgrim discount but it still was quite expensive. Hostals are essential for the longer caminos unless you have a fair bit of dosh. There were very few English speaking people en route in fact the first actual english voice I heard was on the beach in Finisterre and I had to rush over and speak to them because it was the first english voice I had heard in 3 weeks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As a christian, the spiritual side of the camino is important for me but I found that I was more of tourist than I had hoped to be. There was a real conflict between wanting to be on holiday with Martin and wanting to be on pilgrimage. As on camino as in life haha - it is still my conflict! How to be an active part of a church community and also spend all my time with my husband and best friend? Don't know! Maybe it is one to consider for the Camino Ingles!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The camino cemented our relationship. We spent 24/7 with each other for a month without a row or disagreement other than grumpiness over lack of food or sleep (that was me), and without the distraction of other people. And we had such a laugh. We bought our wedding ring on the way somewhere in Portugal and the happy day was 25th July 2009.</span>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-62577529330117253752010-08-05T20:42:00.000+01:002010-08-05T20:42:07.677+01:00Camino Frances 2006 part 2<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some pics from my first camino (French Way) starting in Sarria walking 70 miles to Santiago. Much of the walking on this route is through countryside passing through villages and farms. The views are lovely. The Spanish people were great and really respectful of the fact they you were walking the camino and they would go out of their way to let you know if you had taken a wrong turn. They would call out "Buen Camino!" or "Buenos dias!" as you passed. The same goes for the other pilgrims and everyone says "Buen camino!" even though they are travelling past you on a bike at 20mph. I realised that I took a lot of photos of the ground in fact I spend a lot of time looking at the ground! When you go uphill, looking down slightly bent over, that is the most comfortable position and I was very aware of the changes in the landscape that way! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xMA7CMSCsYfnmPsByoNqii9Eaoos4IhAxnIoDztfa5ODGLqpoBdg89rHxmxCCnoCT3oxG03bin1NNomXlSyPV04UPhllqBHKnyem-gD0uUrSBS5zrH-FNbLE97mJkikhX_PnHQwnmcU/s1600/Camino+Frances+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xMA7CMSCsYfnmPsByoNqii9Eaoos4IhAxnIoDztfa5ODGLqpoBdg89rHxmxCCnoCT3oxG03bin1NNomXlSyPV04UPhllqBHKnyem-gD0uUrSBS5zrH-FNbLE97mJkikhX_PnHQwnmcU/s320/Camino+Frances+4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dkCHbFePqQowDpEs-ryDLaJ_r4Nc-2UAIkT-19jUExy-Z6-SeYs0fw07H_9-TDJwVFSn1VRC6dnOxyzgjwkd_QDqa6TyykH68cdG1NawlJpDHQeRrnIP4UJRSgtAh1zRryrbFACHSlk/s1600/Camino+Frances+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dkCHbFePqQowDpEs-ryDLaJ_r4Nc-2UAIkT-19jUExy-Z6-SeYs0fw07H_9-TDJwVFSn1VRC6dnOxyzgjwkd_QDqa6TyykH68cdG1NawlJpDHQeRrnIP4UJRSgtAh1zRryrbFACHSlk/s320/Camino+Frances+3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pathways were clear when I walked in mid-July but at other times of the year when there has been more rain I guess it could be a bit tricky. Especially at the best of time streams may be plugged with a few rocks. As a Londoner at heart I never ceased to be thrilled by real countryside!</span> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLR9utERbFiUExXDo1pclIbHzI9TGU_2Xlzhu0ET7Zb_LXuyrw_JL2EKWVfDeZ9O02le23BZdWG9L3cWwdjxZvkLQKCGFcbPDU4OCQKRCGtK0m1Gdupv5y-M0fDxs9hM_FRhw1u9p7mQ/s1600/Camino+Frances+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLR9utERbFiUExXDo1pclIbHzI9TGU_2Xlzhu0ET7Zb_LXuyrw_JL2EKWVfDeZ9O02le23BZdWG9L3cWwdjxZvkLQKCGFcbPDU4OCQKRCGtK0m1Gdupv5y-M0fDxs9hM_FRhw1u9p7mQ/s320/Camino+Frances+7.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKt1XNpu0pxr1qMDkI8dnGKah9rgNBLzpVtMMT0_DF-PZxpMeu0f_ATtZ4LUcGShF85UzFR9ZC1Kt7-JP-cHk2tbFaIigwJSZOab5pYUyYEEWSXwqbJgvoWrqs9Ck5yeOqltMKJbNz5U/s1600/Camino+Frances+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKt1XNpu0pxr1qMDkI8dnGKah9rgNBLzpVtMMT0_DF-PZxpMeu0f_ATtZ4LUcGShF85UzFR9ZC1Kt7-JP-cHk2tbFaIigwJSZOab5pYUyYEEWSXwqbJgvoWrqs9Ck5yeOqltMKJbNz5U/s320/Camino+Frances+2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pathway was very well-marked with yellow arrows or the camino symbol and often houses that were en route made their own contribution to help the peregrinos as well.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7JJOExuyTJFYnfwDrBS99VENf9HZhWV5aMqXszm6InSZM_fKYPO6njfEp6-Z6MIvvNxOEMLC2tHlS_L5TYXQBMMOymRYt4sweiivCVS4pMgm50EHXjBIRk6wxhu-5rWB06bHF3U2LOE/s1600/Camino+Frances+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7JJOExuyTJFYnfwDrBS99VENf9HZhWV5aMqXszm6InSZM_fKYPO6njfEp6-Z6MIvvNxOEMLC2tHlS_L5TYXQBMMOymRYt4sweiivCVS4pMgm50EHXjBIRk6wxhu-5rWB06bHF3U2LOE/s320/Camino+Frances+5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An horreo is a traditional Galician method of storing grain. You see them everywhere!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1Kj-NX8fqksGC0GXd-hxosdqPLauA6fHp0-_eQFfC35VfYBdxZPiyAG2jFZ8tpuoXhX2lFwSUUqkoy54Wg73xxoRbjLM4wieoUJWmCb2ySB4vjGOI8LhlmpquQJJUcleuCf1p1uD-Js/s320/Camino+Frances+6.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I caught these two men passing the time of day. I think I'll have to use this as a screen saver!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQz5oYIsJNh39HnA1jbil0nct5hoLNYd3Il1OaYfp1E6s8hhAQ0M8Dk49vm2tZajJQAryhPiZg1VpEISwbW0AIW7djPttLTtnFqngBkGiTXBH4QG85std05IJsX6ISs2RaeKxZR8yl64/s1600/Camino+Frances+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQz5oYIsJNh39HnA1jbil0nct5hoLNYd3Il1OaYfp1E6s8hhAQ0M8Dk49vm2tZajJQAryhPiZg1VpEISwbW0AIW7djPttLTtnFqngBkGiTXBH4QG85std05IJsX6ISs2RaeKxZR8yl64/s320/Camino+Frances+8.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the hill where you first catch a glimpse of the cathedral.. The hostel here is a hideous carbuncle that should be destroyed. It looks like the Southbank Centre on a bad day. This "interesting" graffiti covered sculpture should be dealt with in the same way. It is desolate and windy and with the many grey clouds it makes this "nearly there" moment a bit of a downer. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe4XOHEFzD0fovNmGyxRJZCgvKe52qYLvQJnFkF4SP2TajBPZnS814rYyMmTJtFsFkFmbRD3KdC4YFJLublKw8XuXrl-niX45ktkHOERqJDd4olmRp_WgMIAS4f5FZmtn3eMPjV3Z3zU/s1600/camino+Frances+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe4XOHEFzD0fovNmGyxRJZCgvKe52qYLvQJnFkF4SP2TajBPZnS814rYyMmTJtFsFkFmbRD3KdC4YFJLublKw8XuXrl-niX45ktkHOERqJDd4olmRp_WgMIAS4f5FZmtn3eMPjV3Z3zU/s320/camino+Frances+9.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Fraid this mood continued when I reached the outskirts of Santiago with it's impersonal city focus. No "Buen Camino!" as you come to end of your journey; rather I felt somewhat tolerated and certainly not welcomed. Much the same I guess as we feel towards tourists on the London underground who have trespassed on our daily commute to work. People have different responses to the arrival in Santiago - some feel triumphant "I've made it after all" feelings and others similar to me, a bit of an anti-climax. Contemporary wisdom tells us that the journey is more important than the arrival. Does that make my gloom "right"? Or is it that I valued and enjoyed the warmth and camaraderie of fellow pilgrims who share their stuff, time and kindness with you? The contrast between the two environments highlighted issues about my significance in the world; to myself, others, the world, to God. It was quite painful.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWRcbm8LluisebeYRTfLHqXH9hsIUwQ_SNYY0EsLnPIGSloWuc_nIsf6Baq1rbJQXkzPXzrHZdbSo__qp7tw3LkoqrU7IGm7FGF10CKH_hlKeTv_ZrXOYNEwIRZDIJON27WF7AV65PD8/s1600/Camino+Frances+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWRcbm8LluisebeYRTfLHqXH9hsIUwQ_SNYY0EsLnPIGSloWuc_nIsf6Baq1rbJQXkzPXzrHZdbSo__qp7tw3LkoqrU7IGm7FGF10CKH_hlKeTv_ZrXOYNEwIRZDIJON27WF7AV65PD8/s320/Camino+Frances+10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the midst of the crowds in Santiago it was funny that mostly you didn't recognise anyone you knew, even though you had been walking with hundred different people along the way. You saw people in the background, waiting at a bar, resting along the way, stopping at a different stage to you and then seeing them pass you later as you were resting. It can all seem a bit unreal when you make it to Santiago and it can feel like you are back in the real world. Not surprisingly many people head off as soon as they can to Finisterre to recapture some of the peace of the camino. Having queued for the compostela and been to mass at the cathedral many either walk or bus it to the "End of the world" -Finisterre. There's not a lot going on - sandy bays with a lighthouse. Met up with many of those who had been part of the crowd who walked together. People hung around the bus stop as it arrived to see if they recognised anyone. I wasn't the only one who felt a bit lonely.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5765yJebtI3I8nczdJY4z7aJNWC9U4WHt-UQbVWMfWfOxwz5ZqmKIKU_M_fraNmJOwLwXXvk7pehJTlfjXfAJ1KvPBlzgaCtL6vf8j4AtwEBaCwn2WSkW_MQNUvddIVd0sw9-l9YklMo/s1600/Camino+Frances+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5765yJebtI3I8nczdJY4z7aJNWC9U4WHt-UQbVWMfWfOxwz5ZqmKIKU_M_fraNmJOwLwXXvk7pehJTlfjXfAJ1KvPBlzgaCtL6vf8j4AtwEBaCwn2WSkW_MQNUvddIVd0sw9-l9YklMo/s320/Camino+Frances+11.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said earlier, the plan was to walk with my sis, son and his friend to Finisterre when they arrived in Santiago. But having been to Finisterre thought it might be a bit too desolate for a first camino So I suggested that we walk the last 3 stages of the French way instead so that they could get a better idea of what it might be like. Unfortunately there were so many new pilgrims on the walk due to the school holidays starting that it was impossible to get accommodation so we only did 3 days walking and caught a cab into Santiago.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the boys arriving in a typical village</span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBUh_7D5NqIBTlz4XS8T-s8qUNOgoFEPanSfW29gITIpd6nunRuN9vvClEBH0g_bOQ3Cv2FzZOPXo6qSMD8JCWVPJlq1Ry4FupH6QCw2dcmnuNRM5qjetcfjSEumcp6IkiYh_Mh_XNTI/s1600/Camino+Frances+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBUh_7D5NqIBTlz4XS8T-s8qUNOgoFEPanSfW29gITIpd6nunRuN9vvClEBH0g_bOQ3Cv2FzZOPXo6qSMD8JCWVPJlq1Ry4FupH6QCw2dcmnuNRM5qjetcfjSEumcp6IkiYh_Mh_XNTI/s320/Camino+Frances+16.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's one of me and my sister yakking as we walked!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbywexalxa6HkAr30lW5hE371ZdwMNBmPKdyzhsyS35d-NyZ2RCQVAJtWuZ9cMkkGbU2tYnSv7N2A6ghr7Mo1DHVMWJVaZkNpEDMInvbGjw481UY4Z17tCDK-TBvEetLiyhUHQNqg8keI/s1600/Camino+Frances+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbywexalxa6HkAr30lW5hE371ZdwMNBmPKdyzhsyS35d-NyZ2RCQVAJtWuZ9cMkkGbU2tYnSv7N2A6ghr7Mo1DHVMWJVaZkNpEDMInvbGjw481UY4Z17tCDK-TBvEetLiyhUHQNqg8keI/s320/Camino+Frances+15.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There is a saying "Mi camino, Tu camino" which means that as in life, we all walk our own road and mine is not the same as yours. It is an opportunity to reflect on issues that are current in our lives or not, whatever you choose, as you want, as you choose in your normal life. I found that my experiences on the camino mirrored those in my life at that time and it helped to see more clearly patterns of thinking and behaving that were not right for me and I was able to take those insights back into normal life. It was just really helpful to me at that point in my life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-84877174129018261782010-08-05T20:41:00.000+01:002010-08-05T20:41:48.338+01:00Camino Frances 2006 (part 1)<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50b4lC4BM2YVw8vCJ7pt-02jZiMTZ8bWqdywt3npsd-0PvEnToW2QBuSN96icLdzjMcPwzfAPqiAC7fsE9_S7LjK-D73HgOJ_H4ni0v9hXu2icfdHakFNflc8IAiCwH6C_dFjEJ6nvAs/s1600/Camino+Frances+1.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501890999296849026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50b4lC4BM2YVw8vCJ7pt-02jZiMTZ8bWqdywt3npsd-0PvEnToW2QBuSN96icLdzjMcPwzfAPqiAC7fsE9_S7LjK-D73HgOJ_H4ni0v9hXu2icfdHakFNflc8IAiCwH6C_dFjEJ6nvAs/s320/Camino+Frances+1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went on Camino in July 2006 having just completed my BSc in Psychology. Why did I decide to do it? I had only vaguely heard about the Camino but the idea of walking took seed when a friend walked the Camino the previous September arriving in Santiago on his 50th birthday where he met up with non-walking family and friends. I thought it was a great way to mark an event and having investigated, decided that I would walk the 500 miles from St Jean de Pied de Port to Santiago over 5 weeks. It seemed so right, such a perfect thing to do. I would've completed my studies, and had the time to do it as I was going to continue with an MSc in the September, but more importantly had also just separated from my husband of 23 years and was going to have to sell the family home and move on when I finished my degree. The walk would perhaps give me the space to think, consider and make decisions about my future. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the plan was that 1 week after my final exam I would nip off to France, walk 500 miles over 5 weeks, meet up with my sister, Gill, son Stuart and his friend John, walk the Camino to Finisterre, then hire a car and drive back across northern Spain to Santander for a 2 week break in a caravan in Noja. Phew! But ......... I missed one exam so had to go for a resit which meant I could not do the 5 week walk just the last 70 miles. I would still get a Compostela (it still qualified as a pilgrimage) but I was sorry not to be able to spend 5 weeks walking which was the appeal for me. We didn't walk to Finisterre, instead I thought it would be more enjoyable to repeat the last 3 days of the Camino Frances as the camaraderie with the fellow peregrinos was fantastic. Everything else went ahead as planned!</span></div></div>Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-70213771399525944042010-08-01T10:32:00.000+01:002010-08-01T10:39:20.800+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7oqmC7Y2Mep3ofXElYKzjeldfm9zrJCBHVgd3RnGLHWOERjtZ9cuvG98ARzZsxWETHQfNn5bCXSgQmEKM9ESU3M_h3VKVfueTlgH2xpOon4z9NrkJjmgJzJ6hHyoyroR9asH0n-MRvA/s1600/Screenshot%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 531px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 366px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500372169951579906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7oqmC7Y2Mep3ofXElYKzjeldfm9zrJCBHVgd3RnGLHWOERjtZ9cuvG98ARzZsxWETHQfNn5bCXSgQmEKM9ESU3M_h3VKVfueTlgH2xpOon4z9NrkJjmgJzJ6hHyoyroR9asH0n-MRvA/s400/Screenshot%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> Just found out about this film that is being presented at the Toronto Film Festival 2010. The story is based on the Camino Frances (French way) that begins in St Jean de Pied and this route is 500 miles in total. One for next year Martin!<br /><br />Catch the trailer on <a href="http://www.theway-themovie.com/">http://www.theway-themovie.com/</a><br />Bring on the popcorn!Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-43215346990313309932010-08-01T09:41:00.000+01:002010-08-01T10:11:36.267+01:00First Get-together Camino Ingles: Day -27<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQN0_EjrCT-RtXbnYS3Yn9_DsHU7t3f19KUh96Q-QXhmZSWKTcd_tFe3LYruxChWu8tYYm37tib0-_HSMPGzgV2U0pnJRb-lhhoML-z7hcdejJ4rvbjzNP8TxlDRhuFkSDLZ2r44PiuM/s1600/Peregrinos+29+jul+10+(1).JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500359660389505186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQN0_EjrCT-RtXbnYS3Yn9_DsHU7t3f19KUh96Q-QXhmZSWKTcd_tFe3LYruxChWu8tYYm37tib0-_HSMPGzgV2U0pnJRb-lhhoML-z7hcdejJ4rvbjzNP8TxlDRhuFkSDLZ2r44PiuM/s320/Peregrinos+29+jul+10+(1).JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">Introducing the peregrinos!</span><br />Starting at the back left we have Roy and Martin. In front is Veronica. Sitting in a row on the sleepers we have Ann, Angela, Dave and Sue. Angela is to the right of the picture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijON5RuFxa7uGciyqzo-sWdv1YdFfU0y71p0fA8STn5SK2kJX71DJlhtC9JKK_qiVywekQMHTQMS7Nh-v1V8dmfi7Dg9RzXeTTkXprKEKoOZORKbdf0BfiOAgJAfqJD5z2bVoPehmJOIg/s1600/Peregrinos+29+jul+10+(2).JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500360131193064370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijON5RuFxa7uGciyqzo-sWdv1YdFfU0y71p0fA8STn5SK2kJX71DJlhtC9JKK_qiVywekQMHTQMS7Nh-v1V8dmfi7Dg9RzXeTTkXprKEKoOZORKbdf0BfiOAgJAfqJD5z2bVoPehmJOIg/s320/Peregrinos+29+jul+10+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br />Make way for the birthday girl Jen (me) to complete the set but everyone seems to be looking at Veronica for some strange reason!<br /><br />We are a happy bunch and with a nurse (Blonde Angela) and a vet (Ann) amongst us we a can be assured of good medical attention en route! Angela's not prepared to steal supplies from the NHS to support our habit so we have to bring our own plasters and Ann doesn't have a passport yet so her administrations may end up being via the blog! However, we will all bring our gifts and talents to the camino. Veronica has already proved her worth with her professional tortilla making and my sangria was very drinkable although cannot make any claims for authenticity. We will have to sample a few glasses in the wilds for a true consumer test.Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706553711382458968.post-17068704056963877002010-07-27T15:59:00.000+01:002010-07-27T16:53:14.503+01:00Camino Ingles: Day -29<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I will be 50 in September and what could be a better way to celebrate this event than by making a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. This will be my 3rd Camino. The first was in July 2006 when I completed my BSc in Psychology and walked the French Way, solo, from Sarria to Santiago. Two years later I walked the Portuguese Way from Porto to Santiago with my then fiance (now my husband). For this 3rd time, I invited anyone who wanted to join me to come along and walk the English Way from Ferrol, to celebrate the big 5-0. </span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">At the moment there are 8 of us journeying together and another "maybe" and I am getting excited about it all. We pulled out our walking gear from the loft today and that feeling of anticipation crept in! I am in the process of putting together a booklet with details of each of the stages with maps for my fellow travellers as this will be the first time most of them will have turned up at a destination with just a rucksack and directions. I have been side tracked with making this blog though!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Everyone is coming round Thursday to go through the route and to see what they have let themselves in for! Some people know each other and some don't so it will be a time for people to get to know each other better. Bring on the Sangria and hot-tub!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We leave on Wednesday 25th August 2010 and return on Tuesday 31st August 2010</span>.Jen2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16584392452159974169noreply@blogger.com2