Catherine Anne

Hi everyone, Time to kill here at Singapore airport so a quick note to you all. Wonderful three days here in the sun and humidity - temperature up around 33 deg!! Now we are bracing ourselves for our return to the cold. The 14.5 hr flight from Barcelona to Singapore was fine. I did not manage to sleep much but we were on one of the new planes and there is a lot more room. Watched two movies - Babel and Breaking and Entering - both I really enjoyed. After 24 hours we had come to grips with Singapore and sussed out all the right spots. Did the usual hop on/off bus rides plus a boat ride on the river and of course we hit the shops. The sale is on in full swing and we ... read more

Hello everyone, Yesterday afternoon we left Santiago. The rain finally cleared and it became warmer a couple of hours before we headed to the airport. Santiago is a beautiful city and we really enjoyed our time there. The flight to Barcelona was only about an hour and 10 mins and was uneventful apart from some terrible turbulance on the way up through the clouds and back coming down. Barcelona is hot and sunny though lots of smog around. Marian met up with her son Brendan (who is living here) yesterday afternoon. I had a rest, caught up on some magazines I had brought from home and had an early dinner. Today the weather has been the same. Had a big walk around the city then went on one of those open top buses and visited Gaudi´s ... read more

Hi everyone, Today we head to Barcelona and not sure if I remember where the internet is there. Have had more rain today but it has now cleared. Went back to the cathedral this morning and another Mass on - seems that they have Mass there all the time. Only three priests on the altar this time!! However, two sang and they had the most amazing voices. Yesterday at midday Mass this young nun sang and she too had the most amazing voice. Unfortunately the insense burner did not operate - it is apparently amazing. Mary and Bob I am sure you would have seen it on Christmas Day. I had tried to make a few phone calls - MC, Lou and Meg. Mc - but trouble with phone and then too late. Thinking of you ... read more

Hi everyone, Well today we went to midday Mass so that really is the end of our Camino. There were seven priests on the altar and the church was packed when we arrived at 11.30 however, I was fortunate to get a kneeler and no seat but that was ok. Of course the Mass was all in Spanish but one of the priests was Americian and he spoke a little. The cathedral is very beautiful and later today we will go and have a good look at it and hopefully the crowds will have gone. The city is very popular with tourists and being the weekend everywhere has been very busy. We had a wonderful time last night with the Kiwi contingent. I returned to our room soon after midday and Marian was a few hours ... read more

Hi everyone, Well we have enjoyed our few days here in Santiago even though we have had a bit of rain. The pension is right in the middle of town so nice and close to all the wonderful Tapas bars. Yesterday Marian and I checked out the shops in town then caught a taxi to a dept. store - about the size of Myer in Brisbane - possibly smaller. There they had everything and we were able to buy some clothes and shoes. Great sales on - 40% off most of what I bought Last night and the previous night we visited some of the Tapas bars. One of which was a recommendation from one of Marian´s friends and it was fabulous. The food is amazing and we have become friendly with one of the young ... read more

Hi to you all, Firstly thank you to all you kind people who have sent me messages and I think that I have only just seen some of the entries. Sharron...I didn´t realise that you were all keeping track of my progress!!! Hope that it all makes sense and that you and Patrick enjoyed your few days together. Andrew, thanks all the toxins have definitely gone. Can you believe that I have actually done this walk?????? I can´t at times! Megan Mc. thanks so much for all your lovely kinds prayers and thoughts. I know that they certainly helped along the way. Janet D. - we are staying at the same pension as Pippa this evening and five other NZers!!! and....yes, I will certainly buy some shoes. It will be a nice change to wear something ... read more

Hi everyone, Well it is hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day on the Camino. The last few days we have walked through lovely country lanes often shaded by large eucalyptus trees. The fragrance has been amazing - especially after the rain. The countryside has not been anything spectacular - really not unlike N.Z. On Tuesday we walked to Melide which is famous for their octopus dishes. You are right Janet - there was not much to see there but it suited us to stay the night. Ended up in a little pension but it was a bit of a ´dive´but at least had it´s own bathroom. Smelled very strongly of janola which I think was masking a different smell in the bathroom! At least it was quiet and we had a good night ... read more

Hi everyone, Computer access again today so that is good. Last night we stayed at an amazing albergue at Ligonde. Ligonde is a little hamlet and where we stayed was a converted cowshed and run by a Christian group. The lovely young women who cooked dinner for us were volunteers and there for two weeks. They went to uni. in the States. There were two men who were in charge. They were lovely and very kind. Downstairs was the dining, kitchen and lovely bathroom with showers and toilets all nicely tiled. Upstairs was very cosy!!!! 10 beds very close together but I was fine - Marian on one side of me and a Japanese lady on the othe side. The men were on the other side of the wall. Janet, I was wondering which bed you ... read more

Well hello to you all. I am sorry that it has taken so long to update this blog but as some of you will know I have been sick. Just a vomitting thing which really had me out of action for about three days. It meant that I went by bus and then two days Marian walked alone. However, the good news now is that I feel great but my left foot is still complaining with a couple of blisters. Not too bad though! It was terrible when I was sick as there was only one place I wanted to be and that was HOME!!!! As luck would have it we checked into a hotel the night the vomitting came on and can you believe it.......there was a bucket in our room so someone was truly ... read more

Hi to you all, Sorry that I have deleted some of the messages which I was supposed to have saved on my blog and now I don´t seem able to accept the messages that have arrived as it does not seem to give me that option. Nevermind! I think I last wrote on day 2.....well a lot has happened since then. The provence of Navara was truly beautiful. The people were very religious with many christian statues and pictures of Mary or Jesus above the entrances to their homes. One town we approached had a lovely large statue of Mary which was adorned with fresh flowers and seats around it. I guess the villagers came out to pray at this spot. We managed to get lost in Pamplona and were not able to visit the cathedral ... read more