sjwalker

Hola everyone, My body has been back in Hobart since the 15th and progressively other bits of me are landing too! It's not really my intention to try and sum up such an incredible trip as the one I've just had. Enough to say that on all levels, spiritual, emotions, mental and physical it provided a much needed change and expansion to my view of the world. Spain is a wonderful country and very dear to my heart. There would be much that Australia could learn from Spain especially in terms of generosity, courteousness and respect for elders. I can really recommend the Camino as a way to reconnect with the earth. Walking, eating, washing, conversation for 35-40 days is a blessed release from much of the baggage we carry with us, or I do anyway. ... read more

This pension has no public pc but the arrival into Santiago was quite an experience and somsthing to be remembered. Im writing this blog a day after. This morning I tried to find the local market but ended up doing a big loop of the city so I now have my bearings! Petra who has studied architecture says Santiago is even more the quintessential old town than anything seen so far. I heard the word Australia mentioned by the priest at mass today but this would not have been my entry on the roll of pilgrims. Someone who came in today from Sydney. I met them later after mass. I may wait another day befote going on to Finnisterre as I think they will swing the incrnsor tomorrow which is Santiago Cathedral's main drawcard for me. ... read more

Yes, well folks it all comes down to the next two days as far as finishing the first 800km is concerned. It is hard to believe the number of towns that we have all been through which have a large dependence on pilgrim euros. Of course as soon as I am 50m on the far side they merge into a collection of towns in my head unless there is something special about them. I am looking forward already to being reunited with all the gear I sent on from St Jean Pied de Port, Pamplona and Logrono! Not to mention my compostella and a hug from the bishop. My real hope for Santiago is to be reunited with many pilgrims I have jumped ahead of along the way of course. In Galicia there is a rollo ... read more

Hola! Have arrived into another largish town, Leon with a magnificent collection of architecture. I just realised that I have been very lucky to find the only hostelling international accomodation anywhere so far on the trip and it´s very close to the centre of the old town. I have my own bathrom! Unfortunately I think I have sent my hostelling card ahead of me or perhaps it is gone astray as quite a few items have. The general experience among pilgrims seems to be a level of fatigue where absent mindedness accounts for those things going missing that the fathers had put there only the night before! (Monty Python rules) I met a scots woman Muriel and her husband Chris few nights ago and made them coffee on the road yesterday early morning which according Muriel ... read more

Hola, I have finally come across an internet PC with a working card reader for camera cards _ yippeeeee! Today was excellent with a 10% gradient climb shortly after leaving Casterojiz in time to see the sun rise from alto mostelares. Later in the walk of 25km it became very humid. Along the way was a beautiful river and puente and a 6km walk along a canal into the town of Fromista. Today I also had to commence major drainage works on a big blister on the heel of one foot but the surgery seems to have been a success! Rain is forecast for tomorrow all along the NW of Spain and should make for interesting conditions on route. Still can´t get a grip on how inexpensive things are here. Along with a shopping list including ... read more