Day 27 - June 23, 2009, 15km - Mélide to Arzúr
Day 28- June 24, 2009 , 42,6,km (7h58min), Arzúr to Santiago de Compostella.
I have arrived to my final destination, one day ahead of schedule. It was only fitting the I decided to end up with the marathon distance. The first 750+ km was my training for the final test on my way to see Saint James. Upon arriving at 13h53, I visited the amazing cathedral and the crypt of Saint James. I then collected my Compostalla certificate at the pilgrim office. Tomorrow, I will have a chance to attend the mass at noon. It was a day full of emotions. I just loved the whole experience and to a certain degree, I did not won't it to end. But I can't wait to see my family and share my experiences. The journey was one of self discovery. In all honesty, I don't think it could have gone any better.
When I have the time, I will fill in the gaps, add photos, tips of the day, etc....
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Day 20 - 26
Day 20 - June 16, 2009 - 34 km - Santa Catalina de Somoza to Riego de Ambros
Day 21 - June 17,2009- 31 km - Riego de Ambros to Cacabelos
Day 22 - June 18, 2009 - 26,5 km - Cacabelos to Ruitlan
Day 23 - June 19, 2009 - 30,9 km - Ruitlan to Tricastela
Day 24 - June 20, 2009 - 21,6 km - Tricastela to Sarria
Day 25 - June 21, 2009 - 30 km - Sarria to Gonzar
Day 26 - June 22, 2009 - 32,6km - Gonzar to Mélide
Up before the crack of dawn, I was out at 5:45 am with my flashlight guiding me in the wooded trail that lead out of Gonzar. We are at 500m in altitude. As I get to the main road, I am greated by the most spectacular sunrise yet. The valley below has an immense cloud that from above is puffy, but from below is perceived as fog. A few peaks are able to rise over the clouds, one of them has a telecommunication anthena.
Day 21 - June 17,2009- 31 km - Riego de Ambros to Cacabelos
Day 22 - June 18, 2009 - 26,5 km - Cacabelos to Ruitlan
Day 23 - June 19, 2009 - 30,9 km - Ruitlan to Tricastela
Day 24 - June 20, 2009 - 21,6 km - Tricastela to Sarria
Day 25 - June 21, 2009 - 30 km - Sarria to Gonzar
Day 26 - June 22, 2009 - 32,6km - Gonzar to Mélide
Up before the crack of dawn, I was out at 5:45 am with my flashlight guiding me in the wooded trail that lead out of Gonzar. We are at 500m in altitude. As I get to the main road, I am greated by the most spectacular sunrise yet. The valley below has an immense cloud that from above is puffy, but from below is perceived as fog. A few peaks are able to rise over the clouds, one of them has a telecommunication anthena.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Day 15 - 19
Day 15- June 11, 2009 - 31.4 km - Terradillos de los Templarios to El Burgo Ranero
Day 16 - June 12, 2009 - 30 km - El Burgo Ranera to Arcahueja
Day 17 - June 13, 2009 - 19 km - Arcahueja to Virgen del Camino
Day 18 - June 14, 2009 - 24,7 km - Virgen del Camino to Hospital de Orbigo
Day 19 - June 15, 2009 - 26,6 km - Hospital de Orbiga to SantaCatalina de Somoza
Day 16 - June 12, 2009 - 30 km - El Burgo Ranera to Arcahueja
Day 17 - June 13, 2009 - 19 km - Arcahueja to Virgen del Camino
Day 18 - June 14, 2009 - 24,7 km - Virgen del Camino to Hospital de Orbigo
Day 19 - June 15, 2009 - 26,6 km - Hospital de Orbiga to SantaCatalina de Somoza
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Day 9 - 14
Day 9 - June 5, 24,1 km -Redecilla del Camino to Villafranca Montes de Oca
Day 10 - June 6, 32km- Villafranca Montes de Oca to Burgos
Burgos is a beautiful and vibrant city. We can see it from at least 10 kms away from atop a hill. I am now walking with two French pilgrims, Francoise who lives near Lyon, and Jean-Marc who originates near the Belgium border. On this Saturday afternoon, we saw at least four weddings taking place, and parties that carried on through the night.
Day 11- June 7, 30,7 km- Burgos to Hontanas
Day 12- June 8, 36 km - Hontanas to Fromista
Light rain, strong front wind. Walked through Castrojeriz, a town dated back from the 9th century, followed by a major climb of Alto de Mostelares. After a steep descent is the start of the Meseta. Flat terrain composed of cereal fields as far as the eye can see. Crossed the Castillo Canal 1753-1859.
Day 13- June 9, 19,3 km - Fromista to Carrion de los Condes
Carrion de los Condes is a charming little town, with a beautiful park, filled with colorful rose bushes and a nearby river. Here we are staying in the Monastary Santa Clara.
Day 14 - June 10, 28 km - Carrion de los Condes to Terrodillos de los Templarios.
In the heart of the Meseta. Extraordinary flat vistas that I love, and appear to be one of the few who does. The town was once owned bt the Knights of the Templars.
Day 10 - June 6, 32km- Villafranca Montes de Oca to Burgos
Burgos is a beautiful and vibrant city. We can see it from at least 10 kms away from atop a hill. I am now walking with two French pilgrims, Francoise who lives near Lyon, and Jean-Marc who originates near the Belgium border. On this Saturday afternoon, we saw at least four weddings taking place, and parties that carried on through the night.
Day 11- June 7, 30,7 km- Burgos to Hontanas
Day 12- June 8, 36 km - Hontanas to Fromista
Light rain, strong front wind. Walked through Castrojeriz, a town dated back from the 9th century, followed by a major climb of Alto de Mostelares. After a steep descent is the start of the Meseta. Flat terrain composed of cereal fields as far as the eye can see. Crossed the Castillo Canal 1753-1859.
Day 13- June 9, 19,3 km - Fromista to Carrion de los Condes
Carrion de los Condes is a charming little town, with a beautiful park, filled with colorful rose bushes and a nearby river. Here we are staying in the Monastary Santa Clara.
Day 14 - June 10, 28 km - Carrion de los Condes to Terrodillos de los Templarios.
In the heart of the Meseta. Extraordinary flat vistas that I love, and appear to be one of the few who does. The town was once owned bt the Knights of the Templars.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Day 7-8
Day 7- June 5- 30,7 km - Logronos - Najera - 30,7 km , Sunny T- 3o+ C
Day 8- June 6 - 32,4 km - Najerra - Redecilla del Camino. Overcast am, Sunny & Hot (caliente) pm. Saw the two live chickens at the Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral (related to a fable). I've been eating Tortilla Patata every morning. The landscape here is much flatter. In the valley of Rioja, vinyards are as far as the eye can see and the same can be said about grains and cereals fields grown on the rolling hills. The is an abundance of red poppies growing everywhere, just like a Monet painting. At times I do feel like I am moving inside a painting.
The Spanish people and pilgrims from all corners of the earth are extremely freindly. Many walkers are afflicted with blisters, not always very nice to see, even if I am a nurse. I have been spared so far. There is a very strong fraternity among the pilgrims, even if we don't always understand the languages. It much more of a spiritual trek than religious, so far anyway. Buen Camino!
Day 8- June 6 - 32,4 km - Najerra - Redecilla del Camino. Overcast am, Sunny & Hot (caliente) pm. Saw the two live chickens at the Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral (related to a fable). I've been eating Tortilla Patata every morning. The landscape here is much flatter. In the valley of Rioja, vinyards are as far as the eye can see and the same can be said about grains and cereals fields grown on the rolling hills. The is an abundance of red poppies growing everywhere, just like a Monet painting. At times I do feel like I am moving inside a painting.
The Spanish people and pilgrims from all corners of the earth are extremely freindly. Many walkers are afflicted with blisters, not always very nice to see, even if I am a nurse. I have been spared so far. There is a very strong fraternity among the pilgrims, even if we don't always understand the languages. It much more of a spiritual trek than religious, so far anyway. Buen Camino!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Day 3,4,5
May 30 - Day 3- Larrasoana - Cizor Menor - 20,7 km - Sunny - 30 C, passed through the streets of Pamplona, where the famous running of the Bulls takes place in July. Beautiful city.
May 31 - Day 4- Cizor Menor - Cirauqui - 27,4 km - Sunny - 30 C, Pilgrim statues on top of hill at Alto del Pardon, crossed the Punta la Reina Bridge. Steepest climb yet on the way to Cirauqui, for about 1km. Cirauqui is a charming little medieval town that was built on a cone like hill with the church pointing towards the sky. On this Sunday, I truly feel at peace on the Camino, and would not want to be anywhere else.
June 1 - Day 5- Cirauqui - Los Arcos - 36,5 km- Sunny - 25-30 C, Passed by the Irache Fuente de Vino , where pilgrim have a choice of water or red wine at a drinking fountain. Here we are in wine country, vineyards as far as the eye can see. The fountain is courtesy of a local winemaker where you have the option to also purchase some if you want. But everything counts in a backpack, so for this time I will have to pass. I then have a great view of another charming village above another long inclined road, Villamayor de Monjardin. Then a 2h45 minute walk through whinding roads, cereal fields to Los Arcos. The sun was in full force after midday. The few trees that provided shade often had a pilgrim taking a break or a nap while I kept moving on. It is as this point the I realize that it is important to get out early in the morning to take adventage of the cool morning air. That afternoon, I got the last available bed at the Albergue (Hostel), as I was one who also had walked the furthest. I was on the road a 6:00 am and arrived at my destination at 2:40 pm.
June 2 - Day 6- Los Arcos - Logrono - 28,5 km - Sunny 15-34 C. In the early morning hours, my walk on the way to Sansol is magical, especially as I am approaching the village, the fields of yellows and greens is criss crossed by a whinding road that leads to the village. It feels as if I am actually moving though a painting of a landscape. Every morning as the sun is breaking, and every thing seems to come alive is always the best moment of the day. I realize how fortunate I am to be doing this. As my day ends, I met up with three friends from Barcelona, Rosa, Carmen & Agatha. They are only on the Camino for only a week, and I will have a chance to mingle with them until after Burgos. I first met then on Day 4, when the offered me a tomato, when I found out the all store were closed on Sunday afternoon. They spoke very little English, but all the same, we found a way to communicate and poke fun at each other.
Just upon arriving to the city of Logronos, therewas a large field of red poppies, popping up everywhere in a cereal field. The city is a urban hub of the region.
May 31 - Day 4- Cizor Menor - Cirauqui - 27,4 km - Sunny - 30 C, Pilgrim statues on top of hill at Alto del Pardon, crossed the Punta la Reina Bridge. Steepest climb yet on the way to Cirauqui, for about 1km. Cirauqui is a charming little medieval town that was built on a cone like hill with the church pointing towards the sky. On this Sunday, I truly feel at peace on the Camino, and would not want to be anywhere else.
June 1 - Day 5- Cirauqui - Los Arcos - 36,5 km- Sunny - 25-30 C, Passed by the Irache Fuente de Vino , where pilgrim have a choice of water or red wine at a drinking fountain. Here we are in wine country, vineyards as far as the eye can see. The fountain is courtesy of a local winemaker where you have the option to also purchase some if you want. But everything counts in a backpack, so for this time I will have to pass. I then have a great view of another charming village above another long inclined road, Villamayor de Monjardin. Then a 2h45 minute walk through whinding roads, cereal fields to Los Arcos. The sun was in full force after midday. The few trees that provided shade often had a pilgrim taking a break or a nap while I kept moving on. It is as this point the I realize that it is important to get out early in the morning to take adventage of the cool morning air. That afternoon, I got the last available bed at the Albergue (Hostel), as I was one who also had walked the furthest. I was on the road a 6:00 am and arrived at my destination at 2:40 pm.
June 2 - Day 6- Los Arcos - Logrono - 28,5 km - Sunny 15-34 C. In the early morning hours, my walk on the way to Sansol is magical, especially as I am approaching the village, the fields of yellows and greens is criss crossed by a whinding road that leads to the village. It feels as if I am actually moving though a painting of a landscape. Every morning as the sun is breaking, and every thing seems to come alive is always the best moment of the day. I realize how fortunate I am to be doing this. As my day ends, I met up with three friends from Barcelona, Rosa, Carmen & Agatha. They are only on the Camino for only a week, and I will have a chance to mingle with them until after Burgos. I first met then on Day 4, when the offered me a tomato, when I found out the all store were closed on Sunday afternoon. They spoke very little English, but all the same, we found a way to communicate and poke fun at each other.
Just upon arriving to the city of Logronos, therewas a large field of red poppies, popping up everywhere in a cereal field. The city is a urban hub of the region.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
All is well. The trip so far is going as planned. Toulouse is a great city with a lot of beautiful architecture.
May 28 - Day 1 -Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port France to Roncevalles Spain -The first day on the Camino was difficult, 27,5 km across the Pyrenees, but the clear blue sky and the view was breathtaking.
May 29 - Day 2 - Roncevalles to Larrasoana - 29 km, flatter terrain, but very hot - 30 C. The Pilgrims are wonderful, quite a fraternity going on already. They come from around the globe.
May 28 - Day 1 -Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port France to Roncevalles Spain -The first day on the Camino was difficult, 27,5 km across the Pyrenees, but the clear blue sky and the view was breathtaking.
May 29 - Day 2 - Roncevalles to Larrasoana - 29 km, flatter terrain, but very hot - 30 C. The Pilgrims are wonderful, quite a fraternity going on already. They come from around the globe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
