Posts

Camino Re-cap

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  Reflections after recovery: So, I volunteered to do a daily co-blog with Roly on the Camino de Santiago. Given that this is my first post, you know how well that turned out. Huge props to Roly for having the mental energy and wherewithal to keep up with his posts. For my part, at the end of each day, the last thing I wanted to do was write. Blogging superstar to my left. Recovered from back surgery superstar to my right. And special guest Burrito Gallego. The end of each day was pretty special though. There was dinner! One of the things I was most looking forward to on this trip was the food. I love food! And the trip delivered! Octopus, lamb, veal, Iberico ham for breakfast every morning (Note: Salted meats before a 14-mile hike is probably a bad idea, but who cares, I had a water bottle!). But even better than the food was the opportunity to spend quality time with 19 men that I've known for almost 40 years. Some of these I either haven't seen or have...

Camino de Santiago, Day 5 - Amenal to Santiago de Compostela (Easter Sunday): 10 miles

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What a way to end this pilgrimage! Headed out from Amenal in staggered groups.  Some of the slower peregrinos started early to keep up and others did not realize that others had left and waited by the bus to load their luggage.   Our ten-mile walk was decidedly more urban (the early part took us over a highway and around the airport), before arriving at the first marker for Santiago itself.   Shortly after that, we arrived at the Puerta de Santiago (where there is yet another little church) and the last 'rural' section of our walk.   We are less than ten miles from the city's center and we are still encountering small yards with cattle or sheep.  Some of the walkers in the front stepped into a little church during their Easter morning mass.  My group saw the priest walking away from the church with what looked like an ancient iron key. Just before the Monte de Gozo, we stopped for snacks...