Santiago!

So we have arrived in Santiago, my leg scared for life and with great uncontrollable emotion. Now my Camino ends and my journey begins. From here on till I am back I am on holiday and will post no more. Peregrino Todo!

But then

We left the Albergue and checked into a Pension and its much better and cleaner!

The last night

So its been 310km over 13 days and we are now on our last leg of the trip. Tonight we sleep in Pedrouzo in this Albergue but its really not nice. We have spent the past few days in some nice places and even the provisional one in Melide was nicer than this. Its not clean, its ugly, its cold. So now we will go for dinner somewhere and come back here only to sleep! Tomorrow is the last day and tomorrow we will get to Santiago. Amen

Making it real

These two kids arrived with their mothers and were running around shouting and playing. This made the time on this path much more real for me. It made it human again. There is a real world with real people, who are not on this ancient path, out there and for them life goes on regardless. I wonder how long I will be back at home and back at work doing the same boring things before I become one of these real people. I would like to think that I will always keep some little bit of the experience and the path in me, even when I do become a regardless person again. I know I wont be able to get away from the past 13 days of my life!

Representing

In the supermarket you can buy Rooibos tea! But they say its made in Spain.

The lonely life

Its the 3rd last day of our time on the Camino and I have loads of emotions. This morning I was very upset coz I left my cell behind at the Albergue and that made me curse se way, the country and all around me. Now I am sad that it is coming to an end. Its such a mixture of feelings that I will miss for sure.

Feliz Navidad!

The Hunchback of...

Spain! Today is poncho weather. Don't we look pretty in our incubation tents?

The wet province

Today was such a beautiful walk. Through country groves and up streams. The only problem is that because of the constant rain, everything is flooded. We met up with cows, farmers and had a great lunch in a local bar. Apart from the 23km walk, it was a nice day. Now we sitting in a bar/Albergue in Portomarin and about to fall asleep!

Km's to go

After walking for 10 days, 230km, one whole pack of Panado's and a sheet or two of anti-inflammatories!

Snow to rain

From the snow to this beautiful rainy valley. What a difference. I preferred the snow and the company has gone very sour very quickly.

Perfect spot

What a great place for eternal rest, overlooking the flowing river.

Tristiqu

Doing evening prayers

This afternoon

This morning

Church

They have flat steeples here with three bells in. Unusual for me!

Day 6

So after the 30km walk and the walk today, my blister has grown into a nice sore! But the guy at the Albergue did some Reike on it and I can hardly feel it now. Another angel! Today we have walk only 8km.

30km

Today we had to walk 30km coz the Albergue we wanted to stay at was closed. After the long trek my body was in shock. I was shaking for hours until I could get a nice hot shower. I have blisters on both feet but thanks to angel Michael and pads, I don't feel them so much today.

End of the day

So we just ended our 4th day and are in an Albergue where there is no heating but a fire and a very mad woman. Tomorrow we have to walk about 30km or look for a hotel!

Day 4

Today is a really tuff day. Its still snowing, about 4 below and walking in this is slowing us down sooo much. But, onward and upwards!

Day 3

Its very difficult to post as there is not always signal. This morning we woke up and after 2 days of clear blue skies. It started to snow. It got heavier and colder till we stopped for something to eat.

This is it

While walking in Leon last night, we came across the first signs of the Camino. First a yellow arrow on the wall and then this scallop shell on the floor. Its really happening now and its real!

Breakfast in Madrid!

Went walking in the city today to find a famous painting that Tristan wanted to see. We got to the museum an hour before it opened so we stopped for breakfast and coffee and this is what I chose for breakfast. A warm chocolate like drink. Thick like warm mouse and these deep fried dough strips that you dunk in the chocolate. It was heaven! On the train now to Leon.

So this is it!

We are finally at the airport with all our bags checked in. Tristan is grunting coz his staff is clumsy and his bag is bigger and everything. I just want to cry coz I hate leaving my dogs at home. Lucca started this morning already by staring at me with those big eyes and pacing around the house. Then this is only the second Christmas ever I am not spending with my family. I am full of all sorts of emotions at the moment. Excitement, doubt, uncertainty, guilt, longing.... Its a rollercoaster man!

Days to go

Its here. The last day of work and tomorrow we leave! After a blessing in church in the morning, we are off in the afternoon.

Why oh why

Is it always the skinny guys who choose to wear the baggy stuff that hang on their knees! This is why skinny jeans were made, for skinny people!

Days to go

And now I am getting a little nervous. I have a sore foot from the trek in non hiking shoes on the weekend! I must admit I got a little tingle last night thinking about being in Barcelona again. I still have not packed and I am so hesitant to leave my pets behind, but I am sure my friends will all look after them. There is still so much I have to do and get before I leave, and I might run out of time! I hope not.

Days to go

I can't believe it!

Days to go

And last night I walked about 14km to and from the Killers concert in fancy scater type shoes, and now I have a blister on my heel... 4 days before we go!

Live at the killers!

It just so happened that I got a free golden circle ticket for the show. It was great

Days to go

A contribution from Anthony...Thanks!

Days to go

World Cup Draw

So we had the rehearsal for the draw last night and Charleze Theron, who is doing the draw, while practicing pulled a piece of paper from the "hat" and read out loud......IRELAND....much to every bodies delight accept for FIFA's. I am going to be one of those people who are not going to support France as I believe that they got into the World Cup by cheating.

Then this morning Sky news did an insert on the World Cup and Cape Town and low and behold they went into the township and did a thing on the poor unfortunate "post apartheid" people and the effect of the World Cup on them. As a South African, I am so sick of getting the poor people and apartheid shoved down our throats by international countries and news agencies. I think we have, as a nation, dealt with the past and are now trying to work on the future, however we will not be able to do that if international companies keep on reminding us of apartheid.

Just once I want to see a news insert on South Africa showcasing the art or talent or country and not mentioning apartheid once...

Days to go

I can't believe its only a week to go!

Chicken Soup

I was suffering from a tummy bug about 2 weeks ago, and then it went away only to return again on Tuesday night. I was sick as a dog the whole of Wednesday...Why are you sick as a dog. I don't know many sick dogs. Will have to investigate that saying.

And your back in the room....so last night I went off to my Spanish class in a little bit of a huff because Tristan did not see fit to drive me in my sick state, but when I returned the whole house was filled with the amazing aroma of food. I told him it smelled soooo good but I can still not eat anything, to which he replied that he made it specially for me and it was chicken soup....

How amazing is he. And it was the best chicken soup I had ever had. So today I am all better with almost no more sign of the horrible shits..oops, I mean tummy bug, and its all thanks to the loving chicken soup.

Thanks Babe

Days to go

Days to go

Days to go

Christmas in the Office

We decorated our office with the limited decorations we have in the office. We even have a Christmas tree in the laft corner. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Advent 2009

Its started. The most important time in our Christian calender, and also the most special time in my life. I am a absolute sucker for Christmas. Its the best time of the year for me. I listen to Christmas carols in my car, I get all excited and get all happy for no reason. But it is also the most important time of the year for my soul. Its when I reflect on my life over the past year, what I have done to dishonor God. Sometimes its a very sad time, because I remember allot of ugly stuff. Tristan and I joined a church discussion group on Sunday (1st Sunday of Advent), and we will be discussing Luke. Our priest explained how Luke made it very clear that we should live a balanced life. It helps nothing being a very morally strong person, with no compassion for those who fault in our moral framework.

This bugged me a bit, because I know I am not balanced like that at all. If people do not fall within my moral framework, I have zero compassion for them and most often reject them. I need to work on this.

I think it is very apt that we are going to spend the biggest part of advent on a holy pilgrimage. i cant wait to be on the Camino during Christmas. The only thing that really hurts is that I will not see my family before I leave, nor on Christmas. This will be only the second Christmas in my entire 33 years, that I will not spend with my family.....

Days to go

Days to go

Days to go

The best cricket pitch in the world.

Where else do you have such an amazing view. And the fact that the poms are getting slaughtered helps. Sorry Anthony!

That time of the year

Its that time of the year where I am about to go away on holiday, all the companies I have to call on are in the same holiday mood as I am in, so they don't want to confirm appointments. Therefore I am sitting at work and doing nothing. I am supposed to be catching up on admin. Yea right. My admin has been done for a bout 4 months now. I need some creative ways of looking busy at work, while still having fun and not being bored. HELP ME!!!!

Days to go

The Meaning of Christmas

I nearly rolled my car this morning while listening to the radio. Once again the not so clever DJ (Garreth Cliffe), had a woman phone in saying that her daughter got told by a boy slightly older than her that Christmas Father does not exist. She was very upset because she did not want her daughter to loose the "magic" of Christmas. I understand all of this, but what bugged me more than anything, was when the woman said: "my daughter asked me if there is no Father Christmas, what is the point of Christmas, and I had nothing to say to her."...... My first reaction was, why don't you tell her about the birth of Christ you Godless freak!!!!

I really could not understand how there are really people in the world who either do not believe in God or Jesus, or who really did not know that we celebrate Christmas Because of Christ's birth. I mean really CHRISTmas...... Because no matter what you believe, the fact of the matter is that Christmas is a holiday, only because of the birth of Christ, so show some respect, even if you don't believe it.

I have no hope for our Godless nation of people.