It is a little rainy and cold in Santiago so I am layered up in all my Camino clothes-luckily they are freshly laundered. A quiet day with no walking, a late morning cafe con leche, souvenir shopping and reflection. When the sun finally came out for a bit I sat and sketched, but kept it simple-no cathedral for this ex pilgrim/sketcher!!!
After 13 miles in sun and clouds we reached Arca-O Pino which is the final town on the Camino before Santiago. We are enjoying the most delicious dish of Pimentos de Padron before we head back to our final Camino Albergue bunk-room of pilgrims. Tonight we share with 14 other pilgrims.
Tomorrow hundreds of us start our 12 mile walk into Santiago. We have no idea what that means...
After 18 miles in the hot Spanish sun we made it to Villafranca, Spain where I sketched the Iglesias San Francisco in the main plaza.
Up early...as usual, we walked over the pass reaching the highest point of our journey at La Cruz de Ferro where we left our rocks while the full moon was setting. It was quite spectacular.
Then the long walk downhill along the snow covered mountains with lavender and beautiful yellow and white broom. A lovely day on the Camino.
After today's 16 mile uphill walk, I sketched the structure across the street from our Albergue in the tiny mostly abandoned town of Foncebadón Spain. It is near the highest point of our journey where there is La Cruz de Ferro. It is a pilgrim tradition to bring a rock from home to lay at the base of this iron cross. I have carried two rocks from the beach near my home in Maine that I will leave there tomorrow morning as we go over the pass.
My pack will still be heavy even without these two rocks...
A little over 300 miles in the small town of Villar de Mazarife. Tomorrow we do 20 miles.
Patti has met a Canadian and they have thrown down the gauntlet over the hockey play-offs...on the Camino???
The walking is pretty easy compared to the daily routine of packing and repacking, organizing, showering and sleeping with as many as 12-24 people in bunk beds. Then there is my hair...I wear it up everyday in some kind of scrunchie. I wore the fake hair piece the other day, it then flew off in the wind and rolled down the cobblestone street of Santa Domingo like a tumbleweed. I had to chase it down : )
A day in Leon Spain as we reached the 300 mile mark of our journey. I spent a sunny morning sketching in the Plaza de San Marcos. I don't usually have the patience to do anything as complex as this building, but I decided to give it a try. Between the 19 miles the day before and San Marcos I am pretty much done for the rest of the day...
Everyday we organize our packs, take care of our feet, have a cafe con leche and head off to our next destination. Today we witnessed this pilgrim prepare for his journey on the Camino. With his horse and cart and three female companions he set off towards towards Sahagún with the rest of us.
On our way to the halfway mark on our journey across Spain. I have established my own "Camino diet" which I eat along the way-starving!!!! It is getting hotter and water will be more scarce over the next 4 days to Leon so that will add weight to my pack.
My poor aching shoulders-ouch!!!
"Art Abandoned" in Castrojeriz Spain. Antonio who owns La Taberna served us the most delicious local cheese on bread with olive drizzled over the top and a local wine from the region. A perfect end to a day on the Camino!!!
A lovely 13 mile walk to Castrojeriz. A late lunch on the square with other peregrinos of olives, vino blanco and I had my "Camino Bocadillo" of jamon and puffed corn cakes (I would be the only one in Spain eating that...)
We have arrived in Burgos and have walked 166 miles. We have gone 1/3 of the way. I am tired and hungry all the time. I hardly have the energy to sketch but manage to scratch a few lines and throw on some color and call it another day on the Camino.
We stay in albergues with all the other pilgrims. Usually 8-12 men and women in bunk beds with community showers etc, but that's a whole other post...
We stayed in Belarado Spain last night after a 15 mile walk. A town of 6000 where all the pilgrims sat around at the cafés in the main square enjoying the first sunny afternoon in awhile. Tonight we are a staying in Agés, a town of 60 after an 18 mile walk. It is sunny and warm, but not much of a square, but there is cafe con leche, vino blanco and papas fritas!!!
Day 9 on the Camino and 3 miles from the town of Santo Domingo, Patti made us stop for water and a little food. Of course, this goes against the core of who I am which is to get to our destination and then eat and drink. So I stand anxiously vigilant eating my corn cakes and watching other pilgrims that we have passed earlier pass us by.
Patti says I look like I am stalking my prey...
385 miles to go...
Patti agreed to join me in a photo once every 100 miles. Here we are leaving the city of Longroño.
Having my favorite, a cafe con leche, on the road to Ventosa, Spain.
Sketching in the garden at Albergue San Santurnino in Ventosa while all of us pilgrims did laundry. Hard to sketch being so tired and slightly distracted by the blister developing on my baby toe...OUCH!!!
