Speaking Afrikaans in Spain Today I spoke Afrikaans in Spain. A few miles before my destination for the day, Rabanal del Camino, I saw someone with a South Africa Flag headband. I caught up to the person and started a conversation. On the outskirts of Rabanal del Camino I asked, “So, do you speak Afrikaans?” “Ja,” she said, “I grew-up in the platteland.” “Dan kan ons maar Afrikaans praat,” I said (In that case we […]
Something Sweet Today something sweet awaited me at Astorga. You guessed it, it was a chocolate museum. But before I could wonder among the sweet delights I had to walk 19 km. For the most part it I walked on red dirt pathways. Early morning delights The sun rises later and later, a sure sign that it is Fall. It was also quite nippy this morning. It was -2C when I left at 8 a.m. […]
The Knight and the Bridge It is Saturday and Sunday is my day of rest for my feet. It will be a delight to rest. Actually, this rest stop is a little longer than any other … I have an extra day. See, today’s walk would take me to Villar de Mazarife. But, there was no place at the Inn so to speak. I will be staying at my stop on Monday, Hospital De Órbigo. […]
City of the Legion One thing I quickly discovered was that I forgot the rich history of Spain. I think this might be because I have lived in relative “new” countries. South Africa only became republic in 1961 and Canada is only 150 years old as a Federation. (Yes, I know that people lived in both countries before European settlers arrived.) Yet, Spain has a rich history that dates back to Roman Legions. And so […]
Sun and Sweat When I thought about walking the Camino, Sun and Sweat did not come to mind. Sure, I knew it would be a physical challenge along with the spiritual challenge. The physical challenge this week cast a shadow on my spirit. It did not help that many of the churches along the way were closed … adding to the spiritual bareness I experienced. Grace along the Way Yet, all was not lost. There […]
Today I’ll be Half Way Today I’ll reach Sahagún, the half way mark between St. Jean Pied-de-Port and Santiago. By the end of today I would have walked 400 km. It is hard to believe that only 20 days ago I started the journey over the Pyrenees. Looking back, it has been amazing journey. The Sign The morning promised to bring a good day. The sunrise was beautiful and it appeared the morning would filled […]
What on earth am I doing? This was the question that resonated with me all day. What on earth am I doing? What on earth am I doing walking the Camino? What on earth am I doing on the Journey? What on earth am I doing in Spain? This is how the Guide Book described the way today: We pass through a flat somewhat featureless landscape with little or no shade (A Pilgrim’s Guide to […]
Tomate Algo – Drink Something Perhaps it is a strange title for a Blog post on a Sunday morning … Drink Something. Perhaps it is kind of coincidental that the cafe’s WiFi password is “Drink something” – Tomate algo. As I sit here this morning I look at a statue of a pilgrim and Iglesia de Santa Maria del Camino and I am drinking something. The Past Two Weeks I have seen my share of […]
In this part of the Journey, Dewey rediscovers the generosity of people along the Way.
Join Dewey while he walks the Way – the Camino de Santiago. The journey today takes him to Castrojeriz and he is walking in Sandals, in the hope to find a cure for the blisters.