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 […]
Camino De Santiago
There is something sweet in Astorga – Day 30
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. […]
El Puente – The Bridge – Day 27, 28, 29
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. […]
León – City of the Legion and of the Cathedral – Day 26
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 […]
Two Days of … few towns, sun, and sweat … This was day 24 and 25
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 […]
The Half Way Mark
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 […]
The day I wondered: What on earth am I doing?
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 … that’s the password
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 ironic 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 […]
Free Socks and South African Ladies
In this part of the Journey, Dewey rediscovers the generosity of people along the Way.
Sandals, that’s the Way to Go!
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.