El Camino de Santiago

St. Jean Pied de Port France to Fisterre spain. Planning for 830 kilometers. On foot. Read more

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El Camino de Santiago
Terradillo de los Templarios day #21
May 21, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Today’s walk of 15.5 miles was pleasant and flat ,the winds were calm and the day was sunny and warm and halfway into our walk on these endless roads I was able to wear shorts 👍,we are at a point were nagging ache’s and pains are just a part of the journey and running into pop up roadside cafe is a special treat
Today was a good day
Hasta mañana
JavierRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Terradillos de los Templarios
May 21, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
15 and some today. This was my first camino morning waking to thoughts of "ugh, more walking". I was amused by recognizing that it took over 200 miles to feel that way and also how quickly my thoughts changed to "ok, lets get going we have a big day today". The camino.
I was fairly uncomfortable during the first half of my walk this morning due to ankle pain, but with the right balance of Advil and attitude the day progressed well.
It was another day of relatively straight walking paths, beautiful skies (when I looked up) and spectacular weather. Our Albergue is a dorm style hostal and accommodations are very tight. They have squeezed spare mattresses in just about every nook and cranny to provide a bed for those pilgrims without. Even inside the front hallway. Our room contains 4 sets of bunkbeds and a mattress on the floor. At least we have a place to sleep. Shared sleeping spaces are hard for me because I snore and it bothers others.
Tomorrow is another day on this wonderful journey and while it would be easy to think "ugh, more walking", everyday is completely unique, with its own challenges and magical moments.

Posted by JimRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Calzadilla de los Hermanillos
May 22, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F
We started the day with breakfast at our Albergue, after a few miles we stopped for a custom wax stamp by Mateo from Italy, again we ran into our friend Jose. The morning went by quickly and we hit the halfway point on the Caminó and then stopped for lunch in Sahagún where Jim had a humongous burger. The weather was so beautiful and the miles clicked off pretty quickly. The last few miles seemed to go on forever so Jav and I turned on his playlist and we sang along to our favorites Dire Straights, Jackson Browne, Niel Young, U2 and Cat Steven’s it fun to sing when no one is listening. We got checked in and sat in the front patio having a beer and visiting with the other pilgrims. We enjoyed our dinner and will get up and do it all again tomorrow.Read more
TravelerHappy birthday to my dear friend!!! 🥂 cheers 🍻
5/22/23Reply
TravelerThanks Amie 💜
5/23/23Reply
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El Camino de Santiago
Calzadilla de los Hermanillos day # 22
May 22, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Today was a long and monotonous 16 mile walk, The weather was a bit warmer but we all keep pushing through and enjoy going through small pueblos with their own character some with wine cellars built into the hillside this incredible journey of a lifetime just keeps getting better and better and we are all proud of how well we’ve adapted to the rigors and beauty of the Camino.
Tomorrow we get to celebrate my beautiful Kathy’s birthday on the Camino to our next destination
What a blessing🙏
Hasta mañana
JavierRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Calzada de Hermanillios
May 22, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
16 plus miles, muy cansardo.
Im posting this on Tuesday due to the spotty wifi and general stubbornness of my devices yesterday.
It was a long day but very successful. A little more variation than the day before, however the last 4 miles were relentlessly the same. Its hard to describe the emotional toll certain types of walks take. The germans probably have a word for it, they always do. Anyways we finally made it to our Albergue for the night and shared a few beers and olives with fellow pilgrims. Many laughs were had.
I had a very good lamb dish at our communal dinner and did some hand washing. It rained hard also. This was the first real heavy rain we've seen and it eas kind of cool.

Posted by JimRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Terradillos to Calzadilla
May 22, 2023 in Spain
Today we reached the halfway point of the Camino Frances, just before the small city of Sahagún. We celebrated by stopping for lunch where Jim had the biggest burger I've ever seen 🍔😁 Shortly after that we took a variant of the Camino to reach the only place we could find rooms. The Albergue was lovely but it's really in the middle of nowhere. It was a VERY long walk on an empty dirt road with the anticipation of more of the same in the morning to reconnect with the main route.
M.Read more
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El Camino de Santiago
Mansilla de las Mulas day # 23
May 23, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
Today’s 15 mile walk was a very special one for today is my beautiful wife Kathy’s birthday 🎂
She is the love of my life and I’m a lucky man that we can share this adventure together.
Kathy te quiero con todo mi corazón
Feliz cumpleaños mi amor 🧡
JavierRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Mansilla de las Mulas
May 23, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
Well I get to celebrate my 59th birthday in Spain that’s a gift in itself. We had breakfast at our Albergue and the other pilgrims sang me “Happy birthday” to start the day.
We got out the door and started walking not knowing that we’d be walking over 10 miles before we got to a town. About mile 7 we stopped at an abandoned building and ate some snacks to stave off our hunger 😋
When we got to town we had a great lunch and chatted with a group of our fellow pilgrims. The good news was we only had about five miles left when we headed out.
We went to the market and Jim and Melanie bought the makings for our dinner. I walked to a bakery and bought dessert and met the kindest man, he gave me a Spanish birthday greeting, wished me a buen Caminó and a beautiful life and a kiss on both cheeks (photo is posted).
We’re staying at a lovely private home and we had a wonderful dinner outside in the backyard. I’m so blessed to be doing life with my sweet hubby and sharing this adventure with our dear friends who are now family Jim and Melanie. As always I’m grateful and blessed. KatRead more
TravelerHappy birthday to you Kathy!
5/24/23Reply
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El Camino de Santiago
Calzadilla to Mansilla de los mules
May 23, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Today is my best friend's birthday 🎂🎉❣️and we are celebrating her in Spain😍 It was a very quiet day on the road and we enjoyed preparing dinner in our shared kitchen. (There are no restaurants here) We plan to celebrate our dear friend all week. Happy Birthday Kathy❣️Your friendship is truly a blessing in my life. I love you my friend ❤️
M.Read more
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El Camino de Santiago
Mansilla de las Mulas
May 23, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
Estas son las mañanitas
Que cantaba el rey David
Hoy por ser día de tu santo
Te las cantamos aquí

Despierta, mi bien, despierta
Mira que ya amaneció
Ya los pajaritos cantan
La luna ya se metió

Qué linda está la mañana
En que vengo a saludarte
Venimos todos con gusto
Y placer a felicitarte

El día en que tú naciste
Nacieron todas las flores
En la pila del bautismo
Cantaron los ruiseñores

Ya viene amaneciendo
Ya la luz del día nos dio
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció

Si yo pudiera bajarte, las estrellas y un lucero
Para poder demostrarte lo mucho que yo te quiero
Con jazmines y flores este día quiero adornar
Hoy por ser día de tu santo
Te venimos a cantar

Happy Birthday Kathy
Im proud to call you friend
Honored to call you sister
Humbled to call you pilgrim

JimRead more
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TravelerIt’s been the best day ever, thanks ❤️Jim
5/23/23Reply
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El Camino de Santiago
Trabajo del Camino/Leon
May 24, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
We started our morning have coffee, fresh OJ for me and pastries from Cafeteria Alonso where I bought my birthday treats yesterday. It was wonderful getting to see Alonso again before heading off on our walk. We prepared sandwiches beforehand today so we stopped at a bar and enjoyed a cold beverage and ate with Caminó friends Lara and Wilfred from the Netherlands. We also ran into our friend Jim who’s from Baja Mexico we hadn’t seen him for quite a while so it was terrific seeing him.
We had beautiful weather which helped with today since my pack just never felt right and my left shoulder was hurting 🤷🏻‍♀️I guess now that I’m 59 my body wanted to remind me 😂.
We got to our hotel and went to the bar for our new tradition of beer and munchies.
We bought packaged bowls of salad from the market for dinner that were quite good and then I soaked in a hot tub. It’s definitely a luxury when we have a bathtub 🛁
I’m cherishing and soaking in all the little things like seeing Stork’s nests and babies in just about every town we walk through and all the murals.
Until mañana 💜KatRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Mansilla de las mulas to Leon
May 24, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
I'm not finding the right words today. My heart is full from the connections with people we've met along the way and from sharing this experience with Jim and our dear friends Kathy and Javier. Seeing Monica after worrying about her for a couple of weeks was a joyful relief. I am touched daily by small exchanges with our fellow pilgrims. For me, today the journey is about people.
M.Read more
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El Camino de Santiago
Trabajo del Camino / Leon day # 24
May 24, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Today’s 13.5 mile walk was quite pleasant if not for a nagging pain in my lower back but that is part of the journey on the Camino, dealing with and trying to ignore aches and pain’s and instead concentrating on the beauty and history all around us.
Es todo por hoy
JavierRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Leon, or close proximity to.
May 24, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Staying just west of the city center in Trabajo del Camino.
Have a wonderful room in a hotel with a Buckingham palace worthy balcony overlooking a square. Makes the 14 or so miles worth it. Oh, and did I mention the bathtub?
Todays walk was in perfect weather. Mas Advil means no mas pain for me, so I was a very comfortable senior citizen today!
We ran into a friend of ours from Colorado named Monika. We last saw her having her worst day early in our trek. We hadnt seen her since and were worried about her. We were genuinely overjoyed to see her. It truly warmed my heart. She is a proud collector of twenty eight 14 thousand foot peaks as a hiker, so shes badass enough, but to see her today was very special for me and Melanie. The Camino continues to provide many opportunities throughout each day, too many small things to even spell out. Im sure I will remember them later and they will be the source of some great stories.

Posted by JimRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Villavante
May 25, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F
We started our day hoping to find a cafe open and as always the Caminó provides. We met Manuel he had a little stand on the side of the road as we left the area of León. It was a donation basis we had coffee, juice and muffins just what we needed. We knew we had a good mileage day ahead and thankfully we found an actual cafe around mile eight for a meal around 10:30am. Once we left there it was an endless nine miles until we reached our Albergue Santa Lucía for the night.
Javier and I entertained each other singing and getting our groove on for the last five miles.
We checked in and gathered with Jim and Melanie for our tradition of cold beer and whatever snacks we have. Today was day nine of walking and we’re all looking forward to our rest day once we reach Astorga mañana.
Tonight we’ll partake in a pilgrims meal and get a good nights rest after today’s 17 miles. KatRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
León to Villavante
May 25, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
We walked 17 miles today mostly along straight, endless roads with no shade and I didn't die😂 You can't imagine how delicious that cold beer was and how good the shower felt. We're about to head downstairs to a lovely communal pilgrims dinner. Tomorrow's walk will be shorter and the following day is a zero day. Life is good 😍
M.Read more
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El Camino de Santiago
Villavante day #25
May 25, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Today’s 17 mile walk was at times monotonous with long stretches of flat roads that made you feel as if you were not moving ahead but the weather was good and my body like’s the warm weather,I took the opportunity to ship my backpack ahead as my back continues to nag me a bit but at this point it’s mind over matter!!
We’re all looking forward to our 0 day in Astorga arriving tomorrow and leaving on Sunday 😎🙏
Es todo por hoy,hasta mañana
JavierRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Villavente, Spain
May 25, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
17 miles today. At the limit of what our minds will endure under the Spanish sun. 🤪.
It was a 2 beer afternoon.
The weather was nice, the road long and the opportunities for self reflection endless.
Glad this day was accomplished. We remain awed and proud.
And tired.Read more
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El Camino de Santiago
Villavante to Astorga!!!
May 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F
We're finally in Astorga❣️ This is the city I most wanted to see. My list for tomorrow includes the Roman museum, Gaudi museum, cathedral and chocolate museum. We're taking a luxury break and staying at the Hotel Astur Plaza conveniently located in the middle of everything I'd like to see. Can you tell I'm excited? 😍
M.Read more
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El Camino de Santiago
Astorga
May 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 46 °F
Enjoyed our breakfast at the Albergue we stayed at. We took a leisurely walk today, funny we didn’t take our first break until the 10 mile mark. The miles were a little blustery when we first started walking and we dodged the rain so it made for a very comfortable walk.
We had the best chocolate eclair and cafe con leche at our break. We knew we had time to kill until we could check into our hotel, so we sat for almost an hour. Before we took off we shared a coke and some chips. We thoroughly enjoyed the short 13 miles 🤣.
We got settled in our room and of course shared a meal with Jim and Melanie.
We’re getting chores done by doing our laundry 🧺 so we can enjoy our zero day tomorrow. I can’t believe that we have less than 269 kilometers to go.
As always feeling grateful and blessed by this experience. KatRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Villavante to Astorga day # 26
May 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 48 °F
Today’s 13 mile walk was a walk in the park, a little blustery but overall very comfortable ,it’s amazing that 26 days into the Camino we consider a 13 mile walk a short day. Kathy and I are taking care of our chores (laundry) today so tomorrow we can just relax and chill.
Nos vemos
JavierRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Astorga, Spain
May 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Just under 14 miles on a blustery, grey, drizzly, perfect walking weather day. We left our albergue all layered up expecting rain (it *poured* last night) but it never really materialized. We had a very comfortable walk through mostly agricultural land to Astorga, the site of some of Spains most important roman ruins and artifacts. Melanie is a roman history buff and we plan to visit the museum tomorrow. She is a *very* happy person. On our way into town we stopped by a partial dig of a roman residence and I saw my first mosaic floor. Quite a difference to just seeing them on "Time Team". We will take a zero day tomorrow and do some more exploring

Posted by JimRead more
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El Camino de Santiago
Zero day Astorga
May 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
Last night Javier and I met up with our friend Chris for a lovely dinner, it was a beautiful evening. Walking back that evening at 9:30pm it was still so light outside, sunset tonight is at 9:50pm.
We started the day with Jim and Melanie for breakfast and then our exploring began.
We went to the Roman museum and chocolate museum with Melanie.
Jav and I went to the Cathedral and when we finished we ran into our friends Lara and Will so we joined them for a cold beer and wonderful conversation.
We tried to go out to an early dinner, it just doesn’t happen here in Spain 🤷🏻‍♀️we bought a salad and chips and guacamole (which was rather tasty) and ate in our room.
The huge accomplishment from yesterday and today was getting our accommodations booked until Santiago de Compostela. With great teamwork we navigated off the usual stops and we’ll arrive June 7 along with many of our friends we have made on “The Way”Read more
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El Camino de Santiago
Astorga (rest day) day # 27
May 27, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
Today was a much needed day of rest and relaxation,after a good breakfast at our hotel Kathy,Melanie and I took time to visit the Roman museum and afterwards visit the chocolate museum 👍👏😎 and later Kathy and I toured the Santa Maria de Astorga Cathedral, What a great day, I really enjoyed the city of Astorga.
Tomorrow “we’re on the road again “
JavierRead more
TravelerEnjoy your day of rest 🛌
5/27/23Reply
TravelerSo glad you all are taking the time to enjoy the sights.
5/27/23Reply
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El Camino de Santiago
Astorga😁
May 27, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
This beautiful city didn't disappoint. I would gladly return as a tourist ❣️
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