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Re: More on Sigueiro

I'll be walking the Camino Ingles in late August, and I'll report back on what I find. The Voz article describes improvements located in the town of Sigueiro itself, so I'm not planning on seeing improvement in waymarking -- though they did spend 300,000 euro! The paper describes the improvements as consisting of a paved path, a fenced in rest area, parking lots and sidewalks. Not sure how some of those things qualify as pilgrim amenities, but oh well. I wonder why public officials so frequently view paving as an improvement for pilgrims -- maybe they just haven't walked themselves. But you'd think that we could somehow get the word out that there are surfaces other than dirt/mud and asphalt/concrete that are so much kinder to pilgrim feet. Laurie

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Re: St James Day

They did not swing the Botafumeiro at the noon mass today. I find that strange.

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Santiago and Assisi now twinned

Ceremony on Wednesday. Amid the usual talk of cultural and touristic links, there is also talk of creating a pilgrimage route between the 2 cities, and also an air link (I assume to Perugia). We will see. http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/santiago/2 ... 011221.htm

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

St James Day

Photos from fireworks display last night at http://www.elcorreogallego.es/index.php ... leria=2128

Main events today here

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Re: Jersey Girl feeling a strong tug to walk THE Walk

Hi Alan,
Georgette is an AMAZING woman. She and I walked the camino Frances together in 2002 when Georgie was 74 years old. We walked from Roncesvalles to Santiago in 27 days.
In 2000/2001 she was the oldest woman to climb Mt Kilimanjaro on the Millennium New Year's eve at the age of 73. Originally from Belgium, but a South African citizen for over 25 years, she speaks 7 languages - including Afrikaans. She is a Masters race walker and still competes in many races.
Georgie is an inspiration to many women but it wouldn't be fair to use her as an example to pilgrims who are younger but unfit - we used to call her Duracell - after an advert for batteries that go on forever!

Fountain.jpg

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Re: Jersey Girl feeling a strong tug to walk THE Walk

Hi Jerseygirl, two months planning is enough. What worries me is if you will have enough time to get physically fit enough to walk 20 or so kilometres each day for weeks on end. Your feet are going to take a pounding, and walking with bad blisters is not much fun. Walk as much as you can between now and the time you leave on your great adventure, and your feet will thank you for it.
Age is immaterial on this pilgrimage. In April I met Georgette from South Africa, who at 80 years old was doing her second camino. The week before she started this year, she competed in the Paris marathon. I also have fond memories of Harold from Canada, 77 years old, and on camino number 7.
Never was the saying " It's not the destination that is important, it is the journey" more apt than when applied to this walk. I am sure you will have a wonderful and rewarding time, and I wish you the best. In case I have worried you too much about the training you need to do before you go, I will leave you with the story of the French lady I met on the trail. She was walking the last 200 km to Compostela, and was two thirds of the way there. She was walking quite slowly, but at a pace that suited her. When I asked her had she done much training for the walk, she replied that she had got up off the couch and started walking.
Blessings

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Web cams in Santiago

Happy St James' Day peregrinos! You can watch some of the St James' Day festivities on the webcams in and around the cathedral.

Praza da Quintana - Praza de Praterías - Praza do Obradoiro - Inside the Cathedral - and the altar.

Click on http://www.santiagoturismo.com/camaras/ for all the links.

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Re: "Learning to Walk" Sept10 08

I posted this info elsewhere, but a friend has just returned from the camino and tells me that the post office in Santiago only keeps your gear now for TWO WEEKS ONLY!!She has sent ahead some nice clothes to wear and extra toiletries, only to find the PO had sent them onto her home address 2 weeks later. So I'll send excess to Burgos and Leon , then Santiago if needed. cheers, Jane

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Re: Water Intake

I had a wonderful foot massage in the albergue in Los Arcos. The very first thing the man said to me when he started was that I " needed to drink more". I was told this a few times, that the tendons etc work better if you drink enough... and can feel stiff and sore if you don't.
KiwiNomad06

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]

Re: Leon to Oviedo ?

Hello Lyla,
I can't answer your first few questions but can help with some info on the travel questions.

Train: http://www.renfe.es Scroll down to choose your language - Seleccione su idioma.
You could travel by train from Madrid to Leon - there are about 7 trains a day. Depending on which train you take - Talgo, Regional Express or Alvia - they take between 2 hrs 45 mins and 3hrs 30 mins.
They cost between 25 and 40 euro one way.

You could return by train - there are 4 trains per day and they take 4 - 5 hours, cost 45 euro.

BUS: http://www.alsa.es Only one bus at 17h00

Departure schedules (13/08/2008):
MADRID (INTERCAM AV.AMERICA) - LEON
17:00 22:00 show 21,42
17:00 21:00 show 21,42

Return: Also one bus Oviedo Madrid

Departure schedules (29/08/2008):
OVIEDO - MADRID (INTERCAM AV.AMERICA)
09:30 15:30 30,86

Good luck!

[in Santiago de Compostela Today]