Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[Tonjesol]

Backpack ready (and amazingly light right now!), my plane leaves from up here on the north pole early tomorrow morning. I'll be in Madrid around 6 or 7 PM, and hope to catch a bus or train to Burgos the same evening, so that I can start my walk Thursday morning.

I feel so excited! I hope the Way will be good to me this year (I certainly have prepared better than before), and if not - I hope the pain teaches me something...

Unfortunately, I didn't order a badge in time, but I still hope to see some fellow forum members at some point. You'll know me by my great big smile and the limping (but wait, that sounds like every other pilgrim, right?)

All my love goes out to you now, think of me and send me some strength for the next 18 days to come, I have a good feeling about this!

Besos, Tonje

[ivar]

God tur Tonje!

Ivar

[Tonjesol]

Hi guys, I've made it to a fantastic private Albergue in Boadilla, after doing 30 Km yesterday (pretty good for me...) and 19 today. Had some strength left, but couldn't resist an anbergue with a pool, nice people and a pack of dogs(!) - you gotta love it!

Tomorrow we continue across the meseta, the weather is nice and partly cloudy with a heaven-sent breeze to cool us down. As a general rule when you live above the arctic circle: You never complain about heat!

I´ll try to get back online in a few days, until then - buen camino!

Besos, tonje

[WolverineDG]

The private albergue in Boadilla is, so far, my very very favorite! I'm glad you are there & enjoying the hosts, the pool, the cool bunks...are you staying in the hayloft?

Buen Camino!
Kelly

[sillydoll]

Boadilla loft beds

Boadilla loft beds.JPG (64.78 KB) Viewed 411 times

[Tonjesol]

I'm back again, this time I'm writing to you from Ponferrada. The Templar Knights' Castillo is beautiful, but the city in itself isn't my favourite. We decided to reach Santiago this year (with the vacation days we are given), and thus have to take a bus/train for a few days' legs.

I'm having a glorious time, I've met SO many nice people from all over the world, and the fact that I am doing this Camino as a "Luna de miel" (honeymoon) with my husband, always puts a smile on people's faces and makes initiating a friendship easier.

Tomorrow we´re off to Sarria by train (at 07 in the morning) and then we'll walk the rest of the way into Santiago and have a day or two there before we fly back to Norway from Madrid on the 20th. To my great disappointment we'll miss the big fiesta in Santiago on the 25th, but there was no way we could stay longer. Some other time!

A big ANIMO from me to my fellow pilgrims!

Besos, Tonje

[Tonjesol]

Well, that's it! Arrived in Santiago on Friday the 18th and was surprised at the activities going on: Concerts, dancing, music etc etc. And I just wasn't prepared for the touristy feel of the city!

Got ourselves lodged into a nice hotel - boy did we deserve that - and enjoyed just sitting on the stairs and in cafés talking to pilgrims we had gotten to know. NICE! Attended mass, got the Compostela and took the night train to Madrid Saturday evening. I was truly sick with grief having to leave.

Now that I am home (to rainshowers and 10 degrees celsius), I'm feeling slightly better, and I know for sure that the Camino hasn't seen the last of me!

Missing the vino tinto, the sun, the nice conversations and the Spanish spirit, my thoughts tonight go out to the pilgrims on the road right now. May it be a buen camino for you all!

All the best,
Tonje (or in Latin: Antoniam, like in my Compostela... )

[JohnnieWalker]

Enhorabuena Tonje

We'll see you on another route one of these days hopefully. Glad you enjoyed it all.

John