tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42244098883320616652024-03-14T05:05:17.501-07:00Anniesantiago13Join me on my quest to make life joyously simple again - Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.comBlogger947125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-45581598111591340112024-03-05T18:51:00.000-08:002024-03-05T18:51:02.525-08:00Where Will I Walk This Season?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_hHWvgp1omz96J8e1vimoMziRi_5ptaXPshbUtOGJ6H8H2yIgrmqCAYZ5Oj2K525NWzi4P_HmO_PDN9QkBjcCb8-SatlTYKadyys0tT9-bAddVdgX4Xzl5Yh5XfRSu_j8bjBj_u_A27l4fJ9aTsvGM4zDTzPMDEHGh2JbN9C2LEC9MxOicvrHGJobIk/s1180/Screenshot%202024-03-05%20at%206.46.14%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1180" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_hHWvgp1omz96J8e1vimoMziRi_5ptaXPshbUtOGJ6H8H2yIgrmqCAYZ5Oj2K525NWzi4P_HmO_PDN9QkBjcCb8-SatlTYKadyys0tT9-bAddVdgX4Xzl5Yh5XfRSu_j8bjBj_u_A27l4fJ9aTsvGM4zDTzPMDEHGh2JbN9C2LEC9MxOicvrHGJobIk/w640-h412/Screenshot%202024-03-05%20at%206.46.14%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br />The answer so far is... I'm not sure!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What I DO know for certain:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">1) My friend Paula and I will arrive in Madrid on 10 April and spend 3 nights there touristing about.<br /><br />2) On 13 April, we'll take a train to Barcelona for 2 nights of fun there</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">3) On 15 April, we'll take the train up to Montserrat, where we have a room booked and tickets to hear the boy's choir and see the Black Madonna.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VJI63vG33mKjqUmWznMVvNkZTrgqu2bum4oshHJZ2qgrAtyQoyvf-2ZejNMX0BhkYG_IM74GmRCLoW3NBSzuVPKoHTsjmE3JcosoDBiBhVFXqiM60wJPaKCwSS-bPbTKQ93TICCWL2909mXOBnCH3qApPeB7sbRisWnLjIgrWG-c0MB5fYz1FeDiovo/s1024/SantaImatge05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VJI63vG33mKjqUmWznMVvNkZTrgqu2bum4oshHJZ2qgrAtyQoyvf-2ZejNMX0BhkYG_IM74GmRCLoW3NBSzuVPKoHTsjmE3JcosoDBiBhVFXqiM60wJPaKCwSS-bPbTKQ93TICCWL2909mXOBnCH3qApPeB7sbRisWnLjIgrWG-c0MB5fYz1FeDiovo/w266-h400/SantaImatge05.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From there - we just haven't decided. <br /><br />Paula is having some minor foot issues and both of my arms have been very painful since I fell last year and tore both rotator cuffs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So the BIG question is whether or not we'll walk from Montserrat, carrying our packs or whether we'll feel the need to have pack transport and shorter stages, in which case we'll hop up to the Camino Frances for our training. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Those first 3 weeks are training weeks for me, because on 30 April I pick up my group in Pamplona for yet another walk to Santiago de Compostela. <br /><br />I'm getting excited!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">See you on the trail!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buen Camino!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Love,<br />Annie</span></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-69556315423119724852023-12-26T06:36:00.000-08:002023-12-26T06:36:20.372-08:00Feliz Navidad!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7afrxTcdi3PwE8UJBbav0K4DtC_gsAA5MKIjKWEtnUj_TC5ObVXTJgTX-6aOabZqLZQ1to60EPrifJnQmhhyrGl6rhIwVRjkWhgdNRaoZmixvmSa2f3qI6eyQ4f2xwnDc3APnTxqk9-WCjWMaZUCtDdNQ2DTOsX4Y9T2eRccOYUi0AfN_xe5i_52b9ks/s787/feliz-navidad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="787" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7afrxTcdi3PwE8UJBbav0K4DtC_gsAA5MKIjKWEtnUj_TC5ObVXTJgTX-6aOabZqLZQ1to60EPrifJnQmhhyrGl6rhIwVRjkWhgdNRaoZmixvmSa2f3qI6eyQ4f2xwnDc3APnTxqk9-WCjWMaZUCtDdNQ2DTOsX4Y9T2eRccOYUi0AfN_xe5i_52b9ks/w640-h506/feliz-navidad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! I found this cool banner online - not sure who originally made it but it seemed fitting.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In April/May 2024, both Joe and I will be taking a group of pilgrims on the Camino. We're very much looking forward to being in Spain again! I've been busy making reservations and let me tell you, it's going to be a BUSY season! Many lodgings are already booked up for Spring!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I plan on leaving early, around 9 April, for Spain to do some training. My friend, Paula, is going with me and we'll walk half-stages for a while, slowing increasing distances until I pick up my group in Pamplona.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The last time I walked the Camino, I didn't get sick until I returned home and just a few days after my return, Covid hit. The illness itself wasn't bad, lasting only maybe 3 days, but the long term affect has been awful. It really kicked my butt and my stamina seems to have flown out the window. So it will be interesting to see how I do on the trail. That combined with the Oregon rain won't make it easy to train here, so my plan is to do light weights and walk when I can here at home, but do most of my training on the trail in Spain. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had a quiet Christmas this year. We agreed not to buy gifts for the adults and I have to say, I missed opening presents. Isn't that funny? There's really nothing I need, but since I was in Hawaii until the week before, I didn't even get out my tree and decorate, so it didn't feel like Christmas to me. Next year, I think I'm going to decorate and buy gifts, needed or not. I miss that. <br /><br />My eldest son and his family did come to Dallas and we had a nice breakfast at my youngest son's home. Hiathan was home from Annapolis and it was so good to see him. <br /><br />Joe has left for the desert for the winter and my plan now is to clean and organize the house then get on a routine of diet, exercise, and Spanish. <br /><br />Wish me luck!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Annie</span></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-52940767418776700572023-12-24T13:03:00.000-08:002023-12-24T13:04:48.105-08:00What's Goin' On<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pGsIIN5stSMtyEHCvwQa4TluOUH0Mjo0PjGF7YRyee5IGk75JAsah8v6B_ab1lLcGlxOz5PQeYTn6-Gkw3MiYK-z5APGydS_HYIRsSUr7-8aq6gw-iS_r_sPnXQ8-nqDLv6GA7GujFWcwI_lGP2sTzVLjiEQM1rx2b1y7EygnN63XkRyALyX5Psps84/s4032/IMG_3404.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pGsIIN5stSMtyEHCvwQa4TluOUH0Mjo0PjGF7YRyee5IGk75JAsah8v6B_ab1lLcGlxOz5PQeYTn6-Gkw3MiYK-z5APGydS_HYIRsSUr7-8aq6gw-iS_r_sPnXQ8-nqDLv6GA7GujFWcwI_lGP2sTzVLjiEQM1rx2b1y7EygnN63XkRyALyX5Psps84/w640-h480/IMG_3404.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's been a few months since I've posted so I thought I'd catch up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My middle son and ex-husband (the boys' father) came from Georgia and my eldest son brought his family from Portland. We met at my youngest son's house for a traditional Turkey dinner. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Soon after, I took a two week vacation in Hawaii.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My Camino friends, Paula and Gil, invited me. I spent 7 days in Kauai. It was my first time and it was absolutely GLORIOUS! We had so much fun!</div></div></blockquote><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIJfWU7HlBOX9fbmAASCAmiVIqzs157ilo-3oVjY0-Y_wc-iHd-Ad8HLpE9bkZMlIFSYTVb_xjGopeM87-vutlZ4UJLS-Z-r-NoYa7cMyoB9r5S-axQGCoF-7BI1J6wCHB_9ZMdgMo97VyupO4h3cfSFyJNODiDFMVpgnF759h2z0Ls5mjBw7rNaMZFs/s4032/IMG_3126.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIJfWU7HlBOX9fbmAASCAmiVIqzs157ilo-3oVjY0-Y_wc-iHd-Ad8HLpE9bkZMlIFSYTVb_xjGopeM87-vutlZ4UJLS-Z-r-NoYa7cMyoB9r5S-axQGCoF-7BI1J6wCHB_9ZMdgMo97VyupO4h3cfSFyJNODiDFMVpgnF759h2z0Ls5mjBw7rNaMZFs/s320/IMG_3126.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunrises at breakfast . . .</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1radliwE3pEWtzUe2AkWv9NqbSKwRsqN2SlrxPvybX85CSdGvOJkmlc36iETFSSZRLmvflrU2aqvk7RhB1HxkjrV9REs-vL4oCF6cVWQA8byTvNi8lAsTLmBK9gsXCktc5pw4lOAZUXWn2hKXZgV19hYanRMajhcc5yWaZOLXX7Q_3NAAUn3A3Tbmg8/s4032/IMG_3146.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1radliwE3pEWtzUe2AkWv9NqbSKwRsqN2SlrxPvybX85CSdGvOJkmlc36iETFSSZRLmvflrU2aqvk7RhB1HxkjrV9REs-vL4oCF6cVWQA8byTvNi8lAsTLmBK9gsXCktc5pw4lOAZUXWn2hKXZgV19hYanRMajhcc5yWaZOLXX7Q_3NAAUn3A3Tbmg8/s320/IMG_3146.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful beaches</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQ2ILOfzRAreEW2g-DCYy-Ah1A9XHpUtiTLTr4HNtKEcsZCGYb-XJttdm6o5Mu79jdhuX4KGHppVtH_H3wV8Snl8nSxYQUmzdOmBN9Ihldiywi2nbzKMHivgGkyMXlerOyHHPr6w2m2e4h5DSHfJWGEWpJ_zvrtxCebPrt-DIziQlBm58pDYFKrj87XM/s4032/IMG_3190.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQ2ILOfzRAreEW2g-DCYy-Ah1A9XHpUtiTLTr4HNtKEcsZCGYb-XJttdm6o5Mu79jdhuX4KGHppVtH_H3wV8Snl8nSxYQUmzdOmBN9Ihldiywi2nbzKMHivgGkyMXlerOyHHPr6w2m2e4h5DSHfJWGEWpJ_zvrtxCebPrt-DIziQlBm58pDYFKrj87XM/s320/IMG_3190.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum Visit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdJKI6eJq5Ch2o2X6D6fRE0Lmw6wkKbxtgthyWO-8321Zxuqam4SXZ8DmvAbE23Z4tDZZTe-2MPaZBdPjs7cSEW_ZVFoYaVl6zPRM08rlBBu7Qomw1k6oWa1TpchywbEXRFYtQgvSLBo_CSzeejocGLhv9DBOYrN4zccQL5naK1pvcBg29mO7qxupTiQ/s4032/IMG_3195.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdJKI6eJq5Ch2o2X6D6fRE0Lmw6wkKbxtgthyWO-8321Zxuqam4SXZ8DmvAbE23Z4tDZZTe-2MPaZBdPjs7cSEW_ZVFoYaVl6zPRM08rlBBu7Qomw1k6oWa1TpchywbEXRFYtQgvSLBo_CSzeejocGLhv9DBOYrN4zccQL5naK1pvcBg29mO7qxupTiQ/s320/IMG_3195.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feather Lei</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFdzu52kghocnP4xxvbFTt5ffxxtzHOdZLuXFQUkAU1N0EOjM40K1RNgS9yE31QZyx2kUGLhasgasKv6XmxbFENlCApJtfOUiz9y2g-potIdsKoqwZan6B-SSG1u7BOiiCqgXwezFuD762bD8AqSrJ2kclqjPSYsZVr3vfPaIKtikxHnjnyddS5Uymr4/s4032/IMG_3220.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFdzu52kghocnP4xxvbFTt5ffxxtzHOdZLuXFQUkAU1N0EOjM40K1RNgS9yE31QZyx2kUGLhasgasKv6XmxbFENlCApJtfOUiz9y2g-potIdsKoqwZan6B-SSG1u7BOiiCqgXwezFuD762bD8AqSrJ2kclqjPSYsZVr3vfPaIKtikxHnjnyddS5Uymr4/s320/IMG_3220.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfalls with Gil and Paula</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv5-e6ykNMabU1XUhZ52Oewy87mGsTjrrBIuyKvZLhPh2tpoBrq1m3xr2v2RDY5vCerJgV0lFC9mWNcOAxNmcy72HfKMJYFddwV0XIZPCicwPo7ykoXV0soRRWnQ2VM4iwBoNncB-S71q8Q0dWLGFjA1jhst7PiNwFIGRk24cPWOtgViSGJi-ve8YxUc/s4032/IMG_3232.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv5-e6ykNMabU1XUhZ52Oewy87mGsTjrrBIuyKvZLhPh2tpoBrq1m3xr2v2RDY5vCerJgV0lFC9mWNcOAxNmcy72HfKMJYFddwV0XIZPCicwPo7ykoXV0soRRWnQ2VM4iwBoNncB-S71q8Q0dWLGFjA1jhst7PiNwFIGRk24cPWOtgViSGJi-ve8YxUc/s320/IMG_3232.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaved Ice!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgarNisnwRc2Ij4L2QgpUGbOV9cWsoJ8S8p-Zjk6JPu4Lrv2-uKKjhSRJy04o90gab2VnBJpcr2zEaTCVLmPq_Rir8bkdIKsQursNg2V1GkmrjSstU00LyOdWQXGcNIrDkpdlR-x1w5polj1H26r6oGZeSBj1Nmdczg5aQN0YlFOq1Zpx-Lsa6lFkfstk/s4032/IMG_3251.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgarNisnwRc2Ij4L2QgpUGbOV9cWsoJ8S8p-Zjk6JPu4Lrv2-uKKjhSRJy04o90gab2VnBJpcr2zEaTCVLmPq_Rir8bkdIKsQursNg2V1GkmrjSstU00LyOdWQXGcNIrDkpdlR-x1w5polj1H26r6oGZeSBj1Nmdczg5aQN0YlFOq1Zpx-Lsa6lFkfstk/s320/IMG_3251.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malasalas (my grandmother never filled them!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the nesting Albatross and learning about their lives. <br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCWyMpqeB8Flih8hB1cWijo_MIq-AvJjPD4ayFdDSLwUvra7yjLyFsU0PtbGWQ2D3B7QpMHC_sWV4TVlHwJ5_Hrj1BYtFM78v5yCH0oLLmsuBU3T6umjbXJ44bNyzC6kP4BbOSIYjh6qhxPpNTL3bi6hm-qTjoPhuLDGEG-ywTtx47sRYG2k2Hy5An0g/s4032/IMG_3312.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCWyMpqeB8Flih8hB1cWijo_MIq-AvJjPD4ayFdDSLwUvra7yjLyFsU0PtbGWQ2D3B7QpMHC_sWV4TVlHwJ5_Hrj1BYtFM78v5yCH0oLLmsuBU3T6umjbXJ44bNyzC6kP4BbOSIYjh6qhxPpNTL3bi6hm-qTjoPhuLDGEG-ywTtx47sRYG2k2Hy5An0g/s320/IMG_3312.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYH0qFs-X0X2LVoxRLWCSrAzLgK_sgCRmEwFEF8t7JxkSxPur5ygNRJ7CS_sgIdv206hYdanXSdHBb158bPLEB72BPv9b2wlxM25RW55-Q8C9LN-Wd_3rg9Ln2pOf-iQaEjmUQTbyAnMAiN93Q_wo8rEONqsANplP-KksL-1Xa5FLrAVMQWCQJ39yidpU/s4032/IMG_3316.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYH0qFs-X0X2LVoxRLWCSrAzLgK_sgCRmEwFEF8t7JxkSxPur5ygNRJ7CS_sgIdv206hYdanXSdHBb158bPLEB72BPv9b2wlxM25RW55-Q8C9LN-Wd_3rg9Ln2pOf-iQaEjmUQTbyAnMAiN93Q_wo8rEONqsANplP-KksL-1Xa5FLrAVMQWCQJ39yidpU/s320/IMG_3316.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This male got up to let us see his egg.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxFaJUNR27wflZF9vTQk3tKzjsjSo732VcGnp4vT6mB9oPJLF9Gx2jrtzdg4MS4DbRdPfRmApezcRECWr8yoQo8q9apv4UjcpDgaNcYIFePgj9r24UZbZxXLUIl_iMd2P6AWR0B5KwJrBwTcday1dAGjNglsVEMMe7F7FzXJPAOvnRjRr3xl3mjhVyQ0/s4032/IMG_3404.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxFaJUNR27wflZF9vTQk3tKzjsjSo732VcGnp4vT6mB9oPJLF9Gx2jrtzdg4MS4DbRdPfRmApezcRECWr8yoQo8q9apv4UjcpDgaNcYIFePgj9r24UZbZxXLUIl_iMd2P6AWR0B5KwJrBwTcday1dAGjNglsVEMMe7F7FzXJPAOvnRjRr3xl3mjhVyQ0/s320/IMG_3404.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More sunrises</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtnA3LszZBCPlNzwCfhPJyTHq_RatYbFv3GdoCIu4JQwO4NoxgntWozKa8g_A5w6-vAMCF79mFcrsrVNoonRSnPWZX5jPvNzt2RtJMupUDU2t0ib_w41MjwpG5FnvNy5dEmOSAeL-MAo-utj0T1yzLz5Q1hiwRVmFt1GnD_9xC3ic-zJdnoc9WW0R5Ic/s4032/IMG_3427.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtnA3LszZBCPlNzwCfhPJyTHq_RatYbFv3GdoCIu4JQwO4NoxgntWozKa8g_A5w6-vAMCF79mFcrsrVNoonRSnPWZX5jPvNzt2RtJMupUDU2t0ib_w41MjwpG5FnvNy5dEmOSAeL-MAo-utj0T1yzLz5Q1hiwRVmFt1GnD_9xC3ic-zJdnoc9WW0R5Ic/s320/IMG_3427.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gil, Ollie, Frank, and Paula</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PWnONz16TU-_VJvnnICd3MGBrUpEXttvvzr603jQEz1TgYHLappDbdbtB4a7_08rbSY8GU1YKIUWo9UVQoU2xXAQ4NpnnkWmp4B_SA5Z-gybccLa_y43bLWEZRml_Ml6H5G2Q29eHM611RBSqJ3FbPm82HQhN2iJ9D3cs6IRBhV-oWD2GdU-NxTduyo/s4032/IMG_3452.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PWnONz16TU-_VJvnnICd3MGBrUpEXttvvzr603jQEz1TgYHLappDbdbtB4a7_08rbSY8GU1YKIUWo9UVQoU2xXAQ4NpnnkWmp4B_SA5Z-gybccLa_y43bLWEZRml_Ml6H5G2Q29eHM611RBSqJ3FbPm82HQhN2iJ9D3cs6IRBhV-oWD2GdU-NxTduyo/s320/IMG_3452.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee and cake at the Lodge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScJqrmvMrZGNaBuTPOwfgDOhxEzYc3vTEIakz5RQs9UEOPqcRmCR3SS4sQwYc8JZvo0UFGNQNWFdVVgIYHgcFFSOS49uJ6VGRBwLKuIEw3R_xOsvoPYXyyaih00gl6EbcU-oR_E7dt1rEUQsBlVj3TuWd0ulXv_cgvdWTu0-iBPMrgPKOtrsvLXUS3_w/s4032/IMG_3556.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScJqrmvMrZGNaBuTPOwfgDOhxEzYc3vTEIakz5RQs9UEOPqcRmCR3SS4sQwYc8JZvo0UFGNQNWFdVVgIYHgcFFSOS49uJ6VGRBwLKuIEw3R_xOsvoPYXyyaih00gl6EbcU-oR_E7dt1rEUQsBlVj3TuWd0ulXv_cgvdWTu0-iBPMrgPKOtrsvLXUS3_w/s320/IMG_3556.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More sunrises</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqgOlqlYbxNjL3iY9E9lwv9Omv2Ye08JnTkGuT0omql6P2NFEpGn7WZ4VcXAxSLQ9x6B8ps4m8FIUQ07ZBbpvMRES0dVdMGmIrpDYWKeZfQqYhTZ8awsaIMmQC39jpEVprXwizhbH3m9NzISyrrhPH_Z6Q_wxv2dOuCtveXajxqgH1x50qzQ2vgC7Dzc/s4032/IMG_4438.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqgOlqlYbxNjL3iY9E9lwv9Omv2Ye08JnTkGuT0omql6P2NFEpGn7WZ4VcXAxSLQ9x6B8ps4m8FIUQ07ZBbpvMRES0dVdMGmIrpDYWKeZfQqYhTZ8awsaIMmQC39jpEVprXwizhbH3m9NzISyrrhPH_Z6Q_wxv2dOuCtveXajxqgH1x50qzQ2vgC7Dzc/s320/IMG_4438.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadly, I missed the turtles but everyone else saw them</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeXq_h7cI2L_ciVVA5uYzTU__m4QRD7xbi5w68FOSq2UYYaW6l_qKujXVBNyNkOle3fAwIoSw9jsfeKWZTWuOWyGnXnMuuZ5C5YGXRUBaQfoXGG6DFUxQmcuotV9TXNVKbnn7Uq0TeBOupQtWc8iGJIaeYI5M8KDzFadwfiZDutiotU5rCIMO4f-LLC8/s4032/IMG_5907%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeXq_h7cI2L_ciVVA5uYzTU__m4QRD7xbi5w68FOSq2UYYaW6l_qKujXVBNyNkOle3fAwIoSw9jsfeKWZTWuOWyGnXnMuuZ5C5YGXRUBaQfoXGG6DFUxQmcuotV9TXNVKbnn7Uq0TeBOupQtWc8iGJIaeYI5M8KDzFadwfiZDutiotU5rCIMO4f-LLC8/s320/IMG_5907%202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast at sunrise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSm3B-dKei6l0G4jmrq1pLLzf33257zes1osn40eC2KQ-XB3-QKCZaBOejKvTZqyAQDGKabx3Vony2TILByRUpmaM85EeUKb8m2cLKVLPifAh4aCLM4Bd1ex5fJ0yxDYoiRJtI_xt6QmoSZOatSZcWL_fdST6T7DAbaIYHUGTjes9MZIF_irRzX_26oA/s4032/IMG_5917.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSm3B-dKei6l0G4jmrq1pLLzf33257zes1osn40eC2KQ-XB3-QKCZaBOejKvTZqyAQDGKabx3Vony2TILByRUpmaM85EeUKb8m2cLKVLPifAh4aCLM4Bd1ex5fJ0yxDYoiRJtI_xt6QmoSZOatSZcWL_fdST6T7DAbaIYHUGTjes9MZIF_irRzX_26oA/s320/IMG_5917.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDuI1KxO5UTPSPH0GpwBBNtgxH7TY4Wc5qMfjf9dDkhN7-ueqMhYaER6wQJ5DN6hrbVQkyg0VM4NJ453sTRvsYEDJpa-2qGt9sIoPNou4tXbbLGDYtx3jKL3RzEYNtiYjHIGa1uK7i6k8mT_P4A0oK1fRm10u0DCJOpfp9wYmcreM_MDUMIxkrhY94Sc/s4032/IMG_5920.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDuI1KxO5UTPSPH0GpwBBNtgxH7TY4Wc5qMfjf9dDkhN7-ueqMhYaER6wQJ5DN6hrbVQkyg0VM4NJ453sTRvsYEDJpa-2qGt9sIoPNou4tXbbLGDYtx3jKL3RzEYNtiYjHIGa1uK7i6k8mT_P4A0oK1fRm10u0DCJOpfp9wYmcreM_MDUMIxkrhY94Sc/w225-h400/IMG_5920.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIFEczoXRS7yYEdDWJhtozvRcGu4Mu85dUbOPYeTBK5ayBG0a9RWlSWVf9jdfnF2QVxdcaiqQegbQVYOM0czvNSUo4MiySsoLrCIC7uBrjUJWR1qLnz45AQLUpXdc4I4A-YHlsjUtGZJ2GQm1Rk7FAx6S4JOH85Rg8BBMDGJW26jsYBrYcqq4UsO7ybY/s4032/IMG_5927.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIFEczoXRS7yYEdDWJhtozvRcGu4Mu85dUbOPYeTBK5ayBG0a9RWlSWVf9jdfnF2QVxdcaiqQegbQVYOM0czvNSUo4MiySsoLrCIC7uBrjUJWR1qLnz45AQLUpXdc4I4A-YHlsjUtGZJ2GQm1Rk7FAx6S4JOH85Rg8BBMDGJW26jsYBrYcqq4UsO7ybY/s320/IMG_5927.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The FOOD was sooo good!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4yYtgMhx7_UU9IfQN5koiGtTsz4WYBZxCxNsGRA_51he_zO2LkSn3ttLl7C7eRb1FgSADgHH34RBPfhtugTnmOqk5wZktWiI32YofPkejet0pqI2S0gkwroKpSubBQyEkKQoJtqU890M6HTvtQCfzJkR_6bj8i-JUKP4AFEWLNESHqqpTz6wj4UL2wc/s4032/IMG_9796.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4yYtgMhx7_UU9IfQN5koiGtTsz4WYBZxCxNsGRA_51he_zO2LkSn3ttLl7C7eRb1FgSADgHH34RBPfhtugTnmOqk5wZktWiI32YofPkejet0pqI2S0gkwroKpSubBQyEkKQoJtqU890M6HTvtQCfzJkR_6bj8i-JUKP4AFEWLNESHqqpTz6wj4UL2wc/s320/IMG_9796.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went tubing!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVPDNYvrr9jf9f7uI9iAfd8mzEi3q_VOCLnWNzCTA6pCkEcYDur-XIY4onzheirDC2RZsSvNDhKgTlfq2G2tohV0ZlcocXj8jV69hWBL_g3J29QZIcrAfZaeSXjtMcGb9CAW_l4ptO_hjqPEHC-5Q3QQnYY-TsgV7s5qNqOoMBpnWP-GboWRwatXOumk/s4032/IMG_9997.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVPDNYvrr9jf9f7uI9iAfd8mzEi3q_VOCLnWNzCTA6pCkEcYDur-XIY4onzheirDC2RZsSvNDhKgTlfq2G2tohV0ZlcocXj8jV69hWBL_g3J29QZIcrAfZaeSXjtMcGb9CAW_l4ptO_hjqPEHC-5Q3QQnYY-TsgV7s5qNqOoMBpnWP-GboWRwatXOumk/s320/IMG_9997.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warming our feet by the fire. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On the 8th day I went to Oahu to visit my friend, Shelaine Carvalho. She was a very gracious hostess and I loved meeting her family and spending time with her. We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center one day/night. What a great adventure!<br />More photos...<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCOXtkZoknlVitZjiGiMVgTBKPVgvVdPrYdRAlJeeV8WCSlc9kZ2hoHYFypli1A-IjyliIBjdAx0EnlhumH8lGfT-gtFD5ZQKETIbYKZvhxzPakjSk8LXUGEfResJeITb8J-aaumFrsRSe-d39Qr9-CSI-mQ3hY3hlgqDUvYmdMKTohbCSAahubxXeXA/s4032/IMG_3581.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCOXtkZoknlVitZjiGiMVgTBKPVgvVdPrYdRAlJeeV8WCSlc9kZ2hoHYFypli1A-IjyliIBjdAx0EnlhumH8lGfT-gtFD5ZQKETIbYKZvhxzPakjSk8LXUGEfResJeITb8J-aaumFrsRSe-d39Qr9-CSI-mQ3hY3hlgqDUvYmdMKTohbCSAahubxXeXA/s320/IMG_3581.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelaine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYbjxIhQWI4hHJM5pcb4EX3pKXbAAS6a1W3BgZqZaJaPvjnXuzfOswr7zR0xd6-2GQg_HjQDZVbeC4wR5yVq5wp6TNjybuBdG5TJZMkzskouqwplwPTcCFkMHBKtaHb-g38-Rj3ZDD8fmYKf5s3xKoNjXIzdgN14R4hQcTlhIycVZT9WSxGJNqKpHv38/s4032/IMG_3634.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYbjxIhQWI4hHJM5pcb4EX3pKXbAAS6a1W3BgZqZaJaPvjnXuzfOswr7zR0xd6-2GQg_HjQDZVbeC4wR5yVq5wp6TNjybuBdG5TJZMkzskouqwplwPTcCFkMHBKtaHb-g38-Rj3ZDD8fmYKf5s3xKoNjXIzdgN14R4hQcTlhIycVZT9WSxGJNqKpHv38/s320/IMG_3634.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelaine and her twin daughters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX6ErBHdVUms391dS59GJ2HOqU3K1zsEbi0Aj3L6xdUPyIHiyOLyP0PTQKWbwQbK-_HMQUwiPQGmbOvRcxFLMSM4MwEvO3y_zHz8j2bQgo6aLXZtKS8XgURGcsuG3KuVufdojdYx4MkUN5MGKP28GF8fuJYWUgZckxKKNyNTGXevMJIBIdooZWdanHtY/s4032/IMG_3683.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX6ErBHdVUms391dS59GJ2HOqU3K1zsEbi0Aj3L6xdUPyIHiyOLyP0PTQKWbwQbK-_HMQUwiPQGmbOvRcxFLMSM4MwEvO3y_zHz8j2bQgo6aLXZtKS8XgURGcsuG3KuVufdojdYx4MkUN5MGKP28GF8fuJYWUgZckxKKNyNTGXevMJIBIdooZWdanHtY/s320/IMG_3683.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We met the King!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoOA8nYMeq1wfpQGCMU04Z9Bz_61LqKdzWolDoY5cr_BS4nBsq53V9hH1uXXoIpxlWtr6SKN4DBCp9L57zW_p5GOSl-k4dcTZ9e0qRDf_z0pK0YkaCOQq0m9gdcJ7qibQuOxvctwhVtMFukE41C06hAQomMa_liZEcw9fvoxusRrozU6UuAuUJ80xoo0/s4032/IMG_3707.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoOA8nYMeq1wfpQGCMU04Z9Bz_61LqKdzWolDoY5cr_BS4nBsq53V9hH1uXXoIpxlWtr6SKN4DBCp9L57zW_p5GOSl-k4dcTZ9e0qRDf_z0pK0YkaCOQq0m9gdcJ7qibQuOxvctwhVtMFukE41C06hAQomMa_liZEcw9fvoxusRrozU6UuAuUJ80xoo0/s320/IMG_3707.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Luau we were right up front</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN1lquuPbFnIjKgsKCKG8kyzwxqVZpJRVFA_un6uueGaQcoUfnwOcbVf2a1_5QBoM4_-T4a7nVOKIfVI0ahz6Ve52Y6MGvgIeln5EwV22C0qpOo42ZTcucAB5ZbnYpMfkL5ff1DKiEHe6ktZNdUD5nG3z9CNZB1mi7mjyeMaJNhyphenhyphenNLrHwIw0GMyeTinc/s4032/IMG_3721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN1lquuPbFnIjKgsKCKG8kyzwxqVZpJRVFA_un6uueGaQcoUfnwOcbVf2a1_5QBoM4_-T4a7nVOKIfVI0ahz6Ve52Y6MGvgIeln5EwV22C0qpOo42ZTcucAB5ZbnYpMfkL5ff1DKiEHe6ktZNdUD5nG3z9CNZB1mi7mjyeMaJNhyphenhyphenNLrHwIw0GMyeTinc/s320/IMG_3721.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPbiHzXjk25DDvqK_hmdUfZMLpYYUuD2n1mJyy3xk7PGoB5YOkPEIJIzrUv7Y1vLJ8CHK2qJUBbnBGFzNpcyhbKjnCplt6CUIL4xAju84KMqDLncTvfR5zCijxQfGAzFrO24IT_LWpiWEmxVVbrcoMlGJxe6me3heAI87zjxQxQIydya6oJMxLAvuAck/s4032/IMG_3785.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPbiHzXjk25DDvqK_hmdUfZMLpYYUuD2n1mJyy3xk7PGoB5YOkPEIJIzrUv7Y1vLJ8CHK2qJUBbnBGFzNpcyhbKjnCplt6CUIL4xAju84KMqDLncTvfR5zCijxQfGAzFrO24IT_LWpiWEmxVVbrcoMlGJxe6me3heAI87zjxQxQIydya6oJMxLAvuAck/s320/IMG_3785.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wonderful guide</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an incredible trip and I'm already saving my money<br />for NEXT winter!</div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-10954854868909837562023-10-04T07:06:00.001-07:002023-10-04T07:06:06.354-07:00Today I Saw a Hoopoe Bird!I took a walk in Barbadelo and saw a beautiful flash of color along the fence line. It was two gorgeous crested birds. One was pecking the ground for bugs and feeding the other. I came back to the Internet and looked it up and it is a Hoopoe Bird! I found these photos<div> On the Internet. Aren’t they wonderful?<div><br></div><div><img id="id_1221_2ac4_dc21_da7c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UAwVFe3O-o8/Wx_bn8oGC4I/AAAAAAABMEA/HLBNnZaFgpYPDWUUAh2_Z0BRovwd5BNswCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6e1d_958_c6da_e97a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7eAb8JaPYuQ/Wx_boAv0x-I/AAAAAAABMEI/Q59hCYTDFY8e677OYua6V8frbr_LPR9EwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f1e0_d516_fc30_4c21" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gVc3Q6dTUrc/Wx_boLBcMbI/AAAAAAABMEE/-kFmKiKwl70iaMF6tY1BGZY1dgtCrnV8ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_d9df_8461_b59d_de79" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yWGi1MdwB_M/Wx_boesilPI/AAAAAAABMEM/-mE9V8JuYzM_0XJ-VlE1Opx43L_2LrqVACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-52640372413218299912023-09-18T18:34:00.000-07:002023-09-18T18:34:32.101-07:00Summer's End and Welcome Autumn!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8tWlIlZxvBZd2djzFDI-sD5Il9cduKCPXuFXTVBfc-vsmCCjyoGnEr0stgDpb3wj2sULAUezGirH2DI_4F3sMSdD7df-75KUEkza1lNfi8E4UA7VxMeAxXVvLBHLULEYFAEoS56F0Z1xMeuITbUuL0yAf-aLRTK-2EqAuPhN8ooNvEKcYXHrKE45XjY/s1100/gettyimages-131007887_slide-4e32e65f5a66148e016c0100f201c792d41b35ce-s1100-c50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1100" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8tWlIlZxvBZd2djzFDI-sD5Il9cduKCPXuFXTVBfc-vsmCCjyoGnEr0stgDpb3wj2sULAUezGirH2DI_4F3sMSdD7df-75KUEkza1lNfi8E4UA7VxMeAxXVvLBHLULEYFAEoS56F0Z1xMeuITbUuL0yAf-aLRTK-2EqAuPhN8ooNvEKcYXHrKE45XjY/w640-h426/gettyimages-131007887_slide-4e32e65f5a66148e016c0100f201c792d41b35ce-s1100-c50.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It's been a very busy Summer. Last year when we put in 4 new garden boxes and a drip system, I had no idea how it would bless us! And the harvest is STILL coming! Joe canned more green beans and tomatoes today, and made a big pot of vegetable spaghetti sauce, and there's another pile of tomatoes waiting. I think we'll just pop those into the freezer.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d9W4nTZzttUu2Kn-JP8IbrkGZ7Cx8idkNuR72A4iwS1iSFPXwWGKt2a-M054s5t-mKwZi1xpdIh6sQeWagymst-AZOhalDntToBEtmUOHuCxLSGz9yBVjStnbY57joT7VjMx-5awvFqXy7fHy4HFy9V7Rw6uJbpHAYctEze_bo0mXgFxigv3xfcVx_4/s4032/IMG_2194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d9W4nTZzttUu2Kn-JP8IbrkGZ7Cx8idkNuR72A4iwS1iSFPXwWGKt2a-M054s5t-mKwZi1xpdIh6sQeWagymst-AZOhalDntToBEtmUOHuCxLSGz9yBVjStnbY57joT7VjMx-5awvFqXy7fHy4HFy9V7Rw6uJbpHAYctEze_bo0mXgFxigv3xfcVx_4/w300-h400/IMG_2194.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We're heading out to celebrate Autumn Equinox with my youngest son and friends starting Thursday. A friend of ours owns a large piece of property and puts on a fantastic Festival for Fall. This year we decided to vend again. We used to go to festivals and vend some years ago, but since MCS, Cancer, Mom's fall and death, life just got in the way. We have boxes and boxes of stock to sell - so we finally dug it out and signed up to vend at the Fall Equinox Festival. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had a deer skull I found in the desert one winter - I decided to paint it and try to sell it. I saw one at an art show this year and thought, "Hmmmm.... maybe I could do that!" So I did. Not a great photo, but it's basically painted and decorated with flowers. It's a little creepy, but it IS almost Halloween! Hoping someone will buy it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig46Q8V7bjA2TP2-0eOqVuI4CJ3mRQo2P_kf6sKRRgCyCBAkwTE5cMqhwHdXSVRY6E9GU1MmAani3MzOOUyFVHLiYReGc_8Reo-naLS2paY7C01BSDxIppsLScnl7FPmTJEBJCkboqYMmqKT3qUI8v5H0c9U7nQDkJGwI-bVJG5CyGpeaytlGt8AVdgx4/s4032/IMG_2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig46Q8V7bjA2TP2-0eOqVuI4CJ3mRQo2P_kf6sKRRgCyCBAkwTE5cMqhwHdXSVRY6E9GU1MmAani3MzOOUyFVHLiYReGc_8Reo-naLS2paY7C01BSDxIppsLScnl7FPmTJEBJCkboqYMmqKT3qUI8v5H0c9U7nQDkJGwI-bVJG5CyGpeaytlGt8AVdgx4/w300-h400/IMG_2200.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">I nearly finished up the last of the stone mandalas today - put the shine on them. I made a few mushroom mandalas. They're cute, like fairy houses.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp51VajEZ75A_LKKbLZjzOrW-QLSz_iCIL-BJfT9Neq6BqknKXbWlkwLY1p0eCn7-gcAjfHMwiKNOXnZqemKqghCY-rNdXAd4qF9ccoT0PxpbfJysxvIz1QLLXcignZnJZoay3F_xLt0RNTAqJ8GT-tNxAmRNNzJrreqdDm15FH6hqfPzJbGAYEE3xwc/s4032/IMG_2201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp51VajEZ75A_LKKbLZjzOrW-QLSz_iCIL-BJfT9Neq6BqknKXbWlkwLY1p0eCn7-gcAjfHMwiKNOXnZqemKqghCY-rNdXAd4qF9ccoT0PxpbfJysxvIz1QLLXcignZnJZoay3F_xLt0RNTAqJ8GT-tNxAmRNNzJrreqdDm15FH6hqfPzJbGAYEE3xwc/w480-h640/IMG_2201.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow I put on their felt bottoms and get them packed up. Besides these things, we'll have lots of quartz, citrine, amethyst, flags, and just tons of "stuff" I'd like to get rid of. I'll take a photo of our tables once they're set up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I washed the van today and tomorrow will be packing day. We'll take a lot of food we've freeze-dried which will make it an easy camping trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I got my Autumn garlic in the mail this week from Territorial Seed. I can't plant it until mid-October, so I put it in the cool-house until then. When we return from our camping trip, it'll be time to start cleaning out the garden beds for the winter. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM4gAw7nE_nV99xfQbgkRKfrqdHjMYCK6UegNwXaTDMPnHkJxNvN3nGnemxzjreJF8_q362ArMJrKVbyrqwaPHaARkowwU2MlLeayzNXQlIDb136DmXyN0evMxTDbNefgZl-MHeycjX8WUgdINV-iUz4kuO410ePf3UDli8oB-kzd0gY6w7YAMblpgEg/s892/Screenshot%202023-09-18%20at%206.29.53%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="892" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM4gAw7nE_nV99xfQbgkRKfrqdHjMYCK6UegNwXaTDMPnHkJxNvN3nGnemxzjreJF8_q362ArMJrKVbyrqwaPHaARkowwU2MlLeayzNXQlIDb136DmXyN0evMxTDbNefgZl-MHeycjX8WUgdINV-iUz4kuO410ePf3UDli8oB-kzd0gY6w7YAMblpgEg/s320/Screenshot%202023-09-18%20at%206.29.53%20PM.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">I will be leaving mid March to volunteer on the Camino. I had accepted a post on the Primitivo at Grado, but had a change of heart and requested one on the Camino Frances at Najera. I'll go wherever they need me in the end, but hoping to get Najera. It's a larger albergue with 48 beds but it's right on the section of Meseta I want to walk.<br /><br />I'll volunteer for 2 weeks, then walk the Meseta before picking up my group end of April to walk from St. Jean Pied de Port. I think both Joe and I have wonderful pilgrims in our groups this year, and I'm really looking forward to walking with them and getting to know them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0o_EdAng7pGE4Evm9_Ty0ePZodGdESMuu04iCUHWKYm8jJKw27piEV1YhjcwM3736Nge_9HkxTx6NAhrVKDI5rGv7Br4sBsEqEvLm2EGGy2L8uGqk1_d-1kJXBd2xBk9cJzbLbelMyyBzmsylgoLT4WFPn2v5PP9TD6Bmck9GoElFcl-3HLv6iiWY6I/s1200/Albergue_municipal_Najera_La_Rioja_Camino_Frances_12-1200x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1200" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0o_EdAng7pGE4Evm9_Ty0ePZodGdESMuu04iCUHWKYm8jJKw27piEV1YhjcwM3736Nge_9HkxTx6NAhrVKDI5rGv7Br4sBsEqEvLm2EGGy2L8uGqk1_d-1kJXBd2xBk9cJzbLbelMyyBzmsylgoLT4WFPn2v5PP9TD6Bmck9GoElFcl-3HLv6iiWY6I/w640-h384/Albergue_municipal_Najera_La_Rioja_Camino_Frances_12-1200x720.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Health-wise, I'm doing ok. My torn rotator cuffs still hurt, some days more than others. I'm looking forward to a shot of cortisone in October to hopefully calm down the inflammation. If I'm still in pain after the Camino, I'll look into surgery. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My beautiful Norway Maple is dropping her leaves - I can't believe it. Wasn't it yesterday she was budding? The wild turkeys have decided she's a good roosting place. I enjoy watching their antics, as long as they stay away from my blackberries! lol!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I guess that's all the news.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you all have a Blessed Autumn Equinox.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stay safe and happy and warm and loved!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Annie</span></p><p><br /></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-41631644421469553292023-09-15T12:31:00.001-07:002023-09-15T12:31:47.118-07:00Hospitalera at San Anton 2016I'm at San Anton Albergue volunteering until June 12. We have no electricity, no hot water and no wifi and I LOVE IT!!!
I will catch up on blog and photos once I am home after June 15.
Until then, the greatest excitement has been watching this young owl fledge. He has jumped from the nest to the roof on day 1. From the roof to a lower roof day 2. And last night to the ground. We assume mom is feeling him because he looks very strong and healthy and is not crying.
A few photos b
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Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-42543623255466756792023-09-12T20:52:00.035-07:002023-09-12T21:01:27.826-07:00Finishing Up Summer and Planning A Camino<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI71tWz13H5bv3vrr6_sjE71i0pTVQwiix5b6jopwtVsaEoCvO3l4feXkaKFBqtFPY6BjTwQwYBhQ-h_NRBhTbPJRwc6GM47jzvhlYK-5LfGm2n_nO6i0qKf2qCAIUTiyrvOTAadIimKpHkP_wiVSYToUcHtYQ7jzTntERcSUGHiSzuC5PQjSogVKYgE/s4032/IMG_2037.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI71tWz13H5bv3vrr6_sjE71i0pTVQwiix5b6jopwtVsaEoCvO3l4feXkaKFBqtFPY6BjTwQwYBhQ-h_NRBhTbPJRwc6GM47jzvhlYK-5LfGm2n_nO6i0qKf2qCAIUTiyrvOTAadIimKpHkP_wiVSYToUcHtYQ7jzTntERcSUGHiSzuC5PQjSogVKYgE/w480-h640/IMG_2037.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, the garden has been producing like mad! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe has been busy fermenting pickles </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and canning tomatoes and beans almost every day! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The blackberries are giving me <br />a giant bowl every two days. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The golden raspberries just keep coming. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I popped a canteloupe seed <br />on top of a compost pile just for fun <br />and it grew 8 giant, sugar-sweet melons! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe's sunflowers are huuuuuuuge!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's been a VERY productive year.</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnnzhg2njLIw2SQrKnR_JGzg7PT8tkm7ceoxdjx7Q-NsKM8W21urWfoa9SGSsY86p3n87xFTEqYaRlnmJbyHVG8cDi37me8L_cKJK9fDcfHgeaBI-b_tjD3WlOsN7RbRqninpgqAGbfQdgarYJMDbUkODNwWSsOLWD2iHrsfn0nl3HAW1H252fq8ms0sE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnnzhg2njLIw2SQrKnR_JGzg7PT8tkm7ceoxdjx7Q-NsKM8W21urWfoa9SGSsY86p3n87xFTEqYaRlnmJbyHVG8cDi37me8L_cKJK9fDcfHgeaBI-b_tjD3WlOsN7RbRqninpgqAGbfQdgarYJMDbUkODNwWSsOLWD2iHrsfn0nl3HAW1H252fq8ms0sE=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizvvTki4gYK2d5qcPChfHpFWm0nBz2huFCUELNSwaGonFmqwzGj4r08-bnE53x4PLftbz_w7vy3pI982z8J9dpUp1MXh-Zu3TdjLwHx2gJ6JQ3nZqmtVjNxVzDTpq2sGJ1qk1xD8HztdGDt-GOotNG7L9GXDGV_ToMXIJPnr7OS3vpB_F9OzN5dnjHJmw" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaAymFOFRst2YjsrzIpeYp5vKvgKRRFVOhx54KgdUVc5-_99SEZ4qYaambsNXUIIg46EOAo4QfPGLva5q9pU9FeR3QzOyw4U5-68AkI1TuFlxN3GbVp7uWpTAjJfSC-QzKmeGhRZtZOEJwdXJrWbGAqVqwsOk5bpd3dSj5Gab1qCp-2uItHcGbhUX6GQY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaAymFOFRst2YjsrzIpeYp5vKvgKRRFVOhx54KgdUVc5-_99SEZ4qYaambsNXUIIg46EOAo4QfPGLva5q9pU9FeR3QzOyw4U5-68AkI1TuFlxN3GbVp7uWpTAjJfSC-QzKmeGhRZtZOEJwdXJrWbGAqVqwsOk5bpd3dSj5Gab1qCp-2uItHcGbhUX6GQY=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmE3fjSN9cAQhjzivljYFokxPtB1RO7kxZkAT3Pky823aIj6tXkAEzvRjBy9IDOr5JgpX_grZuh-gI4lIUJ1eexRMiYGzP4n4orvQhkpU4YjvSv81zUIpER4qJfb3OXCauk6bJ9wdqkvHzXad1IUGUiuUFttIMY9cJ5EPfk0V4kNlAo4qS9sSdeeaM2Pg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmE3fjSN9cAQhjzivljYFokxPtB1RO7kxZkAT3Pky823aIj6tXkAEzvRjBy9IDOr5JgpX_grZuh-gI4lIUJ1eexRMiYGzP4n4orvQhkpU4YjvSv81zUIpER4qJfb3OXCauk6bJ9wdqkvHzXad1IUGUiuUFttIMY9cJ5EPfk0V4kNlAo4qS9sSdeeaM2Pg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetable Beef Soup</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPjKmmKRVYzWcB85zWcWoReboC-8ep26mSuk6u91O8Hw1WlrHOtZL0Vx9uEXaPJ9DrgbDFizKYHILB6FXGkxF7jI0hqJHX2cu4NUmO36uv8kXkRB_nnUFAnRLCAn-0Z54_1dRK4YqUZ4gjwoiQFigtHfIr0kPQAZNX8vovy5pUm9UAg0v7s0-Yir49jys" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPjKmmKRVYzWcB85zWcWoReboC-8ep26mSuk6u91O8Hw1WlrHOtZL0Vx9uEXaPJ9DrgbDFizKYHILB6FXGkxF7jI0hqJHX2cu4NUmO36uv8kXkRB_nnUFAnRLCAn-0Z54_1dRK4YqUZ4gjwoiQFigtHfIr0kPQAZNX8vovy5pUm9UAg0v7s0-Yir49jys=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome canteloupes!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIOi8BNZzyK8X1mpOWoP3_7fGFM83KtmeJVL6GYvdHHo6amk8wMXM9rdEYnKxVPgRGLJq-FXMOGbPpwoLoQC47qcm1T-bo413gA0UrmkMbzX0qCHknIcgT8rzSmUtP6mklp0CUFszhhp7rZ1AqjaubAbLuWpuwEmVdhvyGOrZlx2NkldETfWzhHzKRhzg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIOi8BNZzyK8X1mpOWoP3_7fGFM83KtmeJVL6GYvdHHo6amk8wMXM9rdEYnKxVPgRGLJq-FXMOGbPpwoLoQC47qcm1T-bo413gA0UrmkMbzX0qCHknIcgT8rzSmUtP6mklp0CUFszhhp7rZ1AqjaubAbLuWpuwEmVdhvyGOrZlx2NkldETfWzhHzKRhzg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were volunteer purple potatoes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuGdq4PkMR4LU-l-39OsNNgd_khBhbb_dwza4K-eNSitRMO-zuylvYfHYv7rNVHa67KBOhBj9DEWf-rrJiHOflFcIobxiwRwf1jyCptua5WPgz9KVEw9NKD71u3pnOomxY6XVh0iXB48RJ8n5N26joqgz2-o2uQhasvsu_Pe2hnbrhO4f6ZexI3GgpCSs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuGdq4PkMR4LU-l-39OsNNgd_khBhbb_dwza4K-eNSitRMO-zuylvYfHYv7rNVHa67KBOhBj9DEWf-rrJiHOflFcIobxiwRwf1jyCptua5WPgz9KVEw9NKD71u3pnOomxY6XVh0iXB48RJ8n5N26joqgz2-o2uQhasvsu_Pe2hnbrhO4f6ZexI3GgpCSs=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHjxPxn7pRZ0fjBH3rxH1Hx93IDaqdNt9NvQe7y67Re1FofOH377DcKM-0l36Q4lc2oLgVZQYuEh3wD9OddS4cQc3D9hi_C1y6HTWVjgE3pbOlUPxMutYF_vjy6jb7AB_vSbFwnTBSi9p_UGWdeQ0oZsJbg_cM9E7CPFFttg7MnIYdE-pJ2k2hm7XcjUM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHjxPxn7pRZ0fjBH3rxH1Hx93IDaqdNt9NvQe7y67Re1FofOH377DcKM-0l36Q4lc2oLgVZQYuEh3wD9OddS4cQc3D9hi_C1y6HTWVjgE3pbOlUPxMutYF_vjy6jb7AB_vSbFwnTBSi9p_UGWdeQ0oZsJbg_cM9E7CPFFttg7MnIYdE-pJ2k2hm7XcjUM=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Beans</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXQiyAMYPkaJFX2fwFsKziSMonGJAC4-rmlEVIVXZ9O7TXnQQNGFw-pXBi2xP85cV-jV8kz9WAXryVJu1Udwro2zEv6X4Zc36p3N834xwSQuHQSQgtwkL-KX9iGa82lcvDUuKnMsXYr25xfp_fy3crdXF6RlhSQUaDil42V-EAuAoPVdo1fZmXGr3IWK8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXQiyAMYPkaJFX2fwFsKziSMonGJAC4-rmlEVIVXZ9O7TXnQQNGFw-pXBi2xP85cV-jV8kz9WAXryVJu1Udwro2zEv6X4Zc36p3N834xwSQuHQSQgtwkL-KX9iGa82lcvDUuKnMsXYr25xfp_fy3crdXF6RlhSQUaDil42V-EAuAoPVdo1fZmXGr3IWK8=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Every day is a jeweled surprise!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Things are slowing down now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I pulled up all but one squash plant this week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm getting the bed ready to plant <br />my garlic, onions, and kale. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon it will be time to prune <br />the raspberries and blackberries</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and then comes time to rest. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We're going to vend at a Festival over Autumn Equinox.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been busy painting mandala stones:</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkq0ioEUZK0MtR0a5-fQxNnZCpSoPsLliecaV1QsqwMtDlnl5U5EczBDHLGqTnMfNk3fre9uvMOq1KApjb0BfHd4VO9XtS6TLOrcL5rZu313Xvn5l39OmZkW_W4lCohziOe-C7JuodxpcjvJOc0DMnmgjlTMzR1w6cNcBU_nxa21OpEcwQuXRKvUnSJLU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkq0ioEUZK0MtR0a5-fQxNnZCpSoPsLliecaV1QsqwMtDlnl5U5EczBDHLGqTnMfNk3fre9uvMOq1KApjb0BfHd4VO9XtS6TLOrcL5rZu313Xvn5l39OmZkW_W4lCohziOe-C7JuodxpcjvJOc0DMnmgjlTMzR1w6cNcBU_nxa21OpEcwQuXRKvUnSJLU=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXjkAfYv00Ecsi85BmMxYYsChxmAtYPzG4OQsbuR1fw9i_1jk2D72ietlKxJxsQKAbWhOvkl9RB3B4AfcoJ5bjMbwvrzUNdBlJJuJ3zlDV04VqIHvVoYjkUley0zJ7U-0P_TObp9MglVI2KdpAzv9RrvrX7Uvt8irkZ3IcTp95s4TEct7v9C30yz4xe6I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXjkAfYv00Ecsi85BmMxYYsChxmAtYPzG4OQsbuR1fw9i_1jk2D72ietlKxJxsQKAbWhOvkl9RB3B4AfcoJ5bjMbwvrzUNdBlJJuJ3zlDV04VqIHvVoYjkUley0zJ7U-0P_TObp9MglVI2KdpAzv9RrvrX7Uvt8irkZ3IcTp95s4TEct7v9C30yz4xe6I=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggg7RtZVtI0i7kRSF6L4BZyPcjpP0tOpgocQ2Ok5Wx8-5D3qM_IhySJbN5bPfmd65rYLiMu9VebU7W5yWFKaWLEwE2057n6tTmrSD8Y9mgCX--J2F9i1BPlTHdcWpXQvlmGfq7PUDS0yqh9KpEodGp04djXwrPdDdtFE1ZEERoH2BzOPu3rl-cKb2otfk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggg7RtZVtI0i7kRSF6L4BZyPcjpP0tOpgocQ2Ok5Wx8-5D3qM_IhySJbN5bPfmd65rYLiMu9VebU7W5yWFKaWLEwE2057n6tTmrSD8Y9mgCX--J2F9i1BPlTHdcWpXQvlmGfq7PUDS0yqh9KpEodGp04djXwrPdDdtFE1ZEERoH2BzOPu3rl-cKb2otfk=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN3sWabawaHhnyJ_8I5r79IqG4eM8TbXrfKCZrIgRFhl008fQuIGYU15wBIL666ozSRWmIyqrHEfXKSVhnl_TI15caisd4YVszsIzcDX_rH9XcONK0vZbNLWhwrK2tRIl1xCkXnyRnF4qxqrswXemF_J1QZRq8cthY5115AfIN2tLqcdMfVnW_11NPi_Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN3sWabawaHhnyJ_8I5r79IqG4eM8TbXrfKCZrIgRFhl008fQuIGYU15wBIL666ozSRWmIyqrHEfXKSVhnl_TI15caisd4YVszsIzcDX_rH9XcONK0vZbNLWhwrK2tRIl1xCkXnyRnF4qxqrswXemF_J1QZRq8cthY5115AfIN2tLqcdMfVnW_11NPi_Y=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdO3uhCbV6z3-9DRVMKMWxy18pQPSnGykp13awkR0BnpfM-gkiMznokeyecx4RfqtxPRfDWe9Z4kpMOSn-hpmeRU8FsZsC5HMGF64es-7d9IDN7COPozdeoNtz8_18Q6xTFUO6dhp4B_EqErLYrqVFYtJMiN72E_y5yns_nao3Qv_Ii4Mfo9bTPYiy_ME" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdO3uhCbV6z3-9DRVMKMWxy18pQPSnGykp13awkR0BnpfM-gkiMznokeyecx4RfqtxPRfDWe9Z4kpMOSn-hpmeRU8FsZsC5HMGF64es-7d9IDN7COPozdeoNtz8_18Q6xTFUO6dhp4B_EqErLYrqVFYtJMiN72E_y5yns_nao3Qv_Ii4Mfo9bTPYiy_ME=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGICVEi42VrSi0vzD4I3YtlzhWmYh6X_MZ-DPXBp0yAdzNFdEVseWLdqpvMgLPkCZIe5qM8ciF-3AffRnVs0XLI-Us14D1xfhRNkHbZGyGDYeNXGaQYHehw4OzIUOKzzuUIRnZSMqnNd-ERKHBfF_pRLM9S_Nz2TL44vbvITU_kFPFB1Jp9x5JXhM9b10" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGICVEi42VrSi0vzD4I3YtlzhWmYh6X_MZ-DPXBp0yAdzNFdEVseWLdqpvMgLPkCZIe5qM8ciF-3AffRnVs0XLI-Us14D1xfhRNkHbZGyGDYeNXGaQYHehw4OzIUOKzzuUIRnZSMqnNd-ERKHBfF_pRLM9S_Nz2TL44vbvITU_kFPFB1Jp9x5JXhM9b10=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe I can make a little cash for my winter trip. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm hoping to go to the desert in my van this year either after Thanksgiving or Christmas. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael's sister will housesit for me, <br />which makes it easier.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then I'm leaving for Spain in March. <br />I'm hoping to be somewhere for Holy Week -<br /> haven't decided where yet. <br />Then I plan on walking the Meseta for about a month <br />to train. <br />Covid really kicked my butt last year <br />and then I took a fall in December <br />and tore both rotator cuffs. <br />So on the Meseta I can walk short stages <br />and build up distance slowly. <br />I can also book pack transport if I need it. <br />So for now, that's my plan. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">April 28, I will pick up my group of 7 pilgrims <br />and take them on the Best of Both 24 day trip -<br /> looking forward to a nice group this Spring!</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd like to fit in a 2 week hospitalera volunteer position <br />if I can find one. <br />I contacted Rebekah today and hope to hear back. <br />It will be nice to be back on the Camino.<br /></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soooo... that's all the news for now. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Take care everyone! </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Love,</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Annie</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-7779427595126047582023-08-23T17:24:00.006-07:002023-08-23T17:25:40.171-07:00Late Summer in the Garden<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1zL9syjJ8o7De8Hjz7A3xqOKXmZ9ma_mxMvS-HLNKGYz4hhr9PVdXfn7jyU6qkKAjNAu6ElnS07tmruxhkhYF5lN7T0OZxvgWzfNQiSD8glQJnucin8eyoDOmIElEN9N4iZGZe9U-t8Varjn-ehCGYGrIj5DSSSSx5VJIlgyYC0vXRGftIrivgXx4MY/s4032/IMG_2066.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1zL9syjJ8o7De8Hjz7A3xqOKXmZ9ma_mxMvS-HLNKGYz4hhr9PVdXfn7jyU6qkKAjNAu6ElnS07tmruxhkhYF5lN7T0OZxvgWzfNQiSD8glQJnucin8eyoDOmIElEN9N4iZGZe9U-t8Varjn-ehCGYGrIj5DSSSSx5VJIlgyYC0vXRGftIrivgXx4MY/w300-h400/IMG_2066.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> After my cross country trip in April/May I thought it might be too late to plant my garden, but I took a chance and boy, did it pay off! We've been harvesting all month!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some photos of how the garden is doing now...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today I picked my first cantaloupe of the 7 or 8 that are on the vine. It just fell off in my hands and smells very sweet. Cantaloupe for breakfast tomorrow!</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wSyMmGjPPwUnsuQ0X18bbLxLJdAR3OdO2xsZbXT13b7T2FUM0T00-B8TVpcAsVp10XxAwvdBiRwLUON8IhBZ8IK4wZBkEWm5JoX6eFbOEKVOH8_1YSK23h-HRYNxExtP-KvjU250LZ8fVx_gLHiguvsGnx9eFE2vFzls8VJoQppOuxRM7lwIRkbCgCA/s4032/IMG_2067.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wSyMmGjPPwUnsuQ0X18bbLxLJdAR3OdO2xsZbXT13b7T2FUM0T00-B8TVpcAsVp10XxAwvdBiRwLUON8IhBZ8IK4wZBkEWm5JoX6eFbOEKVOH8_1YSK23h-HRYNxExtP-KvjU250LZ8fVx_gLHiguvsGnx9eFE2vFzls8VJoQppOuxRM7lwIRkbCgCA/w480-h640/IMG_2067.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe also harvested two of the sunflowers today after he caught Mr. BlueJay stealing seeds!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrRIunlJJ8qpi19gI23Po0UHN6nTlvDQ4Ew-RtcCJNDsMSs3RdvyU8XVPWbJ0OxDKWL53zqy9YU3DGkEK7l1XhmWN-gHJcirWGWiE4Ry4mpaddG0b2WtGGTJRFrbDXnPEnfU-QFa9P6HDjJj9uiJ1OZP94JgsK4GkRt5iQ0jNT8dwUus9y1Q1tSfE7aU/s4032/IMG_2046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrRIunlJJ8qpi19gI23Po0UHN6nTlvDQ4Ew-RtcCJNDsMSs3RdvyU8XVPWbJ0OxDKWL53zqy9YU3DGkEK7l1XhmWN-gHJcirWGWiE4Ry4mpaddG0b2WtGGTJRFrbDXnPEnfU-QFa9P6HDjJj9uiJ1OZP94JgsK4GkRt5iQ0jNT8dwUus9y1Q1tSfE7aU/w300-h400/IMG_2046.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LuH8A8XmDLMnUifDJiT93962gbpmkMNYK_SB69IjveyfRb_rJB1RLiaemwoYiWdTzzE1QK1CAIoezGu0ltb2-dmEH-N2gMjWXKbS89TmWYzsC8gwE6P5_vze3nmyExEqp1GAisXBQD9U9cYWs7Unw_2qG_Q5LHdjsMmtMK_qvxP1QhapDaSn8rBawI8/s4032/IMG_2057.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LuH8A8XmDLMnUifDJiT93962gbpmkMNYK_SB69IjveyfRb_rJB1RLiaemwoYiWdTzzE1QK1CAIoezGu0ltb2-dmEH-N2gMjWXKbS89TmWYzsC8gwE6P5_vze3nmyExEqp1GAisXBQD9U9cYWs7Unw_2qG_Q5LHdjsMmtMK_qvxP1QhapDaSn8rBawI8/w480-h640/IMG_2057.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg44KGLuq1G25zfCQCD420hqzvBeEoyl8gSgz29twSVUuvaEKC02OjG5PdltXak7wJXmDH0a3-77erImXhvqZUayglf_kVl3uIfdnS3pISovPxdmb-WGJ9x03-cTKJJti944kwgqrPczBJK1BsaC1wv3gZfnGyDQGUlhroMEELced4pu3Ho9dUgEp19gE/s4032/IMG_2063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg44KGLuq1G25zfCQCD420hqzvBeEoyl8gSgz29twSVUuvaEKC02OjG5PdltXak7wJXmDH0a3-77erImXhvqZUayglf_kVl3uIfdnS3pISovPxdmb-WGJ9x03-cTKJJti944kwgqrPczBJK1BsaC1wv3gZfnGyDQGUlhroMEELced4pu3Ho9dUgEp19gE/w480-h640/IMG_2063.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This garden has fed us all summer. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are just some photos I've taken:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxDepddWsbbN6HlwE-Z2RMuLVU3gIxBEs4YSInyjlRwwvUMsJmm-OTOsmVfmmsE1cb_q9AVDL9wk35eUwVZJ28e7y61AxUTG5Q89WjQaJ4rQyNtfh7cDQwEQ8hRvLuL7e5vx-I7-Gg0F16_S_OZy-FJsxCNR2dgIEst28_ffPKSUdQH59UNs5ITcc2cM/s4032/IMG_2070.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxDepddWsbbN6HlwE-Z2RMuLVU3gIxBEs4YSInyjlRwwvUMsJmm-OTOsmVfmmsE1cb_q9AVDL9wk35eUwVZJ28e7y61AxUTG5Q89WjQaJ4rQyNtfh7cDQwEQ8hRvLuL7e5vx-I7-Gg0F16_S_OZy-FJsxCNR2dgIEst28_ffPKSUdQH59UNs5ITcc2cM/w300-h400/IMG_2070.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First artichoke of the season!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0qdIXuWdnMsf7_m3Ktv3QbmeFmYTAKG4Ezh-fnVah-OoIUL4qKSMCYA0dyvAJKkq2xBKLnN6ifArV_QDHDhejRliKXk-ccv0jCcLrAfWT9ucjQtpSNuhwdBeGvj9AN9LO0IP9TzuTGfyL49upXbBfNwXOUIXlrOhUo-Xwa8TXi3fQNx11aDX-w_nFDE/s4032/IMG_2071.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0qdIXuWdnMsf7_m3Ktv3QbmeFmYTAKG4Ezh-fnVah-OoIUL4qKSMCYA0dyvAJKkq2xBKLnN6ifArV_QDHDhejRliKXk-ccv0jCcLrAfWT9ucjQtpSNuhwdBeGvj9AN9LO0IP9TzuTGfyL49upXbBfNwXOUIXlrOhUo-Xwa8TXi3fQNx11aDX-w_nFDE/w480-h640/IMG_2071.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My sage is VERY happy!<br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSasSP5ZIICsc4v5qKOLotSfskmdf1WYMU4cR8hhqN2IRtrc7CSXXX8hBk1xH6r3LpeqWYo8nmSZygtofnLZHG0aVBQO0ZJ1P-Ltaexoo9GrRhnUHbIjVbe8Udm_KCB5n5qoN-SZXwU6Oco3sCnrnY_dP3B6372htD48Z7N1sTjsqaZJ0IfLmSrn22dUo/s4032/IMG_2072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSasSP5ZIICsc4v5qKOLotSfskmdf1WYMU4cR8hhqN2IRtrc7CSXXX8hBk1xH6r3LpeqWYo8nmSZygtofnLZHG0aVBQO0ZJ1P-Ltaexoo9GrRhnUHbIjVbe8Udm_KCB5n5qoN-SZXwU6Oco3sCnrnY_dP3B6372htD48Z7N1sTjsqaZJ0IfLmSrn22dUo/w300-h400/IMG_2072.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still have some carrots coming on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4druFsjRKPzAsIAJkwyLBpAI1EKZNyYTcnbG79S1TFxuubiHFI5xxyAeL519Y0x04e3jHnzajeDMZMNBkjt_mW3cHYzmjUis27EFLt0d--c1TvrUl_jvcwU-xIoRSFO2m2r0X2vj8N5xOK5KTczQmUirgTVD6lQ8kmosqpbRC9u5ACmEjTLVQ8q5GqI/s4032/IMG_1855.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4druFsjRKPzAsIAJkwyLBpAI1EKZNyYTcnbG79S1TFxuubiHFI5xxyAeL519Y0x04e3jHnzajeDMZMNBkjt_mW3cHYzmjUis27EFLt0d--c1TvrUl_jvcwU-xIoRSFO2m2r0X2vj8N5xOK5KTczQmUirgTVD6lQ8kmosqpbRC9u5ACmEjTLVQ8q5GqI/w480-h640/IMG_1855.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkAQiX-1f3ZtGTtSAiprTvVkgDmvmy72J4kBG4uy1s36sS5hSUxhAqLQyHSMtjA_qEOqCG4UFjM6owVI8Zvbg89Le5p_b5RrXlZBjuMTzJVt02kz9fFBjvh0hb_n9aJDBpseLTkP_z-UoyINUk6Em0v4xZ5fewoDGILlYBrKSCMvoEvixJwhcRWWBfWo/s4032/IMG_2073.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkAQiX-1f3ZtGTtSAiprTvVkgDmvmy72J4kBG4uy1s36sS5hSUxhAqLQyHSMtjA_qEOqCG4UFjM6owVI8Zvbg89Le5p_b5RrXlZBjuMTzJVt02kz9fFBjvh0hb_n9aJDBpseLTkP_z-UoyINUk6Em0v4xZ5fewoDGILlYBrKSCMvoEvixJwhcRWWBfWo/w480-h640/IMG_2073.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The green beans are going nuts!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe has been canning them every few days.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9adrZdQu_pDYu8rKiDawgf6c8nUkPNr2SqgG292lUsm9uZEZX2EsKcjX_WY0XEx6LEIZR_eiqAAooIqPORF1KBGzbopifVgNX5to4CenOpdly8ACAtlq_zHfH_vp7AtuwUnLHZZG4RVVWwHMytaTHSWbjr2D0_qo4IfrRda0xf374XE-l26JLl7ixjg/s4032/IMG_2036%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9adrZdQu_pDYu8rKiDawgf6c8nUkPNr2SqgG292lUsm9uZEZX2EsKcjX_WY0XEx6LEIZR_eiqAAooIqPORF1KBGzbopifVgNX5to4CenOpdly8ACAtlq_zHfH_vp7AtuwUnLHZZG4RVVWwHMytaTHSWbjr2D0_qo4IfrRda0xf374XE-l26JLl7ixjg/w300-h400/IMG_2036%202.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguyOKVQy9Up5kvDycIXlJmxRoStyD4RoDhzoal6s6D9tkSP7P9NddXzh0_c04zVbxet4A-qtAMcSJPZfeRmPCkiY-ficlnJ47WuWHGdWBWPIxTZeAzdvjadpqLkA6h6XRW7fD2eSsQqurBB0Mi60bhK2keV__kB_q3-UuS8-4ICWc6xFWw8ipku7X8IM/s4032/IMG_2074.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguyOKVQy9Up5kvDycIXlJmxRoStyD4RoDhzoal6s6D9tkSP7P9NddXzh0_c04zVbxet4A-qtAMcSJPZfeRmPCkiY-ficlnJ47WuWHGdWBWPIxTZeAzdvjadpqLkA6h6XRW7fD2eSsQqurBB0Mi60bhK2keV__kB_q3-UuS8-4ICWc6xFWw8ipku7X8IM/w480-h640/IMG_2074.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My strawberries have been nice this year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This week, I cut and rooted the runners for next season.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibODd2eH3wNmLl4Y1wI9gFDFzs3HLWaZVI0m7GKstpn89pkBZww-HPq6DNKNajGdn-j6E7jzKNy3_wjR2UhVG-Oi0GNaIUC4gs9HgnhC5Tei63uaHHzxg6IhJTg9RUdWGz2I-vDNTKzELgf6-QMyKjPkS4z1xt1e0lrDMIetPVZxwWNgKUfsRA4AHH7xw/s4032/IMG_2091.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibODd2eH3wNmLl4Y1wI9gFDFzs3HLWaZVI0m7GKstpn89pkBZww-HPq6DNKNajGdn-j6E7jzKNy3_wjR2UhVG-Oi0GNaIUC4gs9HgnhC5Tei63uaHHzxg6IhJTg9RUdWGz2I-vDNTKzELgf6-QMyKjPkS4z1xt1e0lrDMIetPVZxwWNgKUfsRA4AHH7xw/w300-h400/IMG_2091.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEFvmqPvCMNiwm3cKfJT-6dcBpkipYf42ZuscgkCczqmUB6VPNA5MTkHWoymm0lvEQ6MwtNt3bNOAjmHWSrnC0lTJF35pibR4A3qkzf2910OnpKYqMDEcqqOI0vEDj3jXP3JEHNlDHC536mTQ_TqY3TseyLfIr21fyHv6D2vNaIHGNz-qoj3jgvt3b0k/s4032/IMG_2075.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEFvmqPvCMNiwm3cKfJT-6dcBpkipYf42ZuscgkCczqmUB6VPNA5MTkHWoymm0lvEQ6MwtNt3bNOAjmHWSrnC0lTJF35pibR4A3qkzf2910OnpKYqMDEcqqOI0vEDj3jXP3JEHNlDHC536mTQ_TqY3TseyLfIr21fyHv6D2vNaIHGNz-qoj3jgvt3b0k/w480-h640/IMG_2075.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Zucchini, Yellow Crookneck, and Patty Pan Squash</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Du_ZwTRNmsUtW7jvU48nuJ7zG6NUVf31RcZAC24dov8DV1yYV58Gl5LKoTAsY2cCWKWjyxrnMFRTOBhayTuorS7hjSEPgcWWWSc83u2sFkl7bLgRDRpClVpVlDUaiMFVk5eymsVTNYjYHT0G6t_6lsNs-DuM0pR2NIGnBCU6zoEjLMoT2RxCgggQDHk/s4032/IMG_2076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Du_ZwTRNmsUtW7jvU48nuJ7zG6NUVf31RcZAC24dov8DV1yYV58Gl5LKoTAsY2cCWKWjyxrnMFRTOBhayTuorS7hjSEPgcWWWSc83u2sFkl7bLgRDRpClVpVlDUaiMFVk5eymsVTNYjYHT0G6t_6lsNs-DuM0pR2NIGnBCU6zoEjLMoT2RxCgggQDHk/w480-h640/IMG_2076.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The asparagus finished and I've tied it up.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffMkx_a36xotsDas0fsqtvzbRBevSF3V4vrE1KV2aISOkOoAf_gz-Uw3zYIMYfnWi08PjCUhPXu6B9FIyXUCQi_nXMyJhsjSp_MgAqFswtw5wlIw5lo-IW1OE5jd42be65FgpcfUrl0qn-Crz7hKNNBoRN3EqGTL45mYgnbdrEcjmHLlwk5801v00bPU/s4032/IMG_2077.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffMkx_a36xotsDas0fsqtvzbRBevSF3V4vrE1KV2aISOkOoAf_gz-Uw3zYIMYfnWi08PjCUhPXu6B9FIyXUCQi_nXMyJhsjSp_MgAqFswtw5wlIw5lo-IW1OE5jd42be65FgpcfUrl0qn-Crz7hKNNBoRN3EqGTL45mYgnbdrEcjmHLlwk5801v00bPU/w480-h640/IMG_2077.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The tomatoes are so heavy, they've imploded.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We just started harvesting them this week.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6Aghmkd8KbH6CsKz0hRMm65TGMefm4dJ8wJ52gW1Gd412C8qOVkjlW1L3MBhpRNJ9pSVGO_JaDrDTcFnpyTrXXjv5HWVQw6wQMgo4Z6dqQDLUY4t5kjTShD8ohTLBDS3ssYNNeQH0plqT_DijU2jSTFN0IYHA1Ripb-KZjW9Qhsnr-bVh9VAe_602XA/s4032/IMG_2078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6Aghmkd8KbH6CsKz0hRMm65TGMefm4dJ8wJ52gW1Gd412C8qOVkjlW1L3MBhpRNJ9pSVGO_JaDrDTcFnpyTrXXjv5HWVQw6wQMgo4Z6dqQDLUY4t5kjTShD8ohTLBDS3ssYNNeQH0plqT_DijU2jSTFN0IYHA1Ripb-KZjW9Qhsnr-bVh9VAe_602XA/w480-h640/IMG_2078.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Loving my Dahlias!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-b4TPfXfJEsqjFe48BAFH8osWZM-NKkyld46NnfZGx0nfq4JHT5lezs64FEvMt_AXECv5QF544XRDTA_vLWgMRJglX5bSsezpc1wWvBeennD8RF-Qi8OIV8kwuw0rIuAvAZ4mGyR0QgyBoR7QXTLUPmq_dBVOmpMVBL2DNGmToxqKzg0mKvvslHpZgo/s4032/IMG_2079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-b4TPfXfJEsqjFe48BAFH8osWZM-NKkyld46NnfZGx0nfq4JHT5lezs64FEvMt_AXECv5QF544XRDTA_vLWgMRJglX5bSsezpc1wWvBeennD8RF-Qi8OIV8kwuw0rIuAvAZ4mGyR0QgyBoR7QXTLUPmq_dBVOmpMVBL2DNGmToxqKzg0mKvvslHpZgo/w480-h640/IMG_2079.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the first year my fig trees bore fruit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I waited and waited and was watching the first fig ripen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought, "I'll pick it tomorrow..."<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next morning I went out and there was </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a big old chunk chewed out of it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A RAT!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And it was war!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We set rat traps and caught 6 rats over the week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think we got them all!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRzYZObD3N75bvvBf4am5ozpyCLFO5YIYnKjaOo55_-Ck5-5jU9JrLZop6beRWO4bRYkC6ZioacN1vjZZNK4vJRKc8TZ-0atl2UhZMS9YK4IL_gJ69qfuoZlR6ipN0NS31makSYvETCi0TnDiPhxUdhPBu5k0g4zPAeTGzs8dixkVCrU-tmCa5i1JdcM/s4032/IMG_2080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRzYZObD3N75bvvBf4am5ozpyCLFO5YIYnKjaOo55_-Ck5-5jU9JrLZop6beRWO4bRYkC6ZioacN1vjZZNK4vJRKc8TZ-0atl2UhZMS9YK4IL_gJ69qfuoZlR6ipN0NS31makSYvETCi0TnDiPhxUdhPBu5k0g4zPAeTGzs8dixkVCrU-tmCa5i1JdcM/w480-h640/IMG_2080.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /><br />Soon we'll be canning tomatoes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These were started from heirloom tomato seeds saved from last year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not sure what we'll get.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So far, I've picked two and they were pretty good.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sMKtY24RjKI8HqyzXzLK9ZwIalpRm0KF4nfEp_bXgLkVQ6quX74B0xmKVgH23l4D8NTDBQbX3E2tsYvPlptq98M2oO-zOHSQpYiYWUB8zl3wxznkgryWIkq20yVkV-vWExzZxbMz8y8rE3DdT6RiLdiT3TOBIvDHNRdoaxcVKZEFXeq9ZqGA-Quil2A/s4032/IMG_2081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sMKtY24RjKI8HqyzXzLK9ZwIalpRm0KF4nfEp_bXgLkVQ6quX74B0xmKVgH23l4D8NTDBQbX3E2tsYvPlptq98M2oO-zOHSQpYiYWUB8zl3wxznkgryWIkq20yVkV-vWExzZxbMz8y8rE3DdT6RiLdiT3TOBIvDHNRdoaxcVKZEFXeq9ZqGA-Quil2A/w480-h640/IMG_2081.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">7 more cantaloupe waiting to get ripe!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs5jbxfyqokkdEeOPf8-NW7hxVTqUWpCtl-T_x06YRr_jFxy1QNd-1jah3I0CgGfJkuap8TfhIfLA_vi7Jp8E9ugXp5W2DU6hmIIBeL6E1S4UaoRRb5A8XdFAUILQoKDOEkwOl3zcIN1woGL-bmf7D5gJYyI0GVhvoHnpzkVUGwI4-w6hMr9zcsmSiYk/s4032/IMG_2082.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs5jbxfyqokkdEeOPf8-NW7hxVTqUWpCtl-T_x06YRr_jFxy1QNd-1jah3I0CgGfJkuap8TfhIfLA_vi7Jp8E9ugXp5W2DU6hmIIBeL6E1S4UaoRRb5A8XdFAUILQoKDOEkwOl3zcIN1woGL-bmf7D5gJYyI0GVhvoHnpzkVUGwI4-w6hMr9zcsmSiYk/w480-h640/IMG_2082.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My spearmint is about done, but it sure did bring in the bees!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I mainly use it for Portuguese Cueves.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSSTJIxQiIg3biMojhVfRYooBwYZN8ztBHKNFsfr5BM89eAIz9dRtZymSFYHajs1rJ-MHHnaanhh5sxUtbE3qph94IJ02DVq2gyuFl8--WF_3hzx9e1lS8gJ7RysOjGL5p_DzRpSoc0Wo5hqKx6oPrJZhzX4tZcHf3Z3Y4aGrPFj_bt20m1InuXRb9i8/s4032/IMG_2083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSSTJIxQiIg3biMojhVfRYooBwYZN8ztBHKNFsfr5BM89eAIz9dRtZymSFYHajs1rJ-MHHnaanhh5sxUtbE3qph94IJ02DVq2gyuFl8--WF_3hzx9e1lS8gJ7RysOjGL5p_DzRpSoc0Wo5hqKx6oPrJZhzX4tZcHf3Z3Y4aGrPFj_bt20m1InuXRb9i8/w480-h640/IMG_2083.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Golden Raspberries put on a HUGE Spring crop</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and are now putting on their late Summer crop.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They are SO sweet!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We freeze them and use them in cereal for breakfast,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">when we don't just eat them off the bushes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJBRW-MThxdyJv6QvgShXqKMO-JFP1Gak8G6eCFoZh0o0WJQTTmPrxscEqIiVVALRvvGeEAt_dE-f14e9rGwE6IC_0XYKlXx1ek9IvUgN7kn2r6nVrKyzcXP6epmhK6EU6h1x3n1MBgt9Iu459wIOCdNgQj_HFj8anSl8QkURtLGJ0pwfhP8J7AAQMjU/s4032/IMG_2089.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJBRW-MThxdyJv6QvgShXqKMO-JFP1Gak8G6eCFoZh0o0WJQTTmPrxscEqIiVVALRvvGeEAt_dE-f14e9rGwE6IC_0XYKlXx1ek9IvUgN7kn2r6nVrKyzcXP6epmhK6EU6h1x3n1MBgt9Iu459wIOCdNgQj_HFj8anSl8QkURtLGJ0pwfhP8J7AAQMjU/w480-h640/IMG_2089.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bell peppers are really putting on a lot of fruit...</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV_1EeNLMnTNOsL2SuzBttyimRI-UzmJzC4GTzlVoahf8lAnCLdWpwY1iLlYXNA54D3nAEuFkS-mgmDUyreO2BOy_spIaekPscXIgs7yyDyDKcbcPAusfL6x_zN3v7Q1TyTDB7f0r-9o3QXmbWk4OjQlSBM4BaC0gva5fNWWlRCot9yhA0I3t-tTgHsY/s4032/IMG_2084.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV_1EeNLMnTNOsL2SuzBttyimRI-UzmJzC4GTzlVoahf8lAnCLdWpwY1iLlYXNA54D3nAEuFkS-mgmDUyreO2BOy_spIaekPscXIgs7yyDyDKcbcPAusfL6x_zN3v7Q1TyTDB7f0r-9o3QXmbWk4OjQlSBM4BaC0gva5fNWWlRCot9yhA0I3t-tTgHsY/w480-h640/IMG_2084.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6CMx6S8i8GFBxy4hqX3eGasBNr6hmdTg90FkwidMsSJO3dL3E-tAjscDtxXOZP77GFgcQs4prUpAVVXpi25BE99jIdLGs-qy3Gr9HnrrjpqsPmugX9vB0q4u5nnrcqlyjJUPHS4XdCJeN8ZsX8dkTD1tqEAF0PyjsO_B1ToThUlXJzuKWk8ZABxPFrE/s4032/IMG_2088.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6CMx6S8i8GFBxy4hqX3eGasBNr6hmdTg90FkwidMsSJO3dL3E-tAjscDtxXOZP77GFgcQs4prUpAVVXpi25BE99jIdLGs-qy3Gr9HnrrjpqsPmugX9vB0q4u5nnrcqlyjJUPHS4XdCJeN8ZsX8dkTD1tqEAF0PyjsO_B1ToThUlXJzuKWk8ZABxPFrE/w480-h640/IMG_2088.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We have tons of volunteer cherry tomatoes </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">as well as some little yellow pear tomatoes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No photos - I ate them!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdUySNRfmlEpvzAiyBqh7vvZVbQaCo1QvFsm6cDoYWIuDqvDr35gIxzxcSTStlcwMi1n9RBk1gQ79HWk3P4HAkFhfJfoNqRuypPfJ078Fy0qELCn4y6HOGza7RkQxgqdqOOODuiGsgMiC_frLbBcjhuQjAapgVPQ12rNPQPMYoyhISarQoPl1TI_8-Es/s4032/IMG_2090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdUySNRfmlEpvzAiyBqh7vvZVbQaCo1QvFsm6cDoYWIuDqvDr35gIxzxcSTStlcwMi1n9RBk1gQ79HWk3P4HAkFhfJfoNqRuypPfJ078Fy0qELCn4y6HOGza7RkQxgqdqOOODuiGsgMiC_frLbBcjhuQjAapgVPQ12rNPQPMYoyhISarQoPl1TI_8-Es/w480-h640/IMG_2090.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The cucumbers are about done.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe has been fermenting pickles for a couple of weeks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyih4IcWbvWhjU4YF6puXs_rq1LKrYWQOCac-C-S6Xnemh0AKlbKQzWBP9KYaWtYMP9Z6PnRB4bXrxzCyDVqJ5SdYxqeXrhC8O-EAVrvq2ejFnR60eDmfYlOtY8YWq6fArNgipYeo4r3Qa-GYKk5lwOCAKEvibm3HE05UrjJFhl5Jvh-N-nCZbH_XWaGE/s4032/71418218992__FD1A4F67-9261-4598-8AAC-FC33B5E353EB%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyih4IcWbvWhjU4YF6puXs_rq1LKrYWQOCac-C-S6Xnemh0AKlbKQzWBP9KYaWtYMP9Z6PnRB4bXrxzCyDVqJ5SdYxqeXrhC8O-EAVrvq2ejFnR60eDmfYlOtY8YWq6fArNgipYeo4r3Qa-GYKk5lwOCAKEvibm3HE05UrjJFhl5Jvh-N-nCZbH_XWaGE/w300-h400/71418218992__FD1A4F67-9261-4598-8AAC-FC33B5E353EB%202.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVripT-H1MmUwOxIWicvEzW8-kY4RWw47XmqqT3eds7uP-PC6KUa0uNBPQNSVEgMbvA9m1wuFhCsRbR3skTHOr97iP08kgstyDOKcfXU3a9RKdDbcJGIuA_lxYm_3_bCAohQDqBs-Id0lHd3FMeZQR8s0gyKbALYwZiePN5gWmE4yYtA0wP17XOS0g-jA/s4032/IMG_2093.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVripT-H1MmUwOxIWicvEzW8-kY4RWw47XmqqT3eds7uP-PC6KUa0uNBPQNSVEgMbvA9m1wuFhCsRbR3skTHOr97iP08kgstyDOKcfXU3a9RKdDbcJGIuA_lxYm_3_bCAohQDqBs-Id0lHd3FMeZQR8s0gyKbALYwZiePN5gWmE4yYtA0wP17XOS0g-jA/w480-h640/IMG_2093.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Delicata winter squash just getting started.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZEFr7w9H71UFfn6rvRI7J9W596wtks2eAd0d04h8ksAkGEx03n7RMdqnZRT4vl9TxHejJl2T6k3ZR6CYtk1dduZpxWWaP-RMaYGiIF_ZiTvFBgmhXxXLUawrTHdh8HgMT8eDoWDXRcZaCLmZW-69X8Ik0dWJ0ByESGypZs0k_66mrp2W8dMOMoX07r8/s4032/IMG_2094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZEFr7w9H71UFfn6rvRI7J9W596wtks2eAd0d04h8ksAkGEx03n7RMdqnZRT4vl9TxHejJl2T6k3ZR6CYtk1dduZpxWWaP-RMaYGiIF_ZiTvFBgmhXxXLUawrTHdh8HgMT8eDoWDXRcZaCLmZW-69X8Ik0dWJ0ByESGypZs0k_66mrp2W8dMOMoX07r8/w480-h640/IMG_2094.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My thornless blackberries are going NUTS!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The turkeys got after them and I had to put in</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a motion controlled sprinkler.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So far it has worked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are REALLY nice and fat and sweet</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">if I wait long enough to pick them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been putting them in bags in the freezer for cereal.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzbTPsh_5FOK0q1HymKwsYEiVGpxNiZCzZ3W-NnbzvdZS6i7bvQm6fz6fs4sO11WpnPrZ9cJJ1KkjLKVsI1rL2By2BHDX4cdtugc8SFgv4cMNgv2Q88SZ1z-oWwoG1cf2iXKH--omc99c1k1ZpTCyDTw3rbzRzuaIJVR7ZVYU9xMX3rgNV9Srf6Ipkd8/s4032/IMG_2095.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzbTPsh_5FOK0q1HymKwsYEiVGpxNiZCzZ3W-NnbzvdZS6i7bvQm6fz6fs4sO11WpnPrZ9cJJ1KkjLKVsI1rL2By2BHDX4cdtugc8SFgv4cMNgv2Q88SZ1z-oWwoG1cf2iXKH--omc99c1k1ZpTCyDTw3rbzRzuaIJVR7ZVYU9xMX3rgNV9Srf6Ipkd8/w480-h640/IMG_2095.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcknkpTJie0C4srIaEJC8fLWFOIOeI2w4KsE3H0bnTMQq-sMr3F3zlcY8ZEDgEYBKfADD7mmznxve_qS1OIzdpkqUqwm7SwVOo3GyEtOeT5ZhTpr21XXkCB8ZZ9iiEG3hulh-QtRbkeSASx6GfYDs6EtKboVsH4N-__Ihe1_QLOCWZULboB_VLIlsFuw/s4032/IMG_2100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcknkpTJie0C4srIaEJC8fLWFOIOeI2w4KsE3H0bnTMQq-sMr3F3zlcY8ZEDgEYBKfADD7mmznxve_qS1OIzdpkqUqwm7SwVOo3GyEtOeT5ZhTpr21XXkCB8ZZ9iiEG3hulh-QtRbkeSASx6GfYDs6EtKboVsH4N-__Ihe1_QLOCWZULboB_VLIlsFuw/w480-h640/IMG_2100.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We actually had a nice little volunteer potato harvest.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We ate a lot of them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is what is left.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosPztXNfWo2dJK78RwvjHAyKDdFoc8k0gG3VENDuP_gFVBTQZDsKvk6b14ZXLexKdU1AqVxLDYhfSa6WN39jEypEyxbTS0xT018XacDFvg6wt2CrmjgLenO0MdVDq4CHSBwPDdN4eP1FwjEhEuqXTvbuMEw-RmoNqQFL6HC6wCQesZ-z7CP2s2_6ds0o/s4032/IMG_2101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosPztXNfWo2dJK78RwvjHAyKDdFoc8k0gG3VENDuP_gFVBTQZDsKvk6b14ZXLexKdU1AqVxLDYhfSa6WN39jEypEyxbTS0xT018XacDFvg6wt2CrmjgLenO0MdVDq4CHSBwPDdN4eP1FwjEhEuqXTvbuMEw-RmoNqQFL6HC6wCQesZ-z7CP2s2_6ds0o/w480-h640/IMG_2101.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These purple potatoes were volunteers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They're REALLY good and I hope more come up next season.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCh5EUlgQUypTNj6hhFbRuemBoGLSmSkpBjXdsFCqLPPw4TakHiM6Ff-kO_3-p_1lgbEyGI4kbT5Upx7345J1YPipqciTH4wgHpCEr5pgWC6NdpLd29G13-rU095X5MZNM4YbSN5i2PjipXKcbSONmym8Gamyeoex7Owtv3Yk3lI81GQgs-vbkRewhkw/s4032/IMG_2102.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCh5EUlgQUypTNj6hhFbRuemBoGLSmSkpBjXdsFCqLPPw4TakHiM6Ff-kO_3-p_1lgbEyGI4kbT5Upx7345J1YPipqciTH4wgHpCEr5pgWC6NdpLd29G13-rU095X5MZNM4YbSN5i2PjipXKcbSONmym8Gamyeoex7Owtv3Yk3lI81GQgs-vbkRewhkw/w480-h640/IMG_2102.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What is left of my Autumn garlic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have more coming to plant in September for next Spring.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXzMc26zIv5eJaRd89zPbyk7RNVxUjE2ol6IR5v4bDhf-KQpZFdM9B0HxN6a6MJMyNC3Zzzvs9M5zBg7rTkocQNpIYRQe6pOkpH7mM623ATSVWIYsIxt9hYoUcUP-AJ-mFqI5zD_Ud7PqCni9G1W8zGmqOD5eYY2exRmlk-eqD8onw1z01ejof2RdGJE/s4032/IMG_1856.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXzMc26zIv5eJaRd89zPbyk7RNVxUjE2ol6IR5v4bDhf-KQpZFdM9B0HxN6a6MJMyNC3Zzzvs9M5zBg7rTkocQNpIYRQe6pOkpH7mM623ATSVWIYsIxt9hYoUcUP-AJ-mFqI5zD_Ud7PqCni9G1W8zGmqOD5eYY2exRmlk-eqD8onw1z01ejof2RdGJE/w480-h640/IMG_1856.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I had a nice little onion harvest;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">here is what is left.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next year I'm planting more.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkss0rAGLnQKUSpy6ciBR5tX1AC7_Si6ra2sQCpe2ldP_Quc3MUpXIoOgNc-pp-Ir79TKghlrtoMQ6R3N8W-fC7XXdii6BVLpSYEvm_bXcR9izD9JlA3j8QEq2ew-1qdVDCw3TGknbb_QzdtM_EFL_GtqYAl0Fl09wgT6xFLwYhZA07YMvYrxigqfoYI/s4032/IMG_2099.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkss0rAGLnQKUSpy6ciBR5tX1AC7_Si6ra2sQCpe2ldP_Quc3MUpXIoOgNc-pp-Ir79TKghlrtoMQ6R3N8W-fC7XXdii6BVLpSYEvm_bXcR9izD9JlA3j8QEq2ew-1qdVDCw3TGknbb_QzdtM_EFL_GtqYAl0Fl09wgT6xFLwYhZA07YMvYrxigqfoYI/w480-h640/IMG_2099.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7T_xOl1RCeeAJ__ajxJZ04lfWrKNpo_anWhASCW-JgwsOsu1omOzeF-LyL_7CFNL7jPL7Ts1Ob2aPSj2rjmLU4Llk6Q4qWKqNw92rbBvf5siqX2nofnrVSQ8YMXbeM_HeN3Bp5SfJa_u0agNb7c4y-KA_GJjtUCy5hTEkh23U2YwW3yAMksANjlENDo/s4032/IMG_1866.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7T_xOl1RCeeAJ__ajxJZ04lfWrKNpo_anWhASCW-JgwsOsu1omOzeF-LyL_7CFNL7jPL7Ts1Ob2aPSj2rjmLU4Llk6Q4qWKqNw92rbBvf5siqX2nofnrVSQ8YMXbeM_HeN3Bp5SfJa_u0agNb7c4y-KA_GJjtUCy5hTEkh23U2YwW3yAMksANjlENDo/w480-h640/IMG_1866.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Love my dahlias!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTRQIgPLsYqvLiQ4dZmJXw-RzYoFZUAYbp9OUAwPCJnanID5yHBdMbipcHI-s4UjGtQvghXXxwLWq_o5Au0_g6aBwajNYcLm5DYvbN7ukTJO4Ng6Yczqqc2MXIAE0XoTba7dnLrXc2aE1OiiHgV-ZBxCqPcHb0piRhup1-QBTMmeelwQthmnfHNLLxFA/s4032/IMG_1904.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTRQIgPLsYqvLiQ4dZmJXw-RzYoFZUAYbp9OUAwPCJnanID5yHBdMbipcHI-s4UjGtQvghXXxwLWq_o5Au0_g6aBwajNYcLm5DYvbN7ukTJO4Ng6Yczqqc2MXIAE0XoTba7dnLrXc2aE1OiiHgV-ZBxCqPcHb0piRhup1-QBTMmeelwQthmnfHNLLxFA/w480-h640/IMG_1904.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was a surprise!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYMCrWuCn-uikZHIGAiTmjXL-tcYS2HxAsG9u0fGtxidEldJdWACx7ydC5ibjhWca1IVZ1XHa1sxn57HlxPflyOc3nZzooKePu1M-pd2EnuN_VpcByNQ3vHEEujWHf5jIJf4R3lXM8lp7Y58dyCy4JTg3w9u9OBb6zMNbMcyIwivFKytn_7_frDVJdgI/s4032/IMG_1905.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYMCrWuCn-uikZHIGAiTmjXL-tcYS2HxAsG9u0fGtxidEldJdWACx7ydC5ibjhWca1IVZ1XHa1sxn57HlxPflyOc3nZzooKePu1M-pd2EnuN_VpcByNQ3vHEEujWHf5jIJf4R3lXM8lp7Y58dyCy4JTg3w9u9OBb6zMNbMcyIwivFKytn_7_frDVJdgI/w480-h640/IMG_1905.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTgKatVlNguLv_v1VS60nR2t8SMhQbW18xUKeIUQK366HiOuf0Ak0DWE7jfon6cwNfq_V5U-fJW3EFEbJrig4u5IugcIoK_sG-HfqWtYBAcoXFk0K-BfCnlEfFbdYqjfvtu8Xa26jFmIZxomOijX9NtZaEMJJZp3X-9CMMuLRIRLy_u9Y2abk-um-dvs/s4032/IMG_2037%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTgKatVlNguLv_v1VS60nR2t8SMhQbW18xUKeIUQK366HiOuf0Ak0DWE7jfon6cwNfq_V5U-fJW3EFEbJrig4u5IugcIoK_sG-HfqWtYBAcoXFk0K-BfCnlEfFbdYqjfvtu8Xa26jFmIZxomOijX9NtZaEMJJZp3X-9CMMuLRIRLy_u9Y2abk-um-dvs/w480-h640/IMG_2037%202.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My kitchen counter always looks so pretty</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with all the colors of the harvest.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I LOVE my garden!</span></div><div><p><br /></p></div></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-75310887565944691082023-08-03T08:18:00.030-07:002023-08-03T08:22:51.012-07:00Anniewalkers Trips 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDBchm4Wk8PstOe5a79GKfTvoepa5ghjM5i22uVNp2QH4c4zmq3xRKKRumBOVl5M8MUY2hQ75z6ha403M4obuLpuhwt7_8cmM_EKjAJUHzP9DqdBa_0ZEcUHsp2Ow2DE1APjYWq-lKQfAlRx-EkrepkSZS-0CZFXDV5KrWi9PHWwLKcfPxKpWesFUQuE/s2096/Screenshot%202023-08-03%20at%208.18.09%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2096" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDBchm4Wk8PstOe5a79GKfTvoepa5ghjM5i22uVNp2QH4c4zmq3xRKKRumBOVl5M8MUY2hQ75z6ha403M4obuLpuhwt7_8cmM_EKjAJUHzP9DqdBa_0ZEcUHsp2Ow2DE1APjYWq-lKQfAlRx-EkrepkSZS-0CZFXDV5KrWi9PHWwLKcfPxKpWesFUQuE/w640-h360/Screenshot%202023-08-03%20at%208.18.09%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, we're doing it again in 2024. <br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>This season, however, <br /></span><span>I will take smaller groups of 4-5 pilgrims.<br /><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am taking a small group in May 2024 <br />from SJPP to Santiago.<br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe is taking a group <br />from Sarria to Santiago in May 2024.<br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Joe will also be planning an Autumn 2024 trip <br />from Pamplona to Santiago <br />for those who aren't interested in crossing the Pyrenees.<br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More information on our website at <a href="http://anniewalkers.com">anniewalkers.com</a><br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please fill out the contact form on the anniewalkers website if you are interested. <br /><br /><br />See you on the trail!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Love,</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Annie</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-88366052900926448042023-07-02T08:44:00.001-07:002023-07-02T08:44:10.205-07:00My Life<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35hOBsZ7SP-iisM6T6gd5eahOVmLSfSitPwfTFgr9l6lw7tfUScjqzKf7EYAJSopi0u5z-R57S6rC9Z9vOA5pLKwmEVjTwzTdMaHF7DXf1JFjTRhZl0ktsUkyqhY1oTTUg42aE4lo21DBIyoASY60WgvRyiN1YdbJrI9S-Z0WTYAdT33l8R-bw8fLBpA/s1960/IQ_hang-in-there-cat_compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1960" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35hOBsZ7SP-iisM6T6gd5eahOVmLSfSitPwfTFgr9l6lw7tfUScjqzKf7EYAJSopi0u5z-R57S6rC9Z9vOA5pLKwmEVjTwzTdMaHF7DXf1JFjTRhZl0ktsUkyqhY1oTTUg42aE4lo21DBIyoASY60WgvRyiN1YdbJrI9S-Z0WTYAdT33l8R-bw8fLBpA/w640-h262/IQ_hang-in-there-cat_compressed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I haven't been posting much because I haven't been doing much.</p><p>Literally.</p><p>I took a fall on the Camino last Spring and nearly broke my wrist. </p><p>I fell again at home in December. Both times it was due to depth perception issues - The first time I hadn't yet had cataract surgery and the second time was immediately after the surgery. </p><p>The fall in December was a HARD fall - I tripped over a storage bin and fell flat onto my hardwood floor, catching myself with my arms.It knocked the breath out of me and I knew I was hurt, but I didn't know how bad until 6 months later. I went ahead and took my van trip back to Georgia and home with no problems driving, just a little pain at night in bed.</p><p>Upon getting home, I started up at the gym and immediately knew something was wrong. I went to the doc, who sent me for imaging and I have a complete tear of the supraspinatus on my right rotator cuff, and my left is also damaged. I started PT but it has made it worse to the point I have pain lifting a coffee cup at this time.</p><p>I'm seeing a surgeon in 2 weeks (appointments are difficult to get) and hope to try to resolve this without surgery but we'll see.</p><p>Doc also complained about my high cholesterol but I refused statins. </p><p>I'll tell you, I want to live to be 100 but it is a BITCH getting there!</p><p>It can be depressing.</p><p>Anyway, Joe and I were hoping to walk the Camino Ignatius this coming year, but looks like it will have to wait because I can't carry a pack and if I have surgery it could be 9 months before I can carry a pack.</p><p>So.. stay tuned. </p><p>I'm not sure where my life is going. I'm a little depressed - getting older isn't for sissies. But I'm hanging in there for now.</p><p>Love,</p><p>Annie</p><p><br /></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-14227880199418344092022-12-30T07:18:00.006-08:002022-12-30T09:42:07.080-08:00Watch Your Step!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildgMCQgScgmaLoHbhaZ4rsEHc1jVRBA7B_zjrSg27u_C_FbJdWnHyXVJiYmVZ3HfrsuTtpT87_N75_oLAV0UFt2MkkOT5pXxe4l_-viaK8CUcZSppn9wfFSCI2XSZTQtHIbP8-CcEwtjfUe-DXzIaLFcP0CuL0yajFmkJQDeWZGtD3TU_y89ZTg1u/s1454/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-30%20at%207.17.49%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1454" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildgMCQgScgmaLoHbhaZ4rsEHc1jVRBA7B_zjrSg27u_C_FbJdWnHyXVJiYmVZ3HfrsuTtpT87_N75_oLAV0UFt2MkkOT5pXxe4l_-viaK8CUcZSppn9wfFSCI2XSZTQtHIbP8-CcEwtjfUe-DXzIaLFcP0CuL0yajFmkJQDeWZGtD3TU_y89ZTg1u/w640-h448/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-30%20at%207.17.49%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are only a few places I suggest you watch your step</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">on the Camino Frances:<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Going down into Roncesvalles from the summit. You have two choices. You can stay on the trail and walk down through the beech forest. If it's dry, this may be a good option. However, it is very steep in places and in wet weather, the fallen leaves make the trail slippery and dangerous. Also, over the years, water has washed out huge gullies. If you choose this option, take care and watch your step, use your sticks, and go slow. The other option is to turn right and walk on the road. It is just as beautiful a walk, is safer, and no longer. That's the way I go these days. Also, if it's hot, there is a nice ice-cold stream where you can take off your shoes and soak your feet. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Going down into Zubiri the path has two dangers. First, water has washed VERY deep gullies into the trail. I'm talking at least 12 inches in some places so you REALLY have to watch where you put your feet! It is important not to sightsee on this section of the trail, but watch every step. Also, if it is wet, there are big slick boulders that you can slip on. Personally, I rarely walk this section anymore. I walk to Viskarreta and then grab a taxi to take me to Zubiri. There are TWO bars in Viskarreta - one busy one on the left just as you enter the village - and another on the left after you are in the village. The second one is quieter and a little difficult to see, but it's there. Just watch on the left. <br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Going DOWN Alto Perdon. In this section the Camino guardians have put rocks to cover a washed out area. The loose rocks can be difficult to walk on and there's a chance here of twisting your ankle. However, I just walk on the sides and have no problems. The big thing here is, again, to WATCH where you put each step, and don't be watching the scenery. Use your sticks and pay attention. <br /><br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">These are the ONLY 3 sections I'm aware of <br />where you really have to watch your step.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-59582638656077128522022-12-30T07:00:00.004-08:002022-12-30T07:00:56.543-08:00Boots, Yes or No?<p> Here is what I think about footwear on the Camino:<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="477" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kR1NAfvG7q8" width="574" youtube-src-id="kR1NAfvG7q8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-44859194187814648802022-12-07T09:10:00.000-08:002022-12-07T09:10:09.069-08:00Hórreos, Palomares, and Rollos de Justicia<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD5ZjH90Ky0fqEv1Sd5o9KQqdmRQBN85Fc9hCdQK7QOobtKRB7KDcIqU00c4ue2b-NzrXyWRZaJFdncfRyrh1s_TNCne2xIxkO4bOoiPRk8-nB4ci18u3pK-6iNrnJV_vskNb90TfG-HcxeNvc0I89BMXroPiOp5UTvL08W1DhQBmQiBrLHCuGriz/s1024/4920387452_e0bb8736d2_b.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD5ZjH90Ky0fqEv1Sd5o9KQqdmRQBN85Fc9hCdQK7QOobtKRB7KDcIqU00c4ue2b-NzrXyWRZaJFdncfRyrh1s_TNCne2xIxkO4bOoiPRk8-nB4ci18u3pK-6iNrnJV_vskNb90TfG-HcxeNvc0I89BMXroPiOp5UTvL08W1DhQBmQiBrLHCuGriz/w640-h426/4920387452_e0bb8736d2_b.jpeg" /></a><br /> While walking the Camino, you will often come across a strange looking structure, built up on stilts, with a cross on top. What ARE these?<br /><br />These are Hórreos, and are a type of corn crib, built to store dried grain, and made to keep rodents out. <br /><br />These structures have different names depending on the province where they are located or the shape they have. They can be called espigueiro or canastro in the north of Portugal, cabazo in Lugo and A Coruña, canastro in Orense, cabeceiro or canizo in the Vigo estuary , piorno in Salnés. Generally, however, you will hear them referred to as hórreos. Hórreos are also known as horriu, horru, horriu, hurriu, hórreo, paneira, cabazo, caniço, hôrreo, and garea, garaia, or garaixea (Basque.)<br /><br />Hórreos are built of wood or stone, depending on location.<br /><br />They can be short or long. The longest hórreo in Galicia is located in Carnota, A Coruña, and is 35 meters long.<br /><br />Here is a photo of a very long one:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsE6FsdDfENGFuAif2Jvt43otMLFB4WyGSorF1_JChzHDvR7j2hoi79M5he5vSGYQd64ZcVgBDYovXln3jYGqzYfwxa74fDtIAYMel9imJftVmN-eQlRHj2GqawI3pU6QeXFu2FOBPE3jbKpEzCglYHoiWgGgfrK9VaIMbDY9c8gX9qGjYMRkOYn9/s800/horreos-del-camino-carnota-800x550.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsE6FsdDfENGFuAif2Jvt43otMLFB4WyGSorF1_JChzHDvR7j2hoi79M5he5vSGYQd64ZcVgBDYovXln3jYGqzYfwxa74fDtIAYMel9imJftVmN-eQlRHj2GqawI3pU6QeXFu2FOBPE3jbKpEzCglYHoiWgGgfrK9VaIMbDY9c8gX9qGjYMRkOYn9/w640-h440/horreos-del-camino-carnota-800x550.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />According to location, they can be built rectangular, square, or even round. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyVAUtjtikOpzkUdeVTmZtmwOrV269STXu3ayiabW9a_ogwMqIVYwkFr_Zt9KAOZZzu-aosZ6qegGRcX4BqQsy4wThOfz6XM4S7pd0-I6LKH9ssGV3cZNeoKuroB9JLWkhXXcLSsFeV5WqpXdw1_9e1St49S_TSMVHBn9JSjSAMLnyn76n2ux0Hfq/s1024/4950294027_86a00b4bb2_b.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyVAUtjtikOpzkUdeVTmZtmwOrV269STXu3ayiabW9a_ogwMqIVYwkFr_Zt9KAOZZzu-aosZ6qegGRcX4BqQsy4wThOfz6XM4S7pd0-I6LKH9ssGV3cZNeoKuroB9JLWkhXXcLSsFeV5WqpXdw1_9e1St49S_TSMVHBn9JSjSAMLnyn76n2ux0Hfq/w640-h426/4950294027_86a00b4bb2_b.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />On the Camino you will see at least two round structures built of woven sticks like basketwork. These are called cabaceiras and serve the same purpose. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5KLRTP3fgOQoYS7ufon6a3IWA9cJBbxLRPnwQXy9sFbT84Yf2F0CrgwOyrc9RyoT3RfLqR75Lkx1e4cYj70Uxvo6e7W-P7Xc1MZD_iEEwLk-oZF916yjiBFsv-gANFH0W3BniJjCanElCT-0DE3PTpQ0-bk4q2TzNhFsytwIyOMANfvZ11BMdDw0/s1024/18565179471_aa3cb2e87c_b.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5KLRTP3fgOQoYS7ufon6a3IWA9cJBbxLRPnwQXy9sFbT84Yf2F0CrgwOyrc9RyoT3RfLqR75Lkx1e4cYj70Uxvo6e7W-P7Xc1MZD_iEEwLk-oZF916yjiBFsv-gANFH0W3BniJjCanElCT-0DE3PTpQ0-bk4q2TzNhFsytwIyOMANfvZ11BMdDw0/w640-h480/18565179471_aa3cb2e87c_b.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />The hórreo roof can be thatched, tiled, slate, pitched or double pitched.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZSHzL1lhq7LlRbm_yhhQQDKz9cxbrU5N4c35KKE7GKlA50-t-iHnOQVAwNmZzALO4GrG-oTuPauccJsBzXQJk107TWZ1fGKnPRI0M-3sJAVzCldwtmaUho79Td7jVG8se4Cj0__cgF8NhEzZArBcpGPJN3JWqDtHvQXwsLEZlwpvjhCIWpPrMSR4/s922/ho%CC%81rreo13-1.webp"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZSHzL1lhq7LlRbm_yhhQQDKz9cxbrU5N4c35KKE7GKlA50-t-iHnOQVAwNmZzALO4GrG-oTuPauccJsBzXQJk107TWZ1fGKnPRI0M-3sJAVzCldwtmaUho79Td7jVG8se4Cj0__cgF8NhEzZArBcpGPJN3JWqDtHvQXwsLEZlwpvjhCIWpPrMSR4/w640-h480/ho%CC%81rreo13-1.webp" /></a><br /><br />The oldest known hórreos are from the 15th century. <br /><br />These days, hórreos are almost always protected by most local governments, which means if you purchase a property with an old hórreo on it, you are not allowed to tear it down.<br /><br />Other interesting structures you will see on the Camino are dovecotes. These are called palomares and are almost always round. You will see a lot of these around Boadilla.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6B401-Id623AQg6O4AB96uThhvGm6XxC8clBmR2fX6GYHyqwceSVZcokKFx4H7VHgqJwlOyXx_MbSSantJnDhgAieqJ0TQL4ltK_fba-Z3HN8hbiE-eyjak8OxckwlF3zYEswo4UerJbhdBWGvBONQ9f_IsIweQeEn_xDdgIJYSqyqg-wIh4rszVX/s800/Palomar2.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6B401-Id623AQg6O4AB96uThhvGm6XxC8clBmR2fX6GYHyqwceSVZcokKFx4H7VHgqJwlOyXx_MbSSantJnDhgAieqJ0TQL4ltK_fba-Z3HN8hbiE-eyjak8OxckwlF3zYEswo4UerJbhdBWGvBONQ9f_IsIweQeEn_xDdgIJYSqyqg-wIh4rszVX/w640-h480/Palomar2.jpeg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkMBmlQHYXyvI-1dDUli-Dc4Wj7o2hBqRa6ozJWWfK5rEcRZtc4Tsavr2S8fmyN4Laf0oYoyPtWuo_B3lGyCRfII-fEKsRamHAg7KJ3GEvmBDT5Yx94zj6RQgyg2Qz009XXN22arzXm1oEQglVXgNTFs3mzvnKUxotdIt6_4HpxB-JK5X5wk_SRkX/s314/dovecote.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkMBmlQHYXyvI-1dDUli-Dc4Wj7o2hBqRa6ozJWWfK5rEcRZtc4Tsavr2S8fmyN4Laf0oYoyPtWuo_B3lGyCRfII-fEKsRamHAg7KJ3GEvmBDT5Yx94zj6RQgyg2Qz009XXN22arzXm1oEQglVXgNTFs3mzvnKUxotdIt6_4HpxB-JK5X5wk_SRkX/w481-h640/dovecote.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />From a blog by Allison Reid:<br /><i><br />Doves and pigeons were an important resource in the Middle Ages, valued primarily for their meat, eggs, and feathers. Falconries used them as quarry, and their guano was a highly sought-after fertilizer. In southern Europe, it was spread on hemp fields and vineyards. In Northern Europe, it was said that pigeon guano was worth ten loads of any other type of fertilizer.<br /><br />Until the 1600s, strict laws forbid anyone other than the nobility or monasteries from keeping doves and pigeons. Though some castles and manors had built-in nesting boxes, for the most part these birds were housed in freestanding structures called dovecotes. They were round, stone buildings with either a domed or conical-shaped roof. The round shape made it easier for people to collect young doves or pigeons (squabs) from the nesting boxes. Squabs were considered a delicacy.<br /><br /><img height="277" src="https://allisondreid.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/medieval-dovecote-interior.jpg?w=300&h=209" width="400" /></i></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The inside of the building had a large open space, with ledges or cubicles jutting out from the walls. Pigeons would enter and exit from openings just beneath the roof. The nests could be accessed with a ladder attached to a revolving pole called a potence.<br /><br />There is some evidence that pigeons were also used for communication, but only after exposure to Middle Eastern practices during the crusades. For the most part Western Europeans had no concept of how birds migrated. (They thought that Swallows hibernated during the winter in the mud beneath ponds.) The use of homing pigeons to communicate over long distances didn’t become common throughout all of Europe until after the medieval era. However, those regions that continued to trade and communicate with the Arab world during and after the crusades began to build networks of homing pigeons. The Republic of Genoa was the most notable of these, and built towers for that purpose along the Mediterranean Sea.<br /><br /><img height="333" src="https://allisondreid.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/doves.jpg?w=300&h=157" width="640" /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Pigeons were able to deliver messages relatively reliably and quickly over hundreds of miles from their home. By feeding them in one location, and nesting them in another, they could be trained to fly back and forth between two locations. But more often, once they were released and delivered their messages, pigeons had to be transported back and forth by cart. This method of communication was not without its limitations, however. Any message sent by pigeon had to be very short, and the receiver on the other end would have to be literate enough to read it. Such messages could also be intercepted by trained falcons and hawks, or by archers.<br />***<br /></i><br />ROLLOS DE JUSTICIA:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoScwxpt2VssuVmTJ3LeSywQ2NULx8cAJzf8-WzhagVXCyTNurCsb0VlXcWamBLP4iw7S1jvD3F86dGu79npj3dGq7sLS0itX_kUIbT-aa8S9XCXmgIdbQdgRHCnch4APTUSBV2DrwAuKRtw8gMVFGRrWTBpsfVvO2OsFv8Ou-e4tDZKzvaCBYDFf/s639/Rollo%20de%20Justicia.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoScwxpt2VssuVmTJ3LeSywQ2NULx8cAJzf8-WzhagVXCyTNurCsb0VlXcWamBLP4iw7S1jvD3F86dGu79npj3dGq7sLS0itX_kUIbT-aa8S9XCXmgIdbQdgRHCnch4APTUSBV2DrwAuKRtw8gMVFGRrWTBpsfVvO2OsFv8Ou-e4tDZKzvaCBYDFf/w480-h640/Rollo%20de%20Justicia.jpeg" /></a><br />Another structure you will see, often in the village square is a column called a Rollo de Justicia. These are often topped with a ball or a cross. Sometimes there will be iron rings in the structure.<br /><br />What are the rollos? The rollos represented the administrative category of the place, built only in the villages that had full jurisdiction, indicating the regime to which it was subjected: councilor, ecclesiastical or monastic lordship. It marked the territorial limit and, in certain cases, was a commemorative monument of the concession of the town.<br /><br />The rollos were also used as "pillories", although their functions in the Middle Ages were different. A pillory was the place where criminals were exposed to public shame, often by public whipping. The iron rings were used to hold the prisoner by rope or chain. Rollos were also a place where the dead bodies or heads of criminals were hung as a warning. <br /><br />Though the Cortes of Cádiz promulgated a Decree in 1813 ordering, at the request of the city councils themselves, the demolition of all signs of vassalage, many remain as historical objects and are protected. <br /><br />One of the most photographed along the Camino is the one you will see in Boadilla.<br /></span></div><div></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-66092611522871005462022-11-28T06:05:00.000-08:002022-11-28T06:05:01.423-08:00Pickpockets and Crime on The Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsOOvHSLH57e7m9pI9l1lQ5BbiRaWt3GWaj11oAFSuImkWseA4kWKtUkVktjEFFOyO4nt4e23S522lG8ZUvPcOKoLrXxwDlC-F2cDw6M9pBLEBrMWUUf_xhjDbReWnXH5KT9zjxeRVX8/s1600/Pick.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsOOvHSLH57e7m9pI9l1lQ5BbiRaWt3GWaj11oAFSuImkWseA4kWKtUkVktjEFFOyO4nt4e23S522lG8ZUvPcOKoLrXxwDlC-F2cDw6M9pBLEBrMWUUf_xhjDbReWnXH5KT9zjxeRVX8/s320/Pick.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I was a young girl, learning to use my grandmother's wringer washer, she told me a horror story about a girl who got her hair caught in the wringer, and it "pulled all her hair out of her head, all the way from the roots!" It scared the snot out of me, and I never did laundry again without tying up my hair.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Whether or not that really happened, it was her way of teaching me .. grabbing my attention. I never in my entire 70 years have met a person who got their hair caught in a washing machine wringer. But I've always remembered the lesson.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye5hMVUA-Zd3DFeXJUXYjfUjvVJBToCucj9QS8erJp8-dXL1pMUjY7noZOmkqyl-8jk_zFAW3murMBWrifb0r4lJUx6lhlqJdxIf3xtOns6joN_g6_D5LLyz_sEMl8aDC24EdAcooNFc/s1600/gra0101ts39wringer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye5hMVUA-Zd3DFeXJUXYjfUjvVJBToCucj9QS8erJp8-dXL1pMUjY7noZOmkqyl-8jk_zFAW3murMBWrifb0r4lJUx6lhlqJdxIf3xtOns6joN_g6_D5LLyz_sEMl8aDC24EdAcooNFc/s320/gra0101ts39wringer.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So here is a lesson for you along the same lines as the one my grandmother taught me. It is here to get your attention and to teach you. Hopefully, you will "tie your hair up" and never have to experience any of the bad luck I'm about to report.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Although we rarely hear of crime on the Camino Santiago, it does occur. Generally it is petty theft or pickpocketing. Often it occurs because the victim is totally unaware or distracted. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Often it happens on the pilgrims layover stops, large cities, in and around places where tourists gather, such as airports, bus and train stations, museums, and other tourist destinations. There is a lot of crime going on around large tourist attractions such as the Louvre or the Forum. Paris is notorious for pickpockets and theft. Rome is another hotbed of petty crime.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In Spain, the Civil Guard is very good to protect pilgrims on the Camino and there are high prices for robbing or hurting them, so those cases are rare. But they do happen to distracted people who make silly mistakes.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOy89dHwpjWeqQyfD293saDMuTwx8wxGa4iMOT25o7YSRd7M6UzJG1B5Sm6GHPHhSbYjnJcPjktwy356AFDBnArw5zS9H-rSvH1Xzh01JIdIN4wOfPtGI07iwVpNe1dSBSQ_ek95_AP4/s1600/spidey-sense.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOy89dHwpjWeqQyfD293saDMuTwx8wxGa4iMOT25o7YSRd7M6UzJG1B5Sm6GHPHhSbYjnJcPjktwy356AFDBnArw5zS9H-rSvH1Xzh01JIdIN4wOfPtGI07iwVpNe1dSBSQ_ek95_AP4/s320/spidey-sense.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;">So here are a few stories </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to keep your Spidey-Sense keen.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">Pay attention, Peregrinos, and you'll be fine!</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">Thieves have had centuries </div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">to perfect their techniques. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are simple and they work. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here are a few.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>"The Sandwich"</u></b> has many faces. Basically, you're walking along, and the person in front of you suddenly stops. This might be on a sidewalk, on an escalator, on stairs, or in a car or bus. It's usually best accomplished in a crowd. You bump into the person in front of you, and the guy directly behind you is stealing your goods. Here is an illustration:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvM6O-YtEBfKbkg3b-uGE6T7dTr0lSXiBcW5B6gEGU18pTIrIV3Ht1qI0uBwArHjLWCSB5i3f4fQCRuD3-XF-kHX6NayTN2e1eXA6sIbJgyQRv3A-htZZ-MD_v3L58GIPBQ5RCFfaht8/s1600/pickpocket-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvM6O-YtEBfKbkg3b-uGE6T7dTr0lSXiBcW5B6gEGU18pTIrIV3Ht1qI0uBwArHjLWCSB5i3f4fQCRuD3-XF-kHX6NayTN2e1eXA6sIbJgyQRv3A-htZZ-MD_v3L58GIPBQ5RCFfaht8/s400/pickpocket-2.jpg" width="201" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Good thieves watch tourists closely to learn where they are stashing their valuables. In Naples one year, I saw a woman walking along the street in front of me with her backpack on. In about 30 seconds, before any of us had time to react, a man who had apparently been watching her and saw her put her passport and cash into the pocket of her backpack walked up behind her, slashed open the pocket with a razor knife, grabbed her cash and passport, and ran. She didn't even know it had happened until we all yelled. He was not caught.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpPcnM2y0cY73gEOCmLijsxDXdHVl3y4HfjMOOe_UXnJfI2eTEQUFGxFDiF_GYfJ9MGq7yhkc2ug_kP0otY8XFmYKqwd4SfIn9QEJ4MHXTQ5rjR5CgQ7V8imsl0wnknegc9TXhem62p4/s1600/pickpocket-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpPcnM2y0cY73gEOCmLijsxDXdHVl3y4HfjMOOe_UXnJfI2eTEQUFGxFDiF_GYfJ9MGq7yhkc2ug_kP0otY8XFmYKqwd4SfIn9QEJ4MHXTQ5rjR5CgQ7V8imsl0wnknegc9TXhem62p4/s400/pickpocket-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Another technique is <b><u>"The Drop."</u></b> Some pickpockets play on <b>compassion</b> in their distractions. Someone, often an older man or woman, "accidentally" drops a handful of change or shopping bags on the ground. The target, a nice tourist, stops to help them pick up their stuff. While the mark is kneeling on the ground with the first pickpocket, another member of the team steals his or her wallet. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">At the beach, one member of the team may pretend to be in trouble in the water. When the mark runs in to help out, another member of the team walks off with whatever the mark has left on the beach.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, pickpockets don't want to distract you from your money; they want to bring your attention to it. For example, one member of a pickpocket team might yell out "Somebody just stole my wallet!" in a crowded subway station. Most people's automatic reaction is to make sure they still have their own wallet and valuables, so they'll pat whatever pocket it's in. This makes the pickpockets' job a lot easier -- it shows them exactly where to look.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It's difficult to spot every pickpocket, no matter how careful you are, because pickpockets generally <b>camouflage</b> themselves. They also come in all ages. Nice older gentlemen in suits that look like your grandpa, young children who have been expertly trained, etc. Many dress like wealthy businessmen and women. Some even mimic tourists, their prime targets; others carry babies, who they use to hide what their hands are doing.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKSXznfdMpv_LeSdnfkvUpBxSHZdzzaizs1POgzHnK11uj4nGDyVQFTmOJia6s6yTT_rgSQ3qZh74z_pvCxD9RyvBxiE_O8CGHFN9bpRnltWVSH2WOwcGXPgfPpILlcZAQ19BJduedwU/s1600/t_sc_gypsy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKSXznfdMpv_LeSdnfkvUpBxSHZdzzaizs1POgzHnK11uj4nGDyVQFTmOJia6s6yTT_rgSQ3qZh74z_pvCxD9RyvBxiE_O8CGHFN9bpRnltWVSH2WOwcGXPgfPpILlcZAQ19BJduedwU/w480-h640/t_sc_gypsy.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to <u><b>the BABY tactic</b></u>. A woman will suddenly come up to you and THRUST a baby into your arms. Distracted, you grab the child and while your hands are busy holding the baby, she is busy picking your pockets. My advice is to back up and let the kid hit the ground!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EAwULubU782g84jHlRNnEmEOtG0PB8ApX8fPtxIIco0fHZIHnJuFShfv5lzEf7eVodcbdyf2L-BEuP_tEI_BH4JRnA4AC3uXQmVeeAwu80eBYpDu0Mi9QUTuyYuaMT8lCT7wrF-fOZw/w362-h400/istanbul-bus-pickpocket.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="362" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stay aware of who is behind you!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Be aware while boarding trains and buses. Hold your valuables in front of you, tightly. Do not put anything of value behind you or in pockets. Above is a photo of pickpockets working a bus line in Istanbul.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Children are often taught the skill. In fact, 95% of the pickpockets in Spain are children as those under 14 can not be prosecuted.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0PuO7_eXMoGAyCEMQWLKpiHwnFGhdEF3FN9QIsB4S2CrqpE-ZX0bhHMj5soZHKF7l5ClVrnejCd-G8LnBbHUlsmJHlWutzS16X7DtI7Aka72RCj5yBGVAPPYquWNrZ4Cq_iiPUuOAuY/s1600/pickpocketing-china02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0PuO7_eXMoGAyCEMQWLKpiHwnFGhdEF3FN9QIsB4S2CrqpE-ZX0bhHMj5soZHKF7l5ClVrnejCd-G8LnBbHUlsmJHlWutzS16X7DtI7Aka72RCj5yBGVAPPYquWNrZ4Cq_iiPUuOAuY/w400-h399/pickpocketing-china02.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH-by_Ux8q4T0iCI7s0hkAatFSxpjaC_JcvlDeSfB5vXroRwFaqwlUQp7NhOKylEFMtuCP9dY67lyDdhknAL8Ta2lMD1R2Zig45E75Z43dqRecjaRfJEmFU3rmu0RDmBSOwS22MOQAcM/s1600/pickpocketing-china03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH-by_Ux8q4T0iCI7s0hkAatFSxpjaC_JcvlDeSfB5vXroRwFaqwlUQp7NhOKylEFMtuCP9dY67lyDdhknAL8Ta2lMD1R2Zig45E75Z43dqRecjaRfJEmFU3rmu0RDmBSOwS22MOQAcM/w400-h241/pickpocketing-china03.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9jTBI5yv6D16MQJAJUAUEeNaykWEx7MPDkPcTC__ra7_HlIbmhuF3CFA5AnkA09NUOfJd5bL3kbJ92CLgGvv76vzzVP2XEd4yhcJo1YS5UhRoBw9IGDeb0se13Sc-eSMPlVYVEtTJLw/s1600/pickpocketing-china16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9jTBI5yv6D16MQJAJUAUEeNaykWEx7MPDkPcTC__ra7_HlIbmhuF3CFA5AnkA09NUOfJd5bL3kbJ92CLgGvv76vzzVP2XEd4yhcJo1YS5UhRoBw9IGDeb0se13Sc-eSMPlVYVEtTJLw/w308-h400/pickpocketing-china16.jpg" width="308" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYPN5drDfdQiFYJENYggoyIvIbHXuCEIkThYuZWrpOLvKHsJRsV1yAjZbWWa6ihBeIGX3oO4BjxRUVEp_IqP4HnwRDLH9dPuSFC5gdL0NoJW6Wepth_14FoaE279wpmFZJQboyF1wOiU/s1600/rome-subway-thief-213x400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYPN5drDfdQiFYJENYggoyIvIbHXuCEIkThYuZWrpOLvKHsJRsV1yAjZbWWa6ihBeIGX3oO4BjxRUVEp_IqP4HnwRDLH9dPuSFC5gdL0NoJW6Wepth_14FoaE279wpmFZJQboyF1wOiU/w213-h400/rome-subway-thief-213x400.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJXZRtqoAEWaCIdzBqcV7qM3gQDUpU0FkuRnPezCuyjRKqVXLh9m-INyJor0J7K6ssFgoz55usuL8n6Wy2D5MII_A-Q93K2TBm4qgPLJOUx6SRofrwVsvrtBt5-Mtv2uAvcMbrnFZ6Hc/s1600/pickpocketing-china18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJXZRtqoAEWaCIdzBqcV7qM3gQDUpU0FkuRnPezCuyjRKqVXLh9m-INyJor0J7K6ssFgoz55usuL8n6Wy2D5MII_A-Q93K2TBm4qgPLJOUx6SRofrwVsvrtBt5-Mtv2uAvcMbrnFZ6Hc/w640-h448/pickpocketing-china18.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Are the people above just numb?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">No, they are distracted.<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Many of the thieves in Spain are Gypsies. They live in horrid conditions. I highly recommend this BBC show on Gypsy Child Thieves in Spain, Italy, and other European destinations <b style="color: white;">. </b><span style="color: #d9ead3;"> </span>It is shocking, but worth watching. There are 4 or 5 parts. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THInODdvvMQ" target="_blank"> Gypsy Child Thieves</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv2GxAhHXySgQqfbsef9G3XF6fXgT-9SQCkSQhKPJ1YCrQB37AODAwpx9yD_8XBzwUQX7FkWkBO3YeH_7uRWcPhOWtyThRNXxENfMoY0tmGaUYvKK25PLkNq5iPlT1Lhke5lcJKrWSL4/s1600/gypsy-beggar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv2GxAhHXySgQqfbsef9G3XF6fXgT-9SQCkSQhKPJ1YCrQB37AODAwpx9yD_8XBzwUQX7FkWkBO3YeH_7uRWcPhOWtyThRNXxENfMoY0tmGaUYvKK25PLkNq5iPlT1Lhke5lcJKrWSL4/w400-h268/gypsy-beggar.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVLHxlXQIvolX4s6-NJbwx-HTsbWAvhhyphenhyphenZI4Ozo7pm8wXz24i5tznCcEv6NqfDyjePz9Gqdzi2J5b_itrYbeRgf8A-c8k7d0VJgq72bQ9mO0044nQ1t3VZtsWVMYweWxq0S1tNivLvXg/s1600/59547805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVLHxlXQIvolX4s6-NJbwx-HTsbWAvhhyphenhyphenZI4Ozo7pm8wXz24i5tznCcEv6NqfDyjePz9Gqdzi2J5b_itrYbeRgf8A-c8k7d0VJgq72bQ9mO0044nQ1t3VZtsWVMYweWxq0S1tNivLvXg/w400-h299/59547805.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Often, you will see a child, woman or man sitting on the street begging silently. Sometimes their head is bowed to the ground. This is a scam. <b><i><u>While you are digging for cash to give her, her friend is watching to see where you keep the money.</u></i></b> You have just become a target. You'll often notice an older woman sitting like this outside the Cathedral in Santiago.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Another scam is a person, often a teen, who will thrust a photo or sign under your chin or into your waist. Again, while you're trying to get the danged thing down from beneath your throat, she or an accomplice will be frisking you.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Once, while Joe and I were riding a sardine-packed bus in Rome, a man suddenly began making gagging noises as though he was going to vomit. Then he did! He puked about a gallon of water right in the middle of the crowded bus. Of course, everyone jumped back and packed in tight, screaming. The bus stopped, the doors opened, and a few people jumped off. In about 15 seconds, there were several shouts of "I've been robbed!" or "My purse or wallet is gone!" That diversion gave the thieves what they were looking for... time to steal and run. So if something like this happens, pay attention!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZn23imHlTwhrS8BimWhKNi2BoI2VWyiINyYOeDLbGWgS0RY7Xo5vjhjf3cXf956SnDSakXNuHYIHSyoRjRiuqTk-DRuuNF8LFuwBrdvL7xCznc8Dhb8g3Kp1aKq4_8hi09mLgMPaD2Ak/s1600/china-thieves-pickpockets-small-300x234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZn23imHlTwhrS8BimWhKNi2BoI2VWyiINyYOeDLbGWgS0RY7Xo5vjhjf3cXf956SnDSakXNuHYIHSyoRjRiuqTk-DRuuNF8LFuwBrdvL7xCznc8Dhb8g3Kp1aKq4_8hi09mLgMPaD2Ak/w400-h312/china-thieves-pickpockets-small-300x234.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Another time at a Portuguese street fair, Joe and I were walking together like the two men above. I suddenly noticed a strange hand out of the corner of my eye gently moving into Joe's side pocket of his cargo pants. Since we were a couple then and I was HOLDING Joe's hand, I knew the hand wasn't his so I instantly reached down and SMACKED that hand away. When I turned around, it was a couple of young men who laughed and said, "What?" I yelled for the police and they ran. But they were very bold and if I had not been aware of that hand, Joe could have lost the day's cash.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnXoH28kOUJOHBRQ95nPr7RP_p087_DlfZpop3pF9a7K7bZ_YinY0k-d5i6PkLa5bLgHs507G_pqqwZOJe1PCi7BUkflwCgDdC_FmG_h5VqGu-qbZ7XxVRr7_p5m06LG95iMxS9_hmM4/s1600/pickpocket-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnXoH28kOUJOHBRQ95nPr7RP_p087_DlfZpop3pF9a7K7bZ_YinY0k-d5i6PkLa5bLgHs507G_pqqwZOJe1PCi7BUkflwCgDdC_FmG_h5VqGu-qbZ7XxVRr7_p5m06LG95iMxS9_hmM4/w640-h480/pickpocket-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put your cash and passport behind you in your backpack. You MUST wear a money belt in Europe. Take out the day's cash in the morning before you leave your hotel. Put it in a small wallet or pocket where you can easily access it. Do not flash cash around and NEVER EVER get into your money belt in public. Be smart and you'll be fine.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjZmpqOdPpVboaSVPugfRrCaBkORUhu1a_tSlCA9uGSuZAJ3d62b1K0FMdNI-ewtOc-J6zaejkz26C5bgxN-gN0vhIRYRkCJc1KCwBL87pqalQS_YJfTKFoSI8RBGu2IRPC2ZT4hOaO0/s1600/taxi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjZmpqOdPpVboaSVPugfRrCaBkORUhu1a_tSlCA9uGSuZAJ3d62b1K0FMdNI-ewtOc-J6zaejkz26C5bgxN-gN0vhIRYRkCJc1KCwBL87pqalQS_YJfTKFoSI8RBGu2IRPC2ZT4hOaO0/s320/taxi.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">TAXI SCAMS.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The first time I visited Portugal, I paid the taxi driver 20 Euros to take me to my hostal. Upon arrival, I commented to the desk-clerk about the high price. She quickly informed me the price should have been TWO Euros, not 20!! So, before you travel, ask around about what you might be expected to pay for your trip from airport to hotel. Agree to the price up front, before you enter the cab and before your luggage is loaded. A little knowledge goes a long way.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In Spain, the taxi fares are regulated by the government, and often are posted on the dashboard of the taxi. It's not like Mexico where you can haggle. Just pay the price because the taxi next to it will be charging the same price. HOWEVER, the fee is for the entire taxi, not per person, so the more people you can get into a taxi, the less it will cost each person.<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">There are hard-times all over the world right now, so people are doing petty crime that may not normally happen. Rick Steves states:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Tourists are targeted by scam and rip-off artists everywhere in Europe. If you know the games (spilling the mustard, bus 64 in Rome, and so on), you're less likely to be a victim.</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">By sharing the latest scams (and learning from each others' mistakes) we'll all travel more safely. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">For the sake of being aware, here are a few more of the more current Tourist Scams reported on Rick Steves' website. And since this post was probably written several years ago, it's worth going to Rick Steves' website and checking out the latest scams reported before you travel.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvN2gQp-OY6srO96HDlnV7zpTlHRTIZDHoEu65pw6qiU6Z4hf8zHTacDgo0AFxy_yiIPkf27Xlmf26UmgXasTd_b5qah2_X1YKcrGTggcRSw5LihSrZNcfadI8peQgdXsc-ZSCAenNE4/s1600/man.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvN2gQp-OY6srO96HDlnV7zpTlHRTIZDHoEu65pw6qiU6Z4hf8zHTacDgo0AFxy_yiIPkf27Xlmf26UmgXasTd_b5qah2_X1YKcrGTggcRSw5LihSrZNcfadI8peQgdXsc-ZSCAenNE4/s1600/man.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">THE HELPER</span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Train Station Scam - Be WARY of nicely dressed people wanting to "help" you.</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">I took my family, five of us, on a European vacation a few years and we got scammed at a Paris train station. We traveled from London to Paris via the Chunnel and when we arrived my wife went to a wall which had listings of ways to get here and there. We were going to a hotel and wanted to use the subway and while she was looking at the info a nicely dressed man, coat and tie, approached and asked if he could help. She told him where we were going and he told her that he could save us money by purchasing the amount of tickets we needed using a card he had. He asked how many days , [INVALID]ed his card and and gave us the round trip tickets for three days and we paid him something like $175 US. We thanked him and left. The next day we were all going to go sightseeing and when we got to the subway and tried to enter were told the passes didn't work and, in fact, they were only one way tickets. I went back to the train station to find the guy and saw at least twenty guys doing the same scam to others. I literally spent four hours with no rest telling travelers who were just about to get fleeced about the scam and they were mostly thankful, but the gypsies were not happy. They threatened me from all sides but I had no time to talk to them as I was busting their scam. It was fun, actually. The police came by once and asked me if I thought that the guy that ripped me off would return and I said it didn't matter as I felt I was getting my money back by helping fellow travelers. One remarked that we have thieves in the US and I said yes but it wasn't so rampant and the police don't just ignore the problem. (That was pre-Covid - things have changed here since) They left, wishing me good luck. As far as I'm concerned everybody from the police down to the ticket takers at the subway stations are in on the scam as the problem is monumental. After four hours of constant effort I had lunch and decided to join my family. While leaving I saw the fellow who scammed us preparing to put his card in a machine to "save" a lady tourist and I got my revenge, but that's a story for another day. Be careful over there. There's so much to see and it's sad that this crap is allowed to continue, I had visited Paris several times prior to that visit but have no desire to return ever again.</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tom</i><br />Brooksville, Fl USA 09/05/2011</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUyz5BxzHck1K5io1WA0bEYVtHfHq6Pvu-onmqaQeIYFPnP1V6fIqqvYxNzPjz1V6wHiF8NsoH-ApuyhgQ-5ahkgHDt6PZxAJnQ1m92gWgYN9UhXRnnCFovLWabltSSD6vbWTI3rYAjY/s1600/sign_petition.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUyz5BxzHck1K5io1WA0bEYVtHfHq6Pvu-onmqaQeIYFPnP1V6fIqqvYxNzPjz1V6wHiF8NsoH-ApuyhgQ-5ahkgHDt6PZxAJnQ1m92gWgYN9UhXRnnCFovLWabltSSD6vbWTI3rYAjY/s200/sign_petition.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">BE WARY OF THE "PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION SCAM"</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This scam is really popular in Paris, near the Louvre, but is taking off in other areas. There is a group of girls on the Camino who are almost always there, asking for signatures. Sometimes they pretend to be deaf. Wave them away and don't let them get close to you!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">If someone approaches you and asks you to sign their petition, wave them off with a firm and LOUD "NO!" and keep walking. Do not worry about being rude... This next incident was unusual, in my opinion, but worth being aware of if you have plans to stop in Paris on your way to Bayonne.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sacre Coeur Paris Petition Scam</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">Been to Paris many times and have never encountered what happened this week. At the Sacre Coeur broad daylight 3.30pm came up the main front steps to be met by many of the bracelet/ring guys- a sharp no and they leave you alone. Enjoyed food etc at the top of sacre coeur and decided to go down the other side only to be surrounded by about ten Roma gypsy teenagers with their petitions, again a sharp no and I thought I would be on my way. Two of the girls grabbed me and twisted my arms behind my back trying to get me to let go of my small travel pocket bag and managed to go through my coat pockets and steal my iPhone. They also attacked my twelve year old daughter who after I was attacked I had to pick her up of the floor- all very scary. These girls are animals. They are willing not only to pick pocket but to attack you. I am glad that myself and my daughter walked away with a stolen phone and bruises- it could have been a lot worse. French police were very good and very understanding but told me this happens all the time. If you see these girls with their petitions walk/run in the opposite direction.</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">VM<br />USA 02/18/2012</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The next two people should not be surprised that they were robbed, in my opinion. You absolutely should NEVER put down a purse, bag, suitcase, or backpack holding valuable items. Thieves are watching you, Mr. Tourist, and just waiting for you to make a stupid mistake like these two did...</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b><b>Handbag stolen at Galeries Lafayette, Paris</b></span><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">I was shopping at Galeries Lafayette in Paris today, where I got my handbag stolen (wallet, passport etc.) I was trying on shoes in -1 floor, where I set my bag down next to me (it was in the way). <b><u>5 seconds later</u></b> when I was about to pick it up again, it was already gone.</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">Unbelievable...I didn't ever think a fancy department store was a place to worry about getting my purse stolen but apparently it happens ALL THE TIME. It is exactly the same sentiment I have and the fact that shoppers let their guard down, which makes Lafayette a great place for thieves. Don't EVER let your bag go and keep your guard up at places that you would otherwise feel relaxed.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i><b>J Dubbs<br />Paris, France 01/27/2012</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">...I was in Santa Maria de Vittorio today in Roma to see Bernini sculpture... I was reading about it on my Kindle Fire.... then I set my bag down, and walked away about 20 feet, I put in .50 Euro and turned on light and took 5-6 photos.... when I came back to seat.... my Kindle Fire was gone !! I had noticed some seedy character in the church but I was so close to the bag, I though it was OK.... those few minutes I took my eye off it,,, guy grabbed the Kindle. I do know better but was a bit jet lagged... Be careful,, they're waiting and will take advantage in a church !</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">S. Trato<br />St. Thomas, VI USA 01/24/2012</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The following scam was very familiar to me, as I got hit with it about 40 years ago when I lived in St. Croix. In my case, a man and two women stopped by the hotel reception desk where I was working. The man said he worked with my husband. He knew my husband's name. He knew we were moving. He said he had offered to let my husband use his truck and was coming to help him on Saturday. He was very well dressed and very sweet. They left. About an hour later, he showed up again and was distressed. He had left his wallet at home, and they were short grocery cash. Would I loan him $50? He would pay my husband tomorrow at work. ($50 fifty years ago was a LOT of money!) I loaned him the money, then the minute he left, I began feeling stupid. I called my husband at work. He'd never heard of the guy. Oh boy, did I catch it when I got home! I still have no idea how this guy got all the personal information he knew about us.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Champs Elysees Money Scam</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">I was walking on the Champs Elysees near the Arc du Triomphe when I was approached by a Chinese couple who appeared to be quite distressed. The man asked if I was American, did I speak English? I said yes, I did. The man proceeded to tell me that his wife had spotted a Louis Vuitton handbag at a shop across the boulevard, but the store would not take his money because they were Chinese. His wife was heartbroken, he was desperate. Would I please go in and buy the handbag for his wife? He had Euros and promised immediate reimbursement. This was a scam that I'd not heard of but caught onto right away. I was pretty obvious that he wanted me to buy a very expensive bag with my good money and rip me off by "paying me back" with bogus Euros. Needless to say, I said "No" and walked away. When I looked back they had targeted another American. Remember: if the story sounds wrong, looks wrong, and feels wrong it is wrong.</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Susan<br />Port Townsend, WA USA 01/06/2012</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Here's another example of a desperate thief:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Desperate "Canadian Jewish banker" around the Nord, Paris</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">It was 7pm, I had just gotten off the Eurostar from London at Nord in Paris and was approached by a guy who claimed to a Jewish Canadian banker who was visiting Paris with his girlfriend and three children. Here's the rundown of his brilliant sob story: - His gf messed up the credit card pincode 3 times and now their card was locked and they did not have enough cash for a hotel that night. - His friend has wired money but Credit Union and the Canadian Embassy is closed for the evening. - A small hotel down the street has agreed to let them stay for 65euro for the night and could I please help him with anything? - He offered his watch and a copy of his passport and swore on the Torah and his child that he would pay me back. - But later when I asked for his passport he claimed it was with his gf who was looking after the children in a cafe, and that she would freak out if he took me there as "she was on her period" and was very upset. (!) - He found out I lived in Tokyo and said he used to live there once, in Ginza (the ritziest place in Tokyo) but anyone can remember a few place names to rattle off in these situations. I could tell that his story was full of holes but he kept begging me with his eyes full of tears and I think I was overwhelmed by his display of emotions. I was tired and had just woken up in the Eurostar, and I thought "What if he WAS telling the truth?" - I argued with him about the passport situation, that I needed some sort of legal ID, but he cut me off and begged me with such pitiful force that somebody should have given him an Oscar on the spot. - But I could see his face was twitching as he spoke, ANYBODY could have seen that the guy was conning me, and I could have just walked away but by then I felt I was trapped and had to help him out someway. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a tip to remember: IT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM!! You are NOT the right person to help this person. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">- So I asked for his contact details, where he lived and worked in Toronto, e-mail address, and he gave them to me - all of them bull (if I had a smartphone with internet connection I could have checked them out on the spot!) - In the end, stupidly, I took some money out of the ATM and he gave me a long hug before I managed to pull him off me. - I asked for the watch and he almost reluctantly gave it to me - as I suspected, it's a cheap fake with "Chalisson" on the face. Googling it only brings up replica sites and I've tossed it into the bin. This happened in the last few hours of my 12 day stay in Europe (just arrived home today), I think I had let me guard down and it's put a damper on my memories. I've been thinking about the experience and can just say it was an expensive lesson but will be one I will remember always. If the guy needed money, he could have told me the truth and I still may have given him some. All that is left now is karma. Hopefully somebody who reads this will be able to prevent it from happening to them.</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nik<br />Tokyo, Japan 12/06/2011</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-fKxGLT2iOYv-NTDccSqJ-CGYQ_Em9uwijjbSxaxI-xn66kg5ej0CKa4z18Gcsqod03fQwyGiG7YN1IT5v7cFMUbz0pKTFFNQdV5WpWpMy0KzkRtR_FyU6Kkp02G1S7bl3Q5AMUeLk4/s1600/gypsies-s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-fKxGLT2iOYv-NTDccSqJ-CGYQ_Em9uwijjbSxaxI-xn66kg5ej0CKa4z18Gcsqod03fQwyGiG7YN1IT5v7cFMUbz0pKTFFNQdV5WpWpMy0KzkRtR_FyU6Kkp02G1S7bl3Q5AMUeLk4/w400-h266/gypsies-s.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rosemary sprigs in Spain</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">This one usually happens around the Cathedrals in the larger Spanish cities. I saw it many times in Sevilla. Gypsy ladies will hand you a Rosemary sprig. If you TOUCH it, you must pay them...and then they will grab your hand and want to tell your fortune. While you wrestle your arm back, their other hand is picking your pockets. My advice... avoid ladies bearing Rosemary sprigs! Walk a wide berth.</span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixONHffHdrnJJa-slxWlzab-ei65a3IAxPyqHnb8DqdMCY8puwftctIz4IcSEdWkPm8UqWivT8C2UIE7dHygP7bXGWFKy5sGBGaxoEgqzdCUiXNwlIYM12jVgBWFFaPE0magfdqsclVjs/s1600/atm-hacking.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixONHffHdrnJJa-slxWlzab-ei65a3IAxPyqHnb8DqdMCY8puwftctIz4IcSEdWkPm8UqWivT8C2UIE7dHygP7bXGWFKy5sGBGaxoEgqzdCUiXNwlIYM12jVgBWFFaPE0magfdqsclVjs/s320/atm-hacking.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Please be careful when using the ATM, especially in busy cities. You must stay absolutely alert. Cover your hands while putting in your pin number. Hold your hand close to the machine, ready to receive your cash and your card. Thieves have the keypad memorized and know what numbers you are punching in. They can see from a distance. If they get your card, they have your pin, so be aware. If you are traveling with a friend, stand back to back, with them facing the rear. If you are alone, keep your goods in front of you and refuse to speak to anyone until your transaction is complete and your cash and card are tightly in your hand. Don't help anyone. Let a local help them.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">ATM scam in Paris</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">While at an ATM in Paris, the guy at the neighboring ATM asks you a question, saying he doesn't understand what his screen is telling him. Meanwhile he or his friend is taking the currency your ATM is dispensing. Moral: use only "single" ATMs, in an uncrowded area, and pay strict attention.</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jerry<br />Denver, Colora USA 01/05/2012</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Half-off at the Travel exchange</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">Came across this one in <u>Amsterdam/Schipol </u>and to my horror (almost) again at<u>London/Heathrow.</u> It works like this - you want to exchange $$ for local currency. The TravelEx employee dutifully counts your money out - all the while engaging you in conversation and asking questions which means you're paying attention to them NOT their hands. When you check your money it appears to be all correct BUT upon closer inspection one of the high value notes will have been replaced by a 'half note' at the end you've been counting....the open end of the envelope. I caught this (the second time) by holding the base of the envelope tightly and waggling it upside down for a couple of seconds. Sure enough the 100-pound note top half fell out. I tried to get the TRavelex supervisor to accept a complaint, but all they did was treat it as an honest mistake' ("we get SO much money through her sir, mistakes often happen") and replace the half note with a whole one. I'd say from the shifty/guilty look on the tellers' face he was more embarrassed at being caught than he was worried about legal or job repercussions. He only has to pull off two of those scams an hour and he pockets the (unused, whole) bill on his next bathroom break. I've shared this tale of woe with others who've had similar experiences with 'half currency' in high denomination notes at European money exchange booths. Traveler beware!</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tony Cox<br />Dublin, oh USA 09/21/2011</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Old Lady Pickpocket</b> - This one DID happen in Spain!</span><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">My husband and I were strolling down Las Ramblas in Barcelona when a little old gypsy lady popped in front of us and shoved a sign about " being hungry" under my husband's chin. He was wearing a money belt (of course!), but had on a jacket with a front chest pocket that looked like a wallet was inside. It was actually a coupon book and the pocket was closed with velcro. As the old woman was holding the sign with one hand, she was trying to open the pocket with the other. My husband heard the velcro and felt the hand and immediately shoved her arm. Right away he told me what happened and I started pointing and shouting "Thief! Voleur!" (we were in Spain, but I couldn't think of the Spanish word, so I just used French - ha). She starts in about how 'he hurt her arm' and I just kept yelling and pointing. (before you think how mean I am, I'm no spring chicken myself, being now 64) At that point she gave me the dirtiest look I've ever received - and proceeded to try and get away from us. We continued to follow her across Las Ramblas (don't ask me why - I don't know what we'd have done if her family had been around the corner), but finally stopped following when she darted down an alley. If she had been a man, my husband probably would have slugged him, but the culprits seem to know that most people are not going to hit an old "defenseless" woman.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">And something else to keep in mind - yes, it's annoying to be accosted and perhaps conned out of a few euros, but it could be worse. How about getting mugged in a U.S. city or shot and killed by someone with a gun?! At least these scammers don't use physical violence or parade around with lethal weapons. Think about that before freaking out about the stuff that goes on in Europe!</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">trudy<br />San Antonio, TX USA 08/31/2011</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Madrid</b> - <b>This was at Madrid subway ticket counter.(Remember, I mentioned this one?)</b></span><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">Some young men/kids one about 20 and the other about 15 years old. One drops a fist full of worthless pennies or change right at my feet. Oddly, this guy get on all fours trying to frantically gather his last pennies in the whole wide world and then moves closer to me and lefts my feet up (in an innocent kind of way) he's got me by the bottom of my pants leg, I get this strange feeling that makes me want to put my knee in to his ribs, so I bend over -bend my knees a little (so he does not pick me up and slam my butt to the ground) and tell him to let go, as I back up to gain the angle and upper hand, I bump in to some on at my rear.. ok they take off. few minutes later I realize my wallet is missing. they got one dollar and the credit card company would not let them charge anything.. still a pain. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">That night, we go out to dinner= walk in to a restaurant, and the kind gentleman takes my mother in laws coat to hang it in a safe place, (earlier I saw her put $20 dollars in a safe inner pocket.) When the coat comes back the money is gone.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;">(Note: Don't leave cash in coat pockets, silly!)</span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Charley<br />Houston, Tx USA 05/10/2011</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Throwing dirt on the back of your shirt in Seville</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">When we were in Spain two years ago, hubby and I were walking in Seville; I was in front of him. All of the sudden, he felt something on his back, I looked and his shirt had big brown spots on it. A man came to us, made some motion looking up, as if to say, birds did it. Offered to help, noting a bathroom in a nearby restaurant. We went, hubby went in bathroom with man, another man was there and when they were trying to get the stuff off, one tried to pick his pocket. Thank goodness, the wallet fell on the floor, and when hubby retrieved it, both men left in a hurry...we are seasoned travelers and really got sucked in..new rule...never be separated and NEVER accept help from a stranger...no harm done and we learned a big lesson.</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">sarabeth<br />woodland hills, Ca. USA 05/03/2011</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4LfogkNBz7YXrf4zsrNbusUiu_vBmMp4eYGFzHsnL429dEp0MKgEYHMZ4dZBrT2OgbaCLKEmCIWDyJNBnMX2goFezbNocxf3kIr1tJmd6SkdWRc-DyOI2DlExXNHHAN_AGr3fTjDwyk/s1600/bird_poop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4LfogkNBz7YXrf4zsrNbusUiu_vBmMp4eYGFzHsnL429dEp0MKgEYHMZ4dZBrT2OgbaCLKEmCIWDyJNBnMX2goFezbNocxf3kIr1tJmd6SkdWRc-DyOI2DlExXNHHAN_AGr3fTjDwyk/s320/bird_poop.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Madrid: Scam and Barcelona: Scam</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b> (<i>Note from Annie: I also had this one done with makeup in Barcelona - luckily I had read this post</i>)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Going to the Madrid train station to get to Barcelona. Walking into the station, my wife is 10-15 feet ahead of me and a guy walking past me says I have something on my backpack. I don't let him near me but I look at my bag and see all this white cream. Thought it was bird poop for a second but then this guy magically had a load of napkins on him and was trying to help. Then another guy came up with napkins and I called out to my wife. Fortunately, she was loud and got them to go away but it haunts me because I totally let go of my luggage to deal with my bag. I grew up in San Francisco - I'm wary of bums and lowlifes. I also walk with a big chip on my shoulder and am unfriendly to most strangers. This just really caught me off guard.</i></span><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">Loved Spain otherwise and had a great time!</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jerkey<br />Los Angeles, CA USA 02/17/2011</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWMw3y1M98WKsGyO3H0qDhNYJnN0UN7EcgQThPypr-Al1b6Z1zFxncfol1T9FbRcgP5dTS08CC2zAIf06-jSm7o2bMI176vPMbxfuc5f0ir8SFPHPcqR6xfbWivNV2eQPwZj7LjzRWZ8/s1600/39_immigration.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWMw3y1M98WKsGyO3H0qDhNYJnN0UN7EcgQThPypr-Al1b6Z1zFxncfol1T9FbRcgP5dTS08CC2zAIf06-jSm7o2bMI176vPMbxfuc5f0ir8SFPHPcqR6xfbWivNV2eQPwZj7LjzRWZ8/s320/39_immigration.jpg" width="306" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Passport Thieves in Spain</b>. It is HIGHLY unlikely you will ever be asked to see your passport on the street, while in Spain. If that does happen, DO NOT HAND IT OVER. REFUSE and yell for the police!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">This warning came from the State Department's website. "There have been reports of thieves posing as plainclothes police officers, beckoning to pedestrians from cars and sometimes confronting them on the street asking for documents, or to inspect their cash for counterfeit bills, which they ultimately confiscate as "evidence."</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i><b>Brenda<br />Washington, DC USA 12/20/2010</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fresh off a pick pocketing incident in Barcelona</b> (Remember the Petition Scam - this is often used by groups of teen girls on the Camino Santiago!)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I<i> am actually in Barcelona currently, just having arrived yesterday. My parents had warned me about pickpockets here from their trip last year, when their friend was pick-pocketed. The funny and sad story they told me was that the thief actually handed back the wallet to the startled friend sans cash and ran away, since the police had apparently seen him in the act.</i></span><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">So before my trip, being intrigued I read up quite a bit on the scams used these days. That did get me a bit more paranoid than usual. I scolded myself for reading too many of these articles. I am an experienced traveler and I had to remind myself to to trust humankind and my instincts and experience. When discussing the same topic, some Spanish colleagues (not from Barcelona) also assured me that Barcelona is very safe. Just in case, before going out today I took some precautions by splitting up my money and keeping the essential cards and passport inside hidden pockets. It helps that it is cold and I had to wear a jacket with secure pockets inside.So while I survived intact today, unfortunately I could not prevent the theft of a money purse from a young tourist girl in front of me in line for tickets at the Sagrada Familia. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">The scam involved two boys and a girl asking for a petition to be signed to help Dumb and Deaf children. They approached the young woman in front of me and very passionately started asking her to sign the petition. As she did it, I spotted the two boy's eyes roving and observing the young woman's bag. They were standing very close to her and one was even stroking her shoulder and telling her how nice she was.They then starting asking her for a money donation. Surprisingly, she pulled out her wallet from her zippered purse on her side, with the boys eagerly helping her look for coins. I quickly stepped in at that point to prevent the inevitable from occurring and told her to keep the wallet away. She looked confused and I tried telling her that it was likely a scam. Unfortunately the young lady did not understand English and ignored me and continued picking through her wallet. At that point I was pushed back and obstructed by the third accomplice - the young girl with the same clipboard insisting on having me signing the petition as well. I raised my voice and backed away. From the corner of my eye I spotted one of the boys hiding the wallet under his clipboard. I have no idea how they managed to extract it from the young woman with so much ease. I reached out and grabbed one of wrists of the boy and with my other hand struggled to get past the girl with the clip board to get to the wallet. The boy deftly passed the purse on to the other boy. As I tred to get to the second boy who now held the prize, the first one managed to wriggle away from my grip. Unfortunately all three managed to get past the several tourists who just stood around dumbly staring at the spectacle. All three ran off so fast that there was no hope for me to compete - I'm not exactly a spritely young kid anymore even if I imagine myself to be one ;-). Once the tourist young woman realized what was happening, she did make a futile attempt to chase them, but they were long gone. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately I could not talk to the tourist girl. I did spot her after, walking away crying after she had apparently tried to report the incident to the cop standing right at the corner. I wish I would've had a chance to talk to her and to express my regret for not doing better to prevent this theft It crazy to think about this now, but the whole thing actually lasted just a few seconds, but perhaps if I had held the boy's wrist tighter, or good involved sooner...</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">In any case it is my hope that posting this story here will be my redemption. Hopefully this story will help someone else from falling for the same scam. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have one more day to go in Barcelona. Let's see what tomorrow brings...</span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">SmartTraveler<br />Montreal, Quebec Canada 11/20/2010</span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mAC83-3Oatd1EpVSV1kWqLRNsK4WoW0tWB6ysHF6vgma7edVdn9ZOuMSZXy63Vap4YUWPHljUbExwG_YUDX2ccyzroh86uZMZ83a_CaiKCE9aRfwZGCwF9lis9n1PLQdkSQkNTs1F40/s1600/169513421_7f2ff42969.jpg"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mAC83-3Oatd1EpVSV1kWqLRNsK4WoW0tWB6ysHF6vgma7edVdn9ZOuMSZXy63Vap4YUWPHljUbExwG_YUDX2ccyzroh86uZMZ83a_CaiKCE9aRfwZGCwF9lis9n1PLQdkSQkNTs1F40/w640-h480/169513421_7f2ff42969.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pay particular attention </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">when riding a crowded bus or train.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">It is prime picking for pickpockets!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYWwsvtX8FXu8PR0o_9HVGHuLbIaA-VviTSHh-AqjKajfuqniY9ww96uClo0Nq-SmnufLY7ifN00Z93x7qmVzPwWbWdAy1CrRPlcjlWm_6lLuQpDZ2YGd47I3YSNAwlX_GLCcLwFHD3I/s1600/pickpocket-under-coat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYWwsvtX8FXu8PR0o_9HVGHuLbIaA-VviTSHh-AqjKajfuqniY9ww96uClo0Nq-SmnufLY7ifN00Z93x7qmVzPwWbWdAy1CrRPlcjlWm_6lLuQpDZ2YGd47I3YSNAwlX_GLCcLwFHD3I/w640-h624/pickpocket-under-coat.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I once watched a sweet old woman deftly slip her fingers into a woman's purse, while exchanging small-talk with the woman! I warned her, to the thief's dismay. The victim was very surprised! These pickpockets often board with a coat or sweater over one arm to hide their hands. They also often look like your grandma or grandpa!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">These are some VERY good tips from a fellow traveler:</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">First of all, not traveling because of a fear of pickpockets and scams is foolish. <b><span style="color: red;">It's more so about being smart.</span></b> Keep an eye on who is around you, in front of you, etc., especially in very touristy areas.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Rome/Paris experiences:</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">1) Men, wear pants with tight pockets (if it's impossible for me to get my own wallet out without leaning forward, it will be nearly impossible to get pick pocketed). If you're wearing slacks, keep your effects in a money belt, under them. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">2) NEVER sit on the metro or in public with your iPhone or iPod out, playing music or whatever. People will scope you out, distract you, and steal it. Keep the device out of sight. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">3) NEVER put valuables in a backpack on your back and then stand in a crowded piazza or metro and wonder why you're missing things later. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">4) NEVER stop for anyone in the street, even if they speak English. Just pretend you have no idea what they're saying and walk on, hands on your pockets or on your bag. If you're pestered, just say "NO!" loudly and firmly and continue walking. Never stop. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">5) NEVER let anyone help you with anything, luggage or whatever. If they don't steal it they well might hold it ransom for some quick cash. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">6) When you go through the ticket validator machines for the subway, make sure nobody tries to follow you through and skip the fare. They will often shove into you and try to steal something. When on a crowded subway train keep your back to a door or a wall, avoid standing in the middle. If you have to stand in any crowd, be vigilant. </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have personally encountered the signature/petition scam several times, just walk on and say "NO!" firmly. </span></i><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Traveler<br />Boston, MA USA 11/17/2011</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGbi6d0s-FjFg8FJqT66nTl7hEfgHXFXWA_pFSqV1wTGCnUWvwDWwYvr70DuTJqwO-64WxOgsNYkjNQpBoSmfN-emIiYojuT6ezqy_vhrYg8aHm3xwOzSA84Bm70E3krUvDo8Ig1J9qI/s1600/No+Art+050425e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGbi6d0s-FjFg8FJqT66nTl7hEfgHXFXWA_pFSqV1wTGCnUWvwDWwYvr70DuTJqwO-64WxOgsNYkjNQpBoSmfN-emIiYojuT6ezqy_vhrYg8aHm3xwOzSA84Bm70E3krUvDo8Ig1J9qI/s320/No+Art+050425e.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Saying "NO!" firmly is something you may want to practice before leaving home. I once had to say it 5 times, and finally SHOUT it at a gypsy woman in Rome who was begging. They use "the voice" in a sing-song almost hypnotic manner, and many people succumb. Don't. Practice saying "NO!"</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Things to watch for if you're visiting Rome</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm living in Rome for the year. It's been an absolutely wonderful experience so far and nothing bad has happened to me, but here are the scams I've noticed at work: </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">1) First rule of thumb: almost anyone who talks to you is trying to scam you. Don't respond. If they ask you if you speak English, ignore them. If you want to go that extra mile to shut them up, I've found "No, Finlandese!" works well as a response. No one speaks Finnish... </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">2) Around heavy tourist areas, (especially Trevi Fountain) expect someone to try giving the girl in your party a flower. After you refuse, they'll persist and say, "you take, it's for you, for good luck." Say "NO" firmly until they leave. Don't touch the flower.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">3) Be especially wary of the younger (aged 20s and 30s) men with dogs. These guys have struck me as a little more unbalanced than the rest of the beggars and scammers. I had one follow me into a grocery store and continually talk to my back, even though I'd never even done so much as make eye contact with the guy. I wasn't listening to his pleas for most of the time, but after a while of my ignoring him, he had the audacity to yell at me in Italian, "what, you don't even respond to me?" Then he shouted "maleducato!" over and over again, which means "you are rude." So, DO ignore their existence, but I wouldn't respond aggressively or indignantly.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">4) If someone asks you for help and they don't obviously appear to be an American or European tourist who actually needs it, ignore them. They're trying to scam you, and what could you as a tourist possibly do to help a local, anyway? Be especially on the lookout to be harassed if you're speaking English in your party, if you're handling a map, or if you're entering/exiting a place that implies you're spending money (stores, museums, restaurants, banks etc.)</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">5) Obviously, you shouldn't buy anything from a street vendor (the ones at the legitimate street markets are fine... I'm talking about the ones scattered throughout the city, and that line all the bridges). They scam, and they only sell garbage, anyway. Plus, there are so many fantastic stores in Rome. I haven't found them to be very pushy, though. They're just mostly chatting with each other or on cell phones, but if you look at their merchandise for more than a split second, they'll probably be on you. Really, you don't need to look though - it's garbage.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">6) As others have said, avoid those trying to get you to sign a petition (one very shady-looking young man near the Vatican was asked me to sign to "stop drugs.") </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">7) Verify the bill and count your change at restaurants. The theft (or careless inexactness, if you prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt) will often be small and subtle, but it's there. My last two times at restaurants (one of which was at a very nice place where my party got into a long and fun conversation in Italian with one of the waiters) the bill was too high. These problems were fixed without incident when it was pointed out. My experience was that with a large party, they got the number of bottles of water and wine for the table wrong.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">8) Don't let crippled gypsies tug at your heartstrings (I know that sounds heartless). Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing who's actually disabled, and many of them aren't. There's one older woman who is regularly outside of Santa Maria's in Trastevere who walks funny, covers her face and stares at the ground while pointing her cup at you. Several hours after seeing her do her schtick, I saw her (quite vigorously and physically ably) shouting down another beggar at the other end of the block (a guy who just sits on the ground with a cup... blocking traffic) who was encroaching on her territory. Quite the different language from the "please" and "god bless you, beautiful" I heard her using in front of the church.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">9) People will try to "help" you at a train station (any train station, not just Termini) if you look hesitant about anything for even a second. They're not trying to help. They're trying to scam you or pickpocket you. Ignore, or say "no" very forcefully.</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>10) There's really nothing remarkably different here from the States - different scams, but same rules apply. Having a stoic look on your face solves 90% of the problems. Don't stop or even slow down if they're talking to you, avoid eye contact, and say "NO" very firmly if they really aren't leaving you alone. You can always yell "vai via" or "polizia!" if things are really out of hand, but that is very very unlikely to happen. I've actually found these beggars' begging skills really amateur compared to what I'm used to in Los Angeles and New York... the good ones there have some real manipulative skills I haven't seen here.</i> <b><i>Colin</i><br />Rome, Italy, NY USA 10/15/2011</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So here we are. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Let's sum this up.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Make it hard to get to your valuables. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Do not carry your wallet in your back pocket. Front pockets are safer. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>The best option is a MONEY BELT </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>under your clothes</b></span>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Fanny packs are extremely vulnerable, especially when the pouch is on your back rather than your front. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Backpacks and purses </div><div style="text-align: center;">are very attractive to pickpockets.</div></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Carry a photocopy of your passport </div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in your pocket, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and keep the real one in your money belt. Never give it up </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">except to your hotel desk clerk </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(It is common for them to hold them overnight).</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Carry an easily accessible "dummy" wallet </div><div style="text-align: center;">in your pocket or purse </div><div style="text-align: center;">so pickpockets never seek out your real wallet.</div></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Keep a list of credit card numbers </div><div style="text-align: center;">and phone numbers in a separate safe place. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This makes it a lot easier </div><div style="text-align: center;">to straighten everything out </div><div style="text-align: center;">if somebody does steal from you.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">If you're traveling with a friend, </div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">consider spread out your money, </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">credit cards and identification between you.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Never take out your money belt in public. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Only do this in your hotel room</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">or in a bathroom.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Never leave valuables in your hotel.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On the Camino,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">when you take a bath or shower, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">carry your money belt </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">into the bathroom with you. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I always carry a large zip-lock back </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and I actually take my money belt </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">into the shower with me.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlsL_wCysKimDf5wCKaxyjwgM5GkETRdNQvUi6SEzELFb284Css4a5FBTT7aOJg5tVKHuNVzjHwcejETyT674d7T2gYyJV9AsAGNAfZj4e7-647JT07ybVz175URZTPOXct1JVpuAGV4/s1600/china-pickpocket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlsL_wCysKimDf5wCKaxyjwgM5GkETRdNQvUi6SEzELFb284Css4a5FBTT7aOJg5tVKHuNVzjHwcejETyT674d7T2gYyJV9AsAGNAfZj4e7-647JT07ybVz175URZTPOXct1JVpuAGV4/w400-h331/china-pickpocket.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be cautious of any attention-grabbing event</b>, however innocuous it may seem.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don’t stand on the street when opening a map: </b>Find a seat in a cafe or a bench.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is not the time to exhibit your hugginess. </b>Anyone coming close to you is suspect, but it is almost impossible to avoid physical contact while getting on or off a train/subway, which is why those are prime pick-pocketing times, so the best you can do then is be aware of your surroundings and make sure your valuables are not in easy-to-access spots.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So now.. go watch the video. Then, if you're still not convinced, spend some time perusing Rick Steves' Tourist Scam page. The following link will redirect you to the tourist scam page.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span><a href="https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tourist-scams">https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tourist-scams</a></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Known scams on the Camino:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">1. There is a group of teens, usually girls, who hang out on the trail. They will sometimes pretend to be deaf and will ask you to give them cash or sign a petition. Wave them off. If they persist, shout NO! and keep walking. Don't stop and don't let them get close.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2. This has only happened once to my knowledge, but it's a good example of why you should NOT leave your cash/credit cards in your pack at night when sleeping in an albergue. In O Cebreiro a couple of years ago, someone let off smoke bombs in the middle of the night. People panicked and ran out of the albergue. When the smoke cleared and they returned, many had been robbed of cash/credit cards, electronics cameras, etc. they had left in their backpacks. The thieves were long gone. WEAR YOUR MONEY BELT TO BED. Do not put it under your pillow. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">3. Don't be too trusting of other "nice pilgrims" you meet on the trail. You don't know them. On my first Camino, Joe and I met a lovely young man in Pamplona. His Camino was cut short because he and his 2 friends had trusted a "nice pilgrim lady" they met on the trail. She offered to watch their packs while they showered. Unfortunately, they had left their cash and credit cards in their packs. When they returned from showering, the nice older lady and their cash was long gone. Their Camino was over. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">4. This one happens a lot on the drawbridge entering Pamplona. A nice person will offer to take a photo of you, using your phone. They will then hop on a bicycle and pedal away and there goes your phone or camera!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />So... don't be paranoid - but be cautious.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">I hope this information hasn't frightened you away from traveling. It's really just a matter of being informed and staying alert. Once you have learned how to protect yourself, I hope you will put away your anxiety and have a safe and Buen Camino!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Kind Regards,</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Annie</span><br /><div style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #cccccc;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>See my website at </b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.anniewalkers.com/">Anniewalkers Camino</a></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: times; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>for more information about</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Guided Walks on the Camino Santiago</b></span></div></div></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-15375816375642499762022-11-27T19:19:00.003-08:002022-11-27T19:19:54.029-08:00Plugging In While On the Camino<p>On Facebook, there has been some confusion about whether or not you need a voltage converter on the Camino, or whether a simple plug adapter will work.<br /><br />Here is a quick lesson on plugging in on the Camino.<br /><br />VOLTAGE:<br /><br />Different countries use different voltages and frequencies of electricity. If you plug your American device that is not rated for the outlet's voltage, even if the plug fits, you could damage the device.<br /><br />Electrical sockets in the United Stages usually supply electricity at between 110 and 120 volts.<br /><br />Spain, France and Portugal, where most pilgrims walk have sockets that supply electricity at 220 volts, much higher than ours.<br /><br />Almost all chargers for phones, laptops, and tablets are dual voltage. You can find out by looking closely at the plug. For instance, ALL Apple devices are dual voltage. Here is a photo of mine. If you look closely you will see it states "INPUT 100-240V."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQydjQ-61PwsKnY8oD9bHWKD7cOSEtMSRzhIdhdshp615XYF5IFkG-gpsyWoDzdFLSDYkkp3RAXi349Jb1qqP1wiFkoFG84YhYddnYw6iyER0hyC4GFhGGsf7Hwt_s9Wp0XvDBHaG5_FI/s1600/56967c13-7c64-4f20-9043-ba1864ef762f.jpg"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQydjQ-61PwsKnY8oD9bHWKD7cOSEtMSRzhIdhdshp615XYF5IFkG-gpsyWoDzdFLSDYkkp3RAXi349Jb1qqP1wiFkoFG84YhYddnYw6iyER0hyC4GFhGGsf7Hwt_s9Wp0XvDBHaG5_FI/s400/56967c13-7c64-4f20-9043-ba1864ef762f.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ILr05bDhaD_E2zeRqJkL6Kt4n3spHl0xwZeGR13SEpbe9jyJOtAtLlazwVZ1HL9SbzoB9NXFR4OA9Fe9JVoT4XLF8H6jSOM52vzYZ9qD-hNGCQAdrNCozr_GRHlZqkHBcbaVni2ro4g/s1600/voltage-rating-on-adapter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ILr05bDhaD_E2zeRqJkL6Kt4n3spHl0xwZeGR13SEpbe9jyJOtAtLlazwVZ1HL9SbzoB9NXFR4OA9Fe9JVoT4XLF8H6jSOM52vzYZ9qD-hNGCQAdrNCozr_GRHlZqkHBcbaVni2ro4g/s320/voltage-rating-on-adapter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;">Rated between 100-240</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnBjmJKVpu7JlC_FE3aMLeYl2mjUtkrT5W4OpmZLhPYsLBS4S1fywhGaS0EUQG89iVbfQcvSYjvaOcjWbOMXwQRG4ae5FzMagYhKhALs6hgM8EGI1DhQrqCbJltqdPXb95utbiELnRWg/s1600/travelstraightenerwitharrow.jpg"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnBjmJKVpu7JlC_FE3aMLeYl2mjUtkrT5W4OpmZLhPYsLBS4S1fywhGaS0EUQG89iVbfQcvSYjvaOcjWbOMXwQRG4ae5FzMagYhKhALs6hgM8EGI1DhQrqCbJltqdPXb95utbiELnRWg/s320/travelstraightenerwitharrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcWpCUzC-FJFhXv0eEaOEPXo521D2guEPwe_X-LpjxaXzab8JZKDVanHJhW1SLV-IqyZNW-dpIdEH8CNbphrnGn9mT7-umIcjN_rkNPK1-YaLhSYpwt1XWCyL03jM8ZHPr4LaWvyTm04/s1600/dryerwitharrow-copy.jpg"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcWpCUzC-FJFhXv0eEaOEPXo521D2guEPwe_X-LpjxaXzab8JZKDVanHJhW1SLV-IqyZNW-dpIdEH8CNbphrnGn9mT7-umIcjN_rkNPK1-YaLhSYpwt1XWCyL03jM8ZHPr4LaWvyTm04/s320/dryerwitharrow-copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The ones above state they are rated between 100-240.This means it will also work for any voltage between those two. So it will work for 100 volts and it will also work for 220 volts.<br /><br />If your device is rated for use within the voltage of the country you are visiting, then all you need is a plug adapter shaped like the receptacle in that country.<br /><br />The United States has plug receptacles shaped like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqL867MUdXjuEOja2wC3uWeFYV4GhXNCr-66ZL2kX7IaxTwpU0tOwsoyqZPAmYZM9zMcXK05tpa5LYSVQECiFx9PCOM-yh60qnkIeT1fhVtSDXmvMCspAZ0DqHgsP79vzvI668V2GCpA/s1600/North+America+USA+Plug+Type.jpg"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqL867MUdXjuEOja2wC3uWeFYV4GhXNCr-66ZL2kX7IaxTwpU0tOwsoyqZPAmYZM9zMcXK05tpa5LYSVQECiFx9PCOM-yh60qnkIeT1fhVtSDXmvMCspAZ0DqHgsP79vzvI668V2GCpA/s320/North+America+USA+Plug+Type.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />or this if the receptacle is grounded:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgtTzecZm7qOfkIccW6h50cZ2jHPUGKFTOE_kDupEEKxAj2dq2PiWdqQC1WoyOscmD4Km-ahThnqnUUiFT4j2CHow7a7KEa77rc7Y41F8oQH73Eq-5g-kVvsV_oCImoF1ebgl_xVgElQ/s1600/OtherTips-Electricity-Header.jpg"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgtTzecZm7qOfkIccW6h50cZ2jHPUGKFTOE_kDupEEKxAj2dq2PiWdqQC1WoyOscmD4Km-ahThnqnUUiFT4j2CHow7a7KEa77rc7Y41F8oQH73Eq-5g-kVvsV_oCImoF1ebgl_xVgElQ/s320/OtherTips-Electricity-Header.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Spain uses a receptacle and plug like the one below:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWozpgtC_GP5u2vI5VKB93LZHa3zBn9nbRN67uzYum1WEUFN3Nboi8qk7CO6KA7yWIkUqUK83gzTQ4hW34KyBZ9pDSpMU6blAxuIFQdX1Asw_m9kB_1-65pZKnx3yH6C30mFrGQ-DqkU/s1600/1360189733375.jpg"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWozpgtC_GP5u2vI5VKB93LZHa3zBn9nbRN67uzYum1WEUFN3Nboi8qk7CO6KA7yWIkUqUK83gzTQ4hW34KyBZ9pDSpMU6blAxuIFQdX1Asw_m9kB_1-65pZKnx3yH6C30mFrGQ-DqkU/s320/1360189733375.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />France's receptacles have a "ground prong,"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXUdGlEOmbFcaezlYXfWFzZy7_Qp_UIyHzFCgUcqbd_XXnKjl_4GFoEGhw3YsXCktdJKiRWz61g_MMzK8pxVeybx3WEWgAxPcU_guAZ9gx1H4vtJlj5Ydabc7QsbdDjqrXt2Sxt_DIhM/s1600/outlet_fr6509.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXUdGlEOmbFcaezlYXfWFzZy7_Qp_UIyHzFCgUcqbd_XXnKjl_4GFoEGhw3YsXCktdJKiRWz61g_MMzK8pxVeybx3WEWgAxPcU_guAZ9gx1H4vtJlj5Ydabc7QsbdDjqrXt2Sxt_DIhM/s400/outlet_fr6509.jpg" /></a><br /><br />but it is safe to bypass it with the same adapter you use in Spain:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_H0NxxdPmm98TVwm2S4LNJlofJb4IxSWbNCkR01aAk8hAvLyI-Evyyc0zbgi9n74cf3VWjPVxk-lAAXsbE0YP0XN-lgO77ENkwBgVLJ5Z3PPWUo57Hy3IXxN-adMSuWlIwb7IkkrWi3M/s1600/us_adapter2134.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_H0NxxdPmm98TVwm2S4LNJlofJb4IxSWbNCkR01aAk8hAvLyI-Evyyc0zbgi9n74cf3VWjPVxk-lAAXsbE0YP0XN-lgO77ENkwBgVLJ5Z3PPWUo57Hy3IXxN-adMSuWlIwb7IkkrWi3M/s400/us_adapter2134.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_ME4n4MmgNT-w24vnWIZHNXm4qeE_MXoTnA39ubGb91Xat7NacZ2qaqwc_Owcwt1iMUVMvgADyDRxYiq8WwIw9CFjR3hcoutgxDq-ZSsxIRAVlGf3mc9C5pKatZP9moZ6689zSkXSfQ/s1600/10154737.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_ME4n4MmgNT-w24vnWIZHNXm4qeE_MXoTnA39ubGb91Xat7NacZ2qaqwc_Owcwt1iMUVMvgADyDRxYiq8WwIw9CFjR3hcoutgxDq-ZSsxIRAVlGf3mc9C5pKatZP9moZ6689zSkXSfQ/s320/10154737.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;">Plug adapter for Spain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />If your device does NOT automatically convert the voltage, then you will need a voltage converter similar to the ones below. But I promise you, not many people will be using hair dryers or curling irons on the Camino:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jxtmxXScyRGokHYDM-a0WthcHNejS6pVjj9wwUSa9gaFgBmpGrxbU49MTpDo8VYygqzdqnC5Tz1VffpescubQpbrwMK2Qj4tTG3cCAjhOCU1psb3wfeYbfTmMllNWC21U1_V2u6cc0w/s1600/61tyIkBThPL._SX355_.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOn-nTenD54s2VfINmwDbA-ze4OHG_5Bwa2l193n6dOCdNd_SZjuck0L9QoOPJN7S1guvSd4aWhxgDjPEuQZXHRdFOERMI6fh1JB-hLti-a7Ug8XfGFJT9ZWDh8msHpHMfTg57HiWHck/s1600/41WIOezrzlL._AC_US160_.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOn-nTenD54s2VfINmwDbA-ze4OHG_5Bwa2l193n6dOCdNd_SZjuck0L9QoOPJN7S1guvSd4aWhxgDjPEuQZXHRdFOERMI6fh1JB-hLti-a7Ug8XfGFJT9ZWDh8msHpHMfTg57HiWHck/s320/41WIOezrzlL._AC_US160_.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jxtmxXScyRGokHYDM-a0WthcHNejS6pVjj9wwUSa9gaFgBmpGrxbU49MTpDo8VYygqzdqnC5Tz1VffpescubQpbrwMK2Qj4tTG3cCAjhOCU1psb3wfeYbfTmMllNWC21U1_V2u6cc0w/s320/61tyIkBThPL._SX355_.jpg" width="320" /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bUBGHptvNGgIszQ2m6jaPrr_fNJ9ZY_-vX-XaIAmpGfxD69koYWnt_ch5wYmCxg9VuLhhgu3nRfJ1IzVb1-Tay_Exa1nV_aJ60rxxgPbDIUmgf9LtgCMDyEn0W_XtzKHNmttKGsSQag/s1600/61JOKHTNe%252BL._SL1000_.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bUBGHptvNGgIszQ2m6jaPrr_fNJ9ZY_-vX-XaIAmpGfxD69koYWnt_ch5wYmCxg9VuLhhgu3nRfJ1IzVb1-Tay_Exa1nV_aJ60rxxgPbDIUmgf9LtgCMDyEn0W_XtzKHNmttKGsSQag/s320/61JOKHTNe%252BL._SL1000_.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />You can purchase the plugs from the Rick Steves Travel Store for $1.<br />That's right, ONE DOLLAR so don't go spending a bundle. Click on this link:<br /><br /><a href="https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/european-power-adapter" target="_blank">PLUG ADAPTER</a><br /><br />Be very careful when purchasing a voltage converter. You will need to know specifically what voltage your appliance uses. You don't want to blow up your older laptop or tablet. Check to be sure what voltage you will need to convert to.<br /><br />Hair dryers and curling irons need a higher voltage converter than some items, and it's almost cheaper just to buy a small travel version like these from Amazon that already have dual voltage built in:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYh3NCJsqxlLtcWqzH_59L6pE6IhEehpq0d0GjBLmNpdaufuwdUZd4U2ZuLGFaQPEpABe6clnqBsaSeL9pVhTEQ0GX-r-xHYkj-R8gnaMBI1dYvV0Nbhe4r0jYNyWGEodcN8N5EFmadi4/s1600/716ij4Sk-ML._SX522_.jpg"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYh3NCJsqxlLtcWqzH_59L6pE6IhEehpq0d0GjBLmNpdaufuwdUZd4U2ZuLGFaQPEpABe6clnqBsaSeL9pVhTEQ0GX-r-xHYkj-R8gnaMBI1dYvV0Nbhe4r0jYNyWGEodcN8N5EFmadi4/s320/716ij4Sk-ML._SX522_.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Conair-Voltage-Folding-Handle-Dryer/dp/B00006IV22/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1460216168&sr=8-2&keywords=travel+hair+dryer" target="_blank">Dual voltage travel hair dryer</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2obzZLkuhRswVEWrwxoh3payfTR5bZJcojYH10ISbuVcr5Vam1hAIAdCjOwtW1VhkF2ZNVPDwUCKnkkwp3hOg1BmqJki_geoc92U9TZWPbsFiXIoXiDaBe-Xk-qgf6SfLNVQFRReefcQ/s1600/61EwSiKKnKL._SX522_.jpg"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2obzZLkuhRswVEWrwxoh3payfTR5bZJcojYH10ISbuVcr5Vam1hAIAdCjOwtW1VhkF2ZNVPDwUCKnkkwp3hOg1BmqJki_geoc92U9TZWPbsFiXIoXiDaBe-Xk-qgf6SfLNVQFRReefcQ/s320/61EwSiKKnKL._SX522_.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Conair-MiniPRO-Ceramic-Curling/dp/B0038KVGWK/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1460216246&sr=8-2&keywords=travel+curling+iron" target="_blank">Travel curling iron</a><br /><br />I hope this helps you understand what you need.<br /><br />Bottom line, unless you are planning on taking a very old appliance, all you most likely need is a plug adapter. These can be purchased on Amazon, on the Rick Steves website, at any travel store, and in China Stores and other stores all along the Camino. They're cheap so buy two. People are ALWAYS forgetting to unplug them when they're finished using them.<br /><br />Buen Camino!<br />Annie<br /><br />PS: Just so you know, the small plug you use for your iPhone will not charge the Mini tablet, but the Mini tablet plug WILL charge the iPhone, so that's the one you should take.<br /><br />Take this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6mkBDQtNy26neL2K6ImaGCcDMVAPNi3kwBinKs5U0UphvJ6a8_5BbmYkte0hyphenhyphenFgrhynHqrZDvNeJQ6oSfQkRazKS2Dcm0z4o5iXt-nkl2lOXEiEUba3LyrwPbRiQFFircZUEsgRHHeM/s1600/311EAKcdoBL._AC_US160_.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6mkBDQtNy26neL2K6ImaGCcDMVAPNi3kwBinKs5U0UphvJ6a8_5BbmYkte0hyphenhyphenFgrhynHqrZDvNeJQ6oSfQkRazKS2Dcm0z4o5iXt-nkl2lOXEiEUba3LyrwPbRiQFFircZUEsgRHHeM/s400/311EAKcdoBL._AC_US160_.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Not this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv7EVNTU84tW7jfHBptgtYkKvKujLCR6agYbOe4wJXmBdTDU97IXVEEF5QnTdS2GVKqC2LylpBAf1lRIRUQZvNq373w9wnpbBdaZn3DMf4eZ_GFKFYupAT0MiPnHoTDrV4emENjZJb_g/s1600/original-apple-iphone-6-usb-power-charger-2.gif"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv7EVNTU84tW7jfHBptgtYkKvKujLCR6agYbOe4wJXmBdTDU97IXVEEF5QnTdS2GVKqC2LylpBAf1lRIRUQZvNq373w9wnpbBdaZn3DMf4eZ_GFKFYupAT0MiPnHoTDrV4emENjZJb_g/s400/original-apple-iphone-6-usb-power-charger-2.gif" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-30826117851303779452022-11-27T18:20:00.009-08:002023-02-03T05:10:08.961-08:00The Dreaded Pilgrim Ankles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL01TKBEW67cwkpXV4FgOvRhY1i-PVQjg6kFskNiaZ8emoLNMW3aqd97ygZUGyuSOOIdZZny8PiI-oyBMpE4bbDKfNUtuVvmxHLXnMRhWANiKgW0LFWicdvLluBZtqLQ2T8xQOqUoKrbCEmhEeywbVPSKXuMKcj6trlXTRezRPiSwGqLBj1Lojdus/s640/1st%20disc%202012%20Camino%20725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL01TKBEW67cwkpXV4FgOvRhY1i-PVQjg6kFskNiaZ8emoLNMW3aqd97ygZUGyuSOOIdZZny8PiI-oyBMpE4bbDKfNUtuVvmxHLXnMRhWANiKgW0LFWicdvLluBZtqLQ2T8xQOqUoKrbCEmhEeywbVPSKXuMKcj6trlXTRezRPiSwGqLBj1Lojdus/w640-h480/1st%20disc%202012%20Camino%20725.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Golfer's Vasculitis</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each and every time I walk the Camino,</div><div style="text-align: center;">after a few days,</div><div style="text-align: center;">especially in hot weather,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I get a strange rash on my ankles,</div><div style="text-align: center;">right at the top of my socks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've come to expect it </div><div style="text-align: center;">and am here to tell you</div><div style="text-align: center;">not to worry.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's common</div><div style="text-align: center;">and it will resolve on its own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is not itchy or painful.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But it IS alarming to see.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The rash is caused by tiny blood vessels </div><div style="text-align: center;">breaking under your skin.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This might be due to heat,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but is more likely due to the 6 hours of walking</div><div style="text-align: center;">carrying a heavy pack</div><div style="text-align: center;">that your body is not used to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can lighten your load,</div><div style="text-align: center;">walk less, </div><div style="text-align: center;">or do nothing,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and it will resolve on its own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I rub it with alcohol.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I do nothing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But it's just one of those Camino things.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some photos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlLySRo8Ly2hfMjfd0cO2f93KwYp0p60X9QL7WEyc-jiCK9GJQG5KgIMuCT422q9-2f1ek77b0JJsH3BFJjtmTvTPHpFsrWkvX2clXuAQu0ywkgX8yGLoygCH6P5EXIozWHBeA2Gljos/s1600/1st+disc+2012+Camino+725.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlLySRo8Ly2hfMjfd0cO2f93KwYp0p60X9QL7WEyc-jiCK9GJQG5KgIMuCT422q9-2f1ek77b0JJsH3BFJjtmTvTPHpFsrWkvX2clXuAQu0ywkgX8yGLoygCH6P5EXIozWHBeA2Gljos/w640-h480/1st+disc+2012+Camino+725.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">On the route from Lourdes</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcMtpQrlBUuUFWu28dOpK2xq6bdaf1yHAgVpL0Re9KLY7Ul3TBEq6ffA6I9bO1QAcM2jgnsZ9Ct28Yl9cPMIDf8DqmTiZWklEYNZDYvJc5hkYwubnSZ0mQXYf7D1QlQces67-yFvC4i0/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+182.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcMtpQrlBUuUFWu28dOpK2xq6bdaf1yHAgVpL0Re9KLY7Ul3TBEq6ffA6I9bO1QAcM2jgnsZ9Ct28Yl9cPMIDf8DqmTiZWklEYNZDYvJc5hkYwubnSZ0mQXYf7D1QlQces67-yFvC4i0/w480-h640/Camino+2009+Part+1+182.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">On the VDLP</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The rash has a name.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a bit I found online:</div><p><span><i>Go to any multi-day walking event in the summer and you will see a red heat rash on the calves of many walkers. The heat rash often starts above the sock line and makes red patches and splotches up the calf. It usually doesn't itch and is believed to be heat-related, since these same walkers don't get it in cooler weather. What is it?<br /><br />Golfer's Vasculitis<br /><br />Ask most physicians about this common rash and they draw a blank. That is probably due to few people seeking medical help for it. The rash usually clears up in a couple of days, usually before they are able to get an doctor's appointment. At last, a paper in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology has described it and proposed naming it "golfer's vasculitis."<br /><br />Causes of the Heat Leg Rash<br /><br />Researchers interviewed several people with the rash and discovered that many underwent extensive allergy testing because they believed they must have been having a reaction to some chemical or plant. But it was simply an irritation of the blood vessels following prolonged exercise in the heat, such as walking for extended periods or playing 18 holes of golf.<br /><br />The rash is more common in people over 50. Most walkers can't pinpoint anything new they have used that may be causing a reaction. And since so many walkers have it, they couldn't all have contacted the same irritant. The source is simply heat and age--your leg blood vessels getting irritated from the heat.<br /><br />Prevention and Treatment of Golfer's Vasculitis<br /><br />The research offered no treatment or prevention recommendations. It seems to occur in healthy, active people. The researchers suggest it should not be a health concern and recommend not getting allergy testing, etc.</i><br /><br />So don't worry.<br /><br /><br />Just put your feet up and love them a bit.<br /><br /><br />This will go away.<br /><br /><br />I promise.</span></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-20223877361123744512022-11-27T18:11:00.004-08:002022-11-27T18:11:55.315-08:00Passport Information<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWpfu_oZiTACP4p9A0R89uTrZBd5V6tWjVoAzIu4FjxYslxOJ6KpI02L9yh8_HHmunfhDCfaOpvLvAOIk04Fnd-aB63SIELTqMRmshxMCuMBUfp8v0gZK33gWZSc7gvEowRnqAnXfVZwL1aVGhg44UPne7EE9hWJK8n5eqOdhSsrVMbDJy56_ztSv/s560/Expired-Passport.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWpfu_oZiTACP4p9A0R89uTrZBd5V6tWjVoAzIu4FjxYslxOJ6KpI02L9yh8_HHmunfhDCfaOpvLvAOIk04Fnd-aB63SIELTqMRmshxMCuMBUfp8v0gZK33gWZSc7gvEowRnqAnXfVZwL1aVGhg44UPne7EE9hWJK8n5eqOdhSsrVMbDJy56_ztSv/w640-h360/Expired-Passport.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the latest information on PASSPORTS:</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You should have at least six-month’s validity remaining on your passport whenever you travel abroad.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If not, YOU MAY NOT BE ADMITTED INTO THE COUNTRY. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />Check the expiration date on your passport carefully before traveling to Europe – especially children’s passports, which are valid five years, not 10 years like those issued to U.S. citizens aged 16 and older.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />Carry your passport when traveling to another country in the Schengen area. Even if there is no border check at that time, officials may reinstate border controls without notice.<br />***</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And remember, the Passport CARD you get for MEXICO is not enough. You need the full Passport Booklet Document. In the USA, it has a blue cover with pages inside to be stamped as you enter and exit each country.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><u><b>XEROX your Passport - Do it now</b></u><br />We suggest you make a Xerox copy of your passport and carry it in a safe place apart from your money. An even better idea is to scan it and email it to yourself. This way, if you do lose your passport, it makes getting another much easier. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Also, write down the customer service numbers for your credit card companies and keep those in your journal or email them to yourself. You can find small blank journals at any office supply store. They are very handy to keep your notes organized. Some have a pocket in the jacket where you can keep your passport and credit card info. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I also have a Password Safe program that requires a password, where I keep such information on my phone.</span></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-17281819108106792282022-11-27T15:04:00.064-08:002022-11-28T05:21:01.831-08:00Money on the Camino<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKSPZ3kw5F9WTBZEskxL1TXzR62GH6M83juO2KUopVFX6m1YZ6BG3MF2s8lmcu1mzGSQZnEQx0ABQ1BERay4VZjajTiLNqbH9g2aTCZ5AZXF6vk-hpGDTGh1r1EMoSyk7FL3VbVXeM6Y/s1600/Unknown-4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKSPZ3kw5F9WTBZEskxL1TXzR62GH6M83juO2KUopVFX6m1YZ6BG3MF2s8lmcu1mzGSQZnEQx0ABQ1BERay4VZjajTiLNqbH9g2aTCZ5AZXF6vk-hpGDTGh1r1EMoSyk7FL3VbVXeM6Y/s1600/Unknown-4.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When my friend arrived in Spain for the first time,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">her fare was €2 and she "tipped" the taxi driver </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the "quarters"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">which amounted to about €8!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I arrived in Portugal the first time,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I paid the taxi driver €20 for a €2 fare.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For many, learning to use Euros takes a few days.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The money looks different.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why not do some studying </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">BEFORE you leave for Europe.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are what Euros look like.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUKGu7HF1NzUe6ZZ1eSx1-Y8zvSI3IPRpyQl3K8g_4ZPlJenExBtY6hp0HtG3VOAd5kf8DWug_8zdwaxoun-L24kIFfqHXnVmkKQOlg2yUj48DHxUiyk5JqFrNdzQNwAv2WZCaq6FNKM/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUKGu7HF1NzUe6ZZ1eSx1-Y8zvSI3IPRpyQl3K8g_4ZPlJenExBtY6hp0HtG3VOAd5kf8DWug_8zdwaxoun-L24kIFfqHXnVmkKQOlg2yUj48DHxUiyk5JqFrNdzQNwAv2WZCaq6FNKM/s640/Unknown-3.jpeg" width="569" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>BILLS.</b></u> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bills are not too difficult. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They are clearly marked and in colors! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> When you take €300 from an ATM machine, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">you generally will get one €100, two €50, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and five €20 bills. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Albergues and tiny tiendas are not going to want </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to change your €100 bills, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">so try to get them exchanged </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in a large supermarket or bank.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many albergues and tiendas</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">still will NOT take credit cards.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They operate on a cash-only basis.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Private albergues will sometimes take cards,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">as will hotels.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So if you're booking hotels, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a credit card is fine.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZjeFzEJn6yB75l3U4WFG06gkdLSmcULgOVS7N30f-lOBn0skwA7jKoD2tDZvh3C1N1QlG4GM404EmhKu2HFgNVnEJhwb6s65r5Mrdp8_6rNd7Dpr7uNWalXa2ouy4lCdYVu4CTnv4Lg/s1600/US&Euro_coins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZjeFzEJn6yB75l3U4WFG06gkdLSmcULgOVS7N30f-lOBn0skwA7jKoD2tDZvh3C1N1QlG4GM404EmhKu2HFgNVnEJhwb6s65r5Mrdp8_6rNd7Dpr7uNWalXa2ouy4lCdYVu4CTnv4Lg/s1600/US&Euro_coins.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">COINS. </span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a photo of American coins next to Euro coins.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As you can see, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">both the ONE EURO and the fifty cent EURO </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">are approximately the same size as our American quarter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The TWO EURO coin is larger.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The colors are different also, so pay attention.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Study these now so you don't make mistakes later.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The ONE EURO will become easy to recognize because it is two-toned.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">USING ATM MACHINES</span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are ATM machines all along the Camino,<br />beginning in the airport when you arrive.<br />As soon as I get through customs,<br />I find an ATM in the airport </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and withdraw 200 to 300 Euros.<br />This will hold me for about a week or 10 days.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />In the 17 years I've been walking the Camino,<br />I've never found it difficult to obtain Euros<br />in the airport from the ATM.<br /><br />I do NOT purchase Euros from a seller in the airport.<br />I use the ATM<br /><br />In the airport, there are security guards everywhere,<br />so you're as safe there as anywhere at home.<br /><br />On the streets of busy cities,<br />I'm a little more cautious when I take out my cash.<br />Places I'd be cautious would be Pamplona,<br />Burgos, Leon, and maybe Santiago.<br />You're pretty safe in the smaller villages.<br />Just be aware of your surroundings.<br /><br />It is good practice to have a friend stand with you </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">while you take out your cash. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before you begin, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">study where the cash will come out </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and keep your hand ready</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to retrieve both your card and your cash.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If anybody appears to be standing too close </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or to be watching you, be wary.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also beware of locals who want to "help" you -<br />they've been known to grab and run.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are usually children or young people.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But I had an adult man try the "bird poop" scam </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">on me in Barcelona,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">so adults are also culprits.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ffbzL9L2eMQXyv11dtO_QmnPxLUrNgWiDnC_swEODpTWlkDT3aqZczMBNOUl2A_Td4gC9ZvFp6p9lXpJ8vQjN3y28HHG_W6ShOnHS_9rV_rF9echc741OPKXDfKHmEBmI0iu-FHrHv8/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ffbzL9L2eMQXyv11dtO_QmnPxLUrNgWiDnC_swEODpTWlkDT3aqZczMBNOUl2A_Td4gC9ZvFp6p9lXpJ8vQjN3y28HHG_W6ShOnHS_9rV_rF9echc741OPKXDfKHmEBmI0iu-FHrHv8/w640-h370/Unknown-1.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When you take your cash out of the ATM, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">DO NOT PUT IT AWAY IN PUBLIC!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Hold it in your hot little hand until you find privacy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Immediately go to a bathroom or to your room </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and put the cash into your money belt IN PRIVATE.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ATMs are watched closely by gypsies, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">especially in the larger cities. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not so much to worry about in smaller villages.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I never take cash from the ATM on a weekend.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've seen cards get eaten </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and then the person is stuck until Monday, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">when the bank opens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When possible, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I use the ATMS </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">where you go into a little private cubicle.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">CALL YOUR BANK </span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">The week before you leave for Spain </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">be sure to call your bank</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">and tell them you will be traveling </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">in France (SJPP) and Spain. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Make a note right now on your calendar to do this!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Otherwise, the first time you try to use your card, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">they will think someone has stolen it and will block it </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and you'll be stuck in a foreign country with no money.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> And considering the time change, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">calling your bank to straighten this out </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">can be a huge problem.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">PIN NUMBERS. </span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ATM machines in Spain use </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the 4 digit NUMERAL system. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If your pin uses letters, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">you will not be able to use </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">most ATM machines in Spain.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most ATM machines in Spain </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">work just like the ones at home. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You put in your card, type in your pin number, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and choose the amount you want. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most have English options.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">BUYING EUROS AHEAD OF TIME. </span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I did this the first time I walked the Camino </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but I never do this anymore.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I go to Spain every year, sometimes twice, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and I never take Euros.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Every international airport </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">will have ATM machines inside.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Madrid airport has several on different floors.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've never had a problem getting Euros.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, if you DO want to take Euros, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I suggest no more than €200-€300 to begin with.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That will last you a week on the Camino.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ATM FEES</span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I use Charles Schwab online bank for my travel.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They issue me a card that I can use anywhere and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I PAY NO FEES.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If a bank in Europe charges a fee,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Charles Schwab reimburses me at the end of each month.<br />Charles Schwab also has the best exchange rate </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've found anywhere.<br />And I get that simply by using my ATM card.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa3uWHxF_VSn2sR3cA8VbAYDa6h1CC__NyR8KBINKO3HBBTMqQT-Imlza7Fhx1xqid7VwoUxXs0SKgjjaSNMPQUAdrbJqhryHmjpjTJd-GmoYOIwbNT72XZxiz94BalOfVoJMxo_fmjM/s1600/Unknown-5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa3uWHxF_VSn2sR3cA8VbAYDa6h1CC__NyR8KBINKO3HBBTMqQT-Imlza7Fhx1xqid7VwoUxXs0SKgjjaSNMPQUAdrbJqhryHmjpjTJd-GmoYOIwbNT72XZxiz94BalOfVoJMxo_fmjM/s1600/Unknown-5.jpeg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bank fees can add up to hundreds of dollars.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So I suggest you do NOT use </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">your regular bank's ATM account </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">unless your bank gives you a special rate.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Find a bank that will return those fees </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">at the end of the month.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Exhange Rates</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not only do banks charge fees for using the ATM,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but many also charge </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a HIGHER EXCHANGE rate.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For example, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">if the regular exchange rate is 1.37 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the bank might charge 1.50 or higher.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those pennies along with ATM fees add up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Call your bank and ask </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">what exchange rate they charge</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for international withdrawals.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They will talk around the bush</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but eventually you will learn</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">that most charge a whopping fee</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for exchanging cash in a foreign country.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Use a Travel Account.</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a good idea to keep your travel money</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">separate from your regular bank account,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">just in case your card is compromised.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many banks have a special travel account you can open</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to keep your travel cash </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">separate from your regular bank account.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am in love with my Charles Schwab card.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have used it seamlessly over the years.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And when I DO have an issue,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I get a human on the line quickly,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">whether via chat or live phone.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since Schwab only gives you one ATM card,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've opened an account with my walking partner, Joe.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That way we will have his card</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> in case mine is lost or stolen,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">which means either of us could quickly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">get online and transfer funds</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">into another safe account if necessary.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If two of you are traveling, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">it is smart to have your walking partner carry </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">your extra card, in case of problems.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lastly, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know I harp on this,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but be aware of girls with clipboards.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is a scam, and a successful one!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">See my post on pickpockets for more information.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNHDazHPfPR88GWjndHejCxqyxp0r6VDOETFomZI6Qmd9SxBS50hze4_uL9EHHd14YaPJaHVuYzVMIPRz-vTGbB9Wt7_3VDOMZlDSVp_kF6TCH-KUWefQtZhOTqJbh16P2DGNuv4G6ug/s1600/paris-pickpocket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNHDazHPfPR88GWjndHejCxqyxp0r6VDOETFomZI6Qmd9SxBS50hze4_uL9EHHd14YaPJaHVuYzVMIPRz-vTGbB9Wt7_3VDOMZlDSVp_kF6TCH-KUWefQtZhOTqJbh16P2DGNuv4G6ug/s1600/paris-pickpocket.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ok.. I guess that's it on cash.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me know if you have questions.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And BUEN CAMINO!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Love,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Annie</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-85213620781834334202022-11-27T14:03:00.002-08:002022-11-27T14:03:37.631-08:00Which Money Belt is Best?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMr8KMTgwzSedu-e7I06Wh3s1sBriuExzCYqEC8q7lIQnIOR_GalMijrXfFzg10aNq2Vpsy69lYwXkSy2ikYA1rnfpYswUGPDmbknLNAoVs2AnT1lWbP_-9E44BLxvGXeVeoBsTJJlmI/s1600/images-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMr8KMTgwzSedu-e7I06Wh3s1sBriuExzCYqEC8q7lIQnIOR_GalMijrXfFzg10aNq2Vpsy69lYwXkSy2ikYA1rnfpYswUGPDmbknLNAoVs2AnT1lWbP_-9E44BLxvGXeVeoBsTJJlmI/s1600/images-3.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most pilgrims agree that a money belt </div><div style="text-align: center;">is a necessity on the Camino Santiago.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes the most sense to use an ATM card </div><div style="text-align: center;">and withdraw €200-€300 when you find a bank, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and then spread that cash out over several days. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Using my budget of €20 per day, </div><div style="text-align: center;">one withdrawal can last me up to 10 days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I take €20 out of my belt each morning </div><div style="text-align: center;">and carry it in a change purse</div><div style="text-align: center;">that is easy to access.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The rest travels in a money belt with my passport and credit card.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are many options for carrying your cash on the Camino.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Neck pouch.</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><br /></b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99Ijh9JrqVIBUDtH9K4K4ZzS-YJtU6Cv6BP1eZek-Vq3aP4iRSouVlmCKRw3GfWi5-OeQYg5WMncfAoJvNql-Q9OrCjiDsM6kcG0dic9ZizVcWQ8Jwu6belKjiAGu7gePRURpnYngpz0/s1600/images-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99Ijh9JrqVIBUDtH9K4K4ZzS-YJtU6Cv6BP1eZek-Vq3aP4iRSouVlmCKRw3GfWi5-OeQYg5WMncfAoJvNql-Q9OrCjiDsM6kcG0dic9ZizVcWQ8Jwu6belKjiAGu7gePRURpnYngpz0/s1600/images-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnv_NRg46H1dyweDDqazsjnf4kuSQg3JVK0BeAWXb808jtmkeLjnJVbcJ2JhZMIH0FYKZaFhLoj2mN3wf-yUhyLHXF1eIqVqDcDIZwj15pFXnBlEWeBEA5sB-mC5zuRXe8FGbtfC7VdME/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnv_NRg46H1dyweDDqazsjnf4kuSQg3JVK0BeAWXb808jtmkeLjnJVbcJ2JhZMIH0FYKZaFhLoj2mN3wf-yUhyLHXF1eIqVqDcDIZwj15pFXnBlEWeBEA5sB-mC5zuRXe8FGbtfC7VdME/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jbVyO8kGRo2tXztAtBEMefhlQIRsTc3Zpciw5BERqu16uuO-lh6n42D291tqoCl5r6ashVIdK9dErQGET1fMTM8Pn2B0gB9do-fR_Qof_bmEHxoe8z5dUoQNaDdLsIqecKWlJ3JMVN0/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jbVyO8kGRo2tXztAtBEMefhlQIRsTc3Zpciw5BERqu16uuO-lh6n42D291tqoCl5r6ashVIdK9dErQGET1fMTM8Pn2B0gB9do-fR_Qof_bmEHxoe8z5dUoQNaDdLsIqecKWlJ3JMVN0/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Review: I do not recommend these at all.</div><div style="text-align: center;">First of all, the strap around your neck is a dead giveaway.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thieves have been known to grab these and cut them with a blade.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The ones that cannot be cut could strangle you </div><div style="text-align: center;">if the thief was on a bike.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I just don't think they're safe at all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Leg Safe.</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQQrQhIK3JaJulN836FlndSvxj6jorfmjm1d_c9N3_w_UW-xy1y9cEykWyMByOw9QRMaGlJrCr7YWsiIlqJDpIv7Zyg0-lm9070PDef_SFgeeGXW_JLM_AsNJYobs27gTe4SqyWklvAQ/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQQrQhIK3JaJulN836FlndSvxj6jorfmjm1d_c9N3_w_UW-xy1y9cEykWyMByOw9QRMaGlJrCr7YWsiIlqJDpIv7Zyg0-lm9070PDef_SFgeeGXW_JLM_AsNJYobs27gTe4SqyWklvAQ/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Again, I do not recommend these.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have seen pickpockets on the Metro</div><div style="text-align: center;">drop to their knees and run their hands</div><div style="text-align: center;">up a man's pants, because they know this is a popular option.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It only takes them a second</div><div style="text-align: center;">to grab your leg safe </div><div style="text-align: center;">and jump off the train!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Waist Belt.</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><br /></b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvDMoiOz9DPrsn3f6Awx1Os8quPq9CAmzwjdszXJv9emYgODCmjNfiUEYxtV7IOvs9P9VWJ2fnCT1koG6l-f0YdW0qIEDbeQIUfnqsjECpyJqxpEJ2viw1zDn8Fgk6bRcHfbsiVozGyQ/s1600/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvDMoiOz9DPrsn3f6Awx1Os8quPq9CAmzwjdszXJv9emYgODCmjNfiUEYxtV7IOvs9P9VWJ2fnCT1koG6l-f0YdW0qIEDbeQIUfnqsjECpyJqxpEJ2viw1zDn8Fgk6bRcHfbsiVozGyQ/s1600/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A regular waist-band money belt.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can find these in all travel stores.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can also find them in the Rick Steves travel store.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The are a zippered flat pouch that you wear around your waist.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The compartments are large enough for your passport,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and often have separate places for credit cards and cash.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They have a snap buckle that is plastic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please note this belt is to be worn UNDER your clothing, </div><div style="text-align: center;">not over.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Buehe4zx17OaCpAeccREA9tlk7kSmBZeUZz2fTcJSanCiv69RdImu-bLqR1v5evADMWoDE5ZAe1YrvcVZPpnrMH2rK2rN5x05idkECpIQEu9B8L7AjaJg5uHsZRpQUhNYFLvx40NuEE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Buehe4zx17OaCpAeccREA9tlk7kSmBZeUZz2fTcJSanCiv69RdImu-bLqR1v5evADMWoDE5ZAe1YrvcVZPpnrMH2rK2rN5x05idkECpIQEu9B8L7AjaJg5uHsZRpQUhNYFLvx40NuEE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Review: I wore this type of belt for several years. Sometimes it was uncomfortable because it continually rode up unless I tightened it, in which case it felt binding. My passport and cash often was damp with sweat. But I still recommend this type of belt over a neck-style.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Bra Caddy</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's another option.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think it would be too comfortable backpacking,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but hey…</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUKjqoz3aThrFtrDBiY27H5vvHLx_nln9IAxkd_gJl5YIRH81VuCnzWW67xtqeWKdFvUxbkWrcki3Hk0HsjF389XgEzkS85Ga461FXbjn6rh6h70Nyv8gJi1w-eVuwdld3PhApgMOdBQ/s1600/cleavage-caddy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUKjqoz3aThrFtrDBiY27H5vvHLx_nln9IAxkd_gJl5YIRH81VuCnzWW67xtqeWKdFvUxbkWrcki3Hk0HsjF389XgEzkS85Ga461FXbjn6rh6h70Nyv8gJi1w-eVuwdld3PhApgMOdBQ/s1600/cleavage-caddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Hidden Pocket.</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of my favorites. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a pocket, with various compartments. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is big enough for your passport, cash, and credit cards. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It has two loops, one brown and one black, </div><div style="text-align: center;">so you can wear it over your belt, </div><div style="text-align: center;">then tuck it into your skirt or pants. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's easy to access. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I like wearing this along with a regular money belt. (see below) </div><div style="text-align: center;">It comes in different colors.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I like the tan because it can't be seen under light clothing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6uYmxjI_CvpaP62TOr8x_Yg141ujwEMZTDita0oM_L6vKPMXBgMTBe2zDn8Iwp66-tgZ_frIPXv7E-MNuPVKtf2x-YCSxIXzk90QIsj-hjoJDPPn2-U4so_mpiJIc4pnJ6lP_IpQtvM/s1600/images-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6uYmxjI_CvpaP62TOr8x_Yg141ujwEMZTDita0oM_L6vKPMXBgMTBe2zDn8Iwp66-tgZ_frIPXv7E-MNuPVKtf2x-YCSxIXzk90QIsj-hjoJDPPn2-U4so_mpiJIc4pnJ6lP_IpQtvM/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qxe0ePh19eqdgeKNen-QCiz_gSZcyUyz3YSHttyuc_K581eOkmLDs25WFCsVn10WkNzjv9JCHtgNwttaL3R7d0EILrweMKDMgtQ___gIqaHWf3hB26ns3Q-KUnYzsl2FgZqeOCZs_sw/s1600/images-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qxe0ePh19eqdgeKNen-QCiz_gSZcyUyz3YSHttyuc_K581eOkmLDs25WFCsVn10WkNzjv9JCHtgNwttaL3R7d0EILrweMKDMgtQ___gIqaHWf3hB26ns3Q-KUnYzsl2FgZqeOCZs_sw/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJzsVCd4RidLNlipQurytluyjoH3EEj6B72EGJmEp8su3-IrEfLM_BsO4sayGZeK0v-1FVldr2JUrjfV2hh4p16VgaL7c05aYyIPBLplpSvNg8Zb4RQ4-ZNLIqfNgfVrU8GFRgv2N-LI/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJzsVCd4RidLNlipQurytluyjoH3EEj6B72EGJmEp8su3-IrEfLM_BsO4sayGZeK0v-1FVldr2JUrjfV2hh4p16VgaL7c05aYyIPBLplpSvNg8Zb4RQ4-ZNLIqfNgfVrU8GFRgv2N-LI/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Standard Money Belt</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedHHcmj_0vC_mW3Tbbtr_kueqZuQ-FSgQRB4P8NBZb-bwJUks1oXgV5qjI3-Fcf94ybVha8nGvaVEOnbX4E9fafi5KCBkyrm5QlycCCRGo4QFINlUy9ALfaoHwR1fLJDwx2Vg8_iyTwE/s1600/Unknown-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedHHcmj_0vC_mW3Tbbtr_kueqZuQ-FSgQRB4P8NBZb-bwJUks1oXgV5qjI3-Fcf94ybVha8nGvaVEOnbX4E9fafi5KCBkyrm5QlycCCRGo4QFINlUy9ALfaoHwR1fLJDwx2Vg8_iyTwE/s1600/Unknown-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In addition to the money pouch above,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this year I bought a regular money belt.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I bought the one made by </div><div style="text-align: center;">Binh,</div><div style="text-align: center;">in a polyester weave.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is lightweight,</div><div style="text-align: center;">not bulky at all, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and the zipper is quite long,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so there's space to store several large bills.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-Cf09I7mzlRomgcLiXmOMtkJQTTepb4yvjwUvv-FHr_jm0-XzEJ66AtCJCxtCd2ShStxOEITL__bc1ZTO8jYIqmw-oU3qTWXWgIbGUvNxoE5MIilawlRYE4DFnASKYLeAec6Pm0jj6o/s1600/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-Cf09I7mzlRomgcLiXmOMtkJQTTepb4yvjwUvv-FHr_jm0-XzEJ66AtCJCxtCd2ShStxOEITL__bc1ZTO8jYIqmw-oU3qTWXWgIbGUvNxoE5MIilawlRYE4DFnASKYLeAec6Pm0jj6o/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The belts can be purchased in leather as well.<br />I tried this belt one year and discarded it.<br />It's just not convenient to me.<br />For a man, it might be a good way to store extra cash,<br />or for a woman who wears pants with belt loops.<br />But I didn't care for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZSRioDL1Eq8AxylDwh3ejFKGce7pvFQZnfrC5eM1SiyeOWh4y7MAIAjNWe77Y3cSA0jZ3s4y5q6Xs7c_KsGAlauwonIXxK5fB9LypgGjXPlMb3f6d5v9GgEI0JmimRuEpJW7VE-4Q9s/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZSRioDL1Eq8AxylDwh3ejFKGce7pvFQZnfrC5eM1SiyeOWh4y7MAIAjNWe77Y3cSA0jZ3s4y5q6Xs7c_KsGAlauwonIXxK5fB9LypgGjXPlMb3f6d5v9GgEI0JmimRuEpJW7VE-4Q9s/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Splitting Up The Cash</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However you decide to carry your cash and cards,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it's probably a good idea to split it up.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Carry some in one belt,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and some in another.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Dummy Wallet</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some people carry a "dummy wallet."</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a wallet with a credit card or two</div><div style="text-align: center;">that are outdated,</div><div style="text-align: center;">maybe a couple of €20 or €50 bills.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In case of pickpocket or theft,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this wallet can be surrendered easily,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and you're not out your entire bank!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a good blog on what to carry </div><div style="text-align: center;">in a "sacrificial wallet."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.backpackerbucks.com/gear/sacrificial-wallet-thwart-theives-stay-safe/" target="_blank">http://blog.backpackerbucks.com/gear/sacrificial-wallet-thwart-theives-stay-safe/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whichever money belt you decide on,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I suggest you fill it,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and wear it around your hometown for a few days,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so you will know whether or not </div><div style="text-align: center;">it is going to be comfortable on the Camino.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCuNqqGQGLaDhnW_UCA7rMCKzmHwaDehAOPnKt5L33Q-zgCbt4qNz88ugh5xE9amzrVNe4hJ5VxNtMItuUNqDSa1Pvd21P1_FhMX5WIiFqxC4oIZi1Bs-TMPB6qqIp1zqPfCSVGL11iI/s1600/images-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCuNqqGQGLaDhnW_UCA7rMCKzmHwaDehAOPnKt5L33Q-zgCbt4qNz88ugh5xE9amzrVNe4hJ5VxNtMItuUNqDSa1Pvd21P1_FhMX5WIiFqxC4oIZi1Bs-TMPB6qqIp1zqPfCSVGL11iI/s1600/images-3.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>ON THE CAMINO</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Never, ever leave your money, credit cards, passport,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or anything you cannot afford to lose</div><div style="text-align: center;">unattended.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Never leave it with another pilgrim</div><div style="text-align: center;">no matter how friendly they appear.</div><div style="text-align: center;">On my first Camino, I met three young people</div><div style="text-align: center;">whose Camino ended after 3 days.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In Pamplona, they left their bags</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a friendly fellow pilgrim</div><div style="text-align: center;">they had walked with from SJPP.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The "pilgrim" had targeted them</div><div style="text-align: center;">and when she agreed to watch their bags</div><div style="text-align: center;">while they showered,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she robbed them of all cash and credit cards,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and vanished in the Pamplona night.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sad but true.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When you shower, put your valuables into a </div><div style="text-align: center;">zip lock bag, or special waterproof bag </div><div style="text-align: center;">and </div><div style="text-align: center;">TAKE THEM INTO THE SHOWER WITH YOU!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYCwve2uhk8aAYtGTWFfu_asklznO5tOJZXbJrTyOxOAkomRPWLIA2oMjGF-ttMpcH0LaAgaHE-2oMykmPxFD7davsM9MgmKYLssjx5hOh6-4spwX6SYDZ1nia3BFqe7fPaDhTEGdHAI/s1600/Splash_caddy_pouch_web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYCwve2uhk8aAYtGTWFfu_asklznO5tOJZXbJrTyOxOAkomRPWLIA2oMjGF-ttMpcH0LaAgaHE-2oMykmPxFD7davsM9MgmKYLssjx5hOh6-4spwX6SYDZ1nia3BFqe7fPaDhTEGdHAI/s1600/Splash_caddy_pouch_web.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And remember,</div><div style="text-align: center;">NEVER get into your money belt</div><div style="text-align: center;">in a public place.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Access it in private each morning,</div><div style="text-align: center;">in a bathroom stall if necessary,</div><div style="text-align: center;">taking out your cash for the day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When you go to the ATM,</div><div style="text-align: center;">go with a friend when possible.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have them turn facing outwards,</div><div style="text-align: center;">while you get your cash.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then immediately go somewhere</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can put your cash away</div><div style="text-align: center;">out of the public eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayFrtF0HvI14_VVIrPUDEpxmcgEzFUZ3iLXodz7995pni_zmIx1IPnhjzY8M553gNaCZw4G-nTTJvLNeAQBi-Dmlg88hyneUuUFyJDbnsr_xSbo0C6fwdgX6jars60gSm2Mn3O_E9Bug/s1600/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayFrtF0HvI14_VVIrPUDEpxmcgEzFUZ3iLXodz7995pni_zmIx1IPnhjzY8M553gNaCZw4G-nTTJvLNeAQBi-Dmlg88hyneUuUFyJDbnsr_xSbo0C6fwdgX6jars60gSm2Mn3O_E9Bug/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfMgwG-fSCTCtmg9V2SBV3BMu3nNxfkgSLOfIGoIHpCKfIEyWx0lkCI6F_xNsWrhtP534l2sPWMBiGH9GGGhWNn0bq_uLDzFSfOJzCULJdlF_JXyEKiD11fpZOD5aHy61G-wMuBleP1c/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfMgwG-fSCTCtmg9V2SBV3BMu3nNxfkgSLOfIGoIHpCKfIEyWx0lkCI6F_xNsWrhtP534l2sPWMBiGH9GGGhWNn0bq_uLDzFSfOJzCULJdlF_JXyEKiD11fpZOD5aHy61G-wMuBleP1c/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Watch out for children who want to "help" you!<br />Keep your hand over the slot where the money comes out.<br />See my post on pickpockets here:<br /><a href="http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2018/02/pickpockets-in-europe-2018.html" target="_blank">PICKPOCKETS</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At night, don't just leave your money belt and valuables by your bedside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Be sure they are safe where nobody can pick them up and walk out with them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I often stealthily tuck mine into the foot box of my sleeping bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There is very little theft on the Camino.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But it does happen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And as the Camino becomes more and more popular,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">petty crime increases.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thieves look for an easy target, so...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Don't be paranoid, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but don't be naive.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_ylCbJHMwskvlW9eNq3c8sBIfbxpgfenj5qCoe_ObBrkErpiodTQ83MxzAYeq127s11AKl6e_o89KYrfC1DtKOMTEq5TDcoyfIiDFeBsvbpbPQvTtfnt1SIVQv4GNHBjvkjMwXZPHOs/s1600/images-5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_ylCbJHMwskvlW9eNq3c8sBIfbxpgfenj5qCoe_ObBrkErpiodTQ83MxzAYeq127s11AKl6e_o89KYrfC1DtKOMTEq5TDcoyfIiDFeBsvbpbPQvTtfnt1SIVQv4GNHBjvkjMwXZPHOs/s320/images-5.jpeg" width="254" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And you will have a</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Buen Camino!</span></i></b></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-70454300342689077962022-11-27T13:59:00.006-08:002022-11-27T13:59:55.711-08:00Don't Break the Bank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_loH8247VEIxvj1AgxXcv5Vyx82HHN3nH1Dk_AXzdoNYCD0wCVZvCsjBvfGXgEDN74QiOi-FQtHi-2CkIUa8imVo1U-1f2ICKjbnhptBGt0rVhqvDJnmt4H26EANFc7qxH6Ii4lTq1OI-/s1600/Don%2527t+Break+the+Bank.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_loH8247VEIxvj1AgxXcv5Vyx82HHN3nH1Dk_AXzdoNYCD0wCVZvCsjBvfGXgEDN74QiOi-FQtHi-2CkIUa8imVo1U-1f2ICKjbnhptBGt0rVhqvDJnmt4H26EANFc7qxH6Ii4lTq1OI-/s400/Don%2527t+Break+the+Bank.png" width="387" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Though I've posted ideas about gear on this blog, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it's quite possible to walk on a budget.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's really no need to break the bank on clothes </div><div style="text-align: center;">when walking the Camino. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Use clothes you already have! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the summer, shorts or a skirt and teeshirts are fine. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They'll dry in the summer with no problem. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love my Macabi skirts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but they are a bit spendy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hiking in a skirt is sooooo comfortable.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The skirt keeps your legs from being burned in the sun,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and protects them from the wind and rain in the cold.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But any comfortable skirt will do, really.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Lightweight clothing like yoga leggings </div><div style="text-align: center;">with a long cotton shirt (that covers your butt if it looks like mine!) </div><div style="text-align: center;">might be good.<br />The leggings or shorts or boy cut underwear are good</div><div style="text-align: center;">so your thighs don't chafe when you sweat. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I like cotton broomstick skirts because they are lightweight and comfortable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlIr_lVcwHm-N0ls-y46xM_pIZX98TBmdcP9hQ8R-2lK6c8zCewJzBIxZkkW5Hzb9YqqZWJwR-VLwwFYYLJ7GXzRwtowB-Tu5ONGtO85EJEUvUE98PbJJ5ZBrc0KoRR9-yfuaZZ3SOxXG/s1600/a8afeccb0ee31c390e8a36ce2c76646d.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlIr_lVcwHm-N0ls-y46xM_pIZX98TBmdcP9hQ8R-2lK6c8zCewJzBIxZkkW5Hzb9YqqZWJwR-VLwwFYYLJ7GXzRwtowB-Tu5ONGtO85EJEUvUE98PbJJ5ZBrc0KoRR9-yfuaZZ3SOxXG/s320/a8afeccb0ee31c390e8a36ce2c76646d.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can often find hiking skirts on Ebay </div><div style="text-align: center;">or on my Used Camino Gear website.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Skorts are good.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are a pair of shorts with a skirt over.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We wore them a lot in the 60's.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They're especially nice if the shorts have a pocket.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h2UkFxWEkZDkVD7HVbA3F8060Xdft3jgjyfw5Y-IGbjSV1OxAdjjWt9yRyxJftU-HNSUIqkkiPDrjFjvzcxpLTsBOITBEXk0u_Xd-BHTjss-YEE3E-tYQNwjnwBz6x3hfntgSuSWmbXg/s1600/79331f48b40b84397a816489cdfba84b.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h2UkFxWEkZDkVD7HVbA3F8060Xdft3jgjyfw5Y-IGbjSV1OxAdjjWt9yRyxJftU-HNSUIqkkiPDrjFjvzcxpLTsBOITBEXk0u_Xd-BHTjss-YEE3E-tYQNwjnwBz6x3hfntgSuSWmbXg/s320/79331f48b40b84397a816489cdfba84b.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feel free to wear the underwear and bra you wear at home. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There is no need for technical gear. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Underwire bras may be irritating but any good regular bra will be fine.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Look for inexpensive sports bras at Walgreens,<br />Walmart, TJ Max, </div><div style="text-align: center;">or other stores where they sell those tv ad goods.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead of an expensive fleece, </div><div style="text-align: center;">go to a charity shop like Goodwill,<br /> buy a men's soft, lightweight, large merino wool sweater<br />and felt it in the washing machine and dryer. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can find instructions online<br />for felting wool,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I will post a blog on it once I'm back home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unless you are walking in the snow, </div><div style="text-align: center;">you really do not need a jacket. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Just wear layers. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You warm up quick when you walk.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In early Spring, or Autumn, </div><div style="text-align: center;">take clothes you can layer, </div><div style="text-align: center;">including a soft shell layer or featherweight jacket. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wear a long sleeved shirt, with a short sleeved tee over it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I put a fleece over that, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and I'm peeling clothes off after half an hour, </div><div style="text-align: center;">even in the coldest weather. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some layering ideas:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_R3-_l1BhRjX6IxKAR1S9hOnLZ10F4qcSnP__MvZv8fZRe1wPgLpiXTGcUfsc5SMWP-Cxh1Vvs04SHw0vROeHO26kycFEWrJEOnaHaF0Af1s4ELaDsgH2OFFopu-Lb3XrhPXyupGRgQZ/s1600/228421_11835_L.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_R3-_l1BhRjX6IxKAR1S9hOnLZ10F4qcSnP__MvZv8fZRe1wPgLpiXTGcUfsc5SMWP-Cxh1Vvs04SHw0vROeHO26kycFEWrJEOnaHaF0Af1s4ELaDsgH2OFFopu-Lb3XrhPXyupGRgQZ/s400/228421_11835_L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDX_WqHqLJhHCGb0mOaryE4Df0_9tU0FzETDqvz_435XxUKHpv9vSp5Zxpwt31XtcWS2TinJ9bq7binxNFhhp6T17bLK4Ui9KEF5agxKtbmCy6McxLG5yHY8TCbVJJEfKpwxWA7Pf8pGB/s1600/Layering-system-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDX_WqHqLJhHCGb0mOaryE4Df0_9tU0FzETDqvz_435XxUKHpv9vSp5Zxpwt31XtcWS2TinJ9bq7binxNFhhp6T17bLK4Ui9KEF5agxKtbmCy6McxLG5yHY8TCbVJJEfKpwxWA7Pf8pGB/s400/Layering-system-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I take a featherweight wind breaker, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but your rain gear can double as a windbreaker if it's stormy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Quick drying clothes are no longer really necessary as many albergues along the way now have washers and dryers. If you are staying in private lodgings, they'll almost always do your laundry for a small fee of €3-6.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I buy merino wool tees, but I walk every year more than once. </div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I also prefer merino wool to synthetics, </div><div style="text-align: center;">which begin to stink after a few weeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For a one-time Camino, you really don't need all that. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you live in the USA, go to your local Goodwill. They have an ActiveWear section where I've found fantastic buys! I've found brand new zip-off hiking pants there for under $10, and a large assortment of quick-dry shirts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Take a hat that will shield your eyes from the hot sun </div><div style="text-align: center;">as well as the rain. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A chinstrap is good for windy days on the meseta. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I love my Tilley hat, but any hat with a peak will do.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z9weT4Xbg3wS02Mqe3oAOWGax_cZK-_SfLwLPKYQrG7Qd8kVHi8s2Io1UbkIn3Koe9ouc1_JtJu_nY9nWxJXftE9SPXSFcPxpGIKM6mctJ6RwSoyetzDYvllxZP3IohpxHrzhYBUHxVg/s1600/thumb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z9weT4Xbg3wS02Mqe3oAOWGax_cZK-_SfLwLPKYQrG7Qd8kVHi8s2Io1UbkIn3Koe9ouc1_JtJu_nY9nWxJXftE9SPXSFcPxpGIKM6mctJ6RwSoyetzDYvllxZP3IohpxHrzhYBUHxVg/s400/thumb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rain gear will be necessary, especially in Galicia. I love my ALTUS poncho, and you can often pick these up used. It covers me and my pack and keeps me toasty warm as well, and I've used it as a blanket in albergues where there are no blankets to keep me warm at night. I've also walked in rain jacket and pants, in which case you'll need a pack cover. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1XwokVJpPZ8O4B8fSYe7Q17vo3a1O88Bs07HFdGp3dgWB8S75Gu0rPBrP2tCW9ALPHa0ZNXBZnunrgswDT8IUZr8b-XiD9cwKPnTbct7t2P3EPRcI-_5hVSU-pVHzUWDZupWLnQcoMTg/s1600/caminopostcard-11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1XwokVJpPZ8O4B8fSYe7Q17vo3a1O88Bs07HFdGp3dgWB8S75Gu0rPBrP2tCW9ALPHa0ZNXBZnunrgswDT8IUZr8b-XiD9cwKPnTbct7t2P3EPRcI-_5hVSU-pVHzUWDZupWLnQcoMTg/s640/caminopostcard-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't like regular ponchos without sleeves because they will blow like crazy. If you wear one, consider a belt to hold it down.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TqzM2CX26XW2O3fNiKlv-Vnvkwx7sIp5vR7UtqcpFIRB-i7PjPIftEiJ3420KohbGu5MCR2OykkpIlzCQna8ZDmQu0nNQmJXMC7Qrna-vbiinxmtPhnLqDsEoVxQOoFHxSk_NZwPBuZJ/s1600/windy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TqzM2CX26XW2O3fNiKlv-Vnvkwx7sIp5vR7UtqcpFIRB-i7PjPIftEiJ3420KohbGu5MCR2OykkpIlzCQna8ZDmQu0nNQmJXMC7Qrna-vbiinxmtPhnLqDsEoVxQOoFHxSk_NZwPBuZJ/s400/windy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Socks can be any comfortable sock.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you wear through them,</div><div style="text-align: center;">there are plenty of places to buy inexpensive socks on the Camino.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love SmartWool socks.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are comfortable and they wear well.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Make sure your socks do not have seams inside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They will cause blisters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The two items you will want to spend the most money on </div><div style="text-align: center;">are your backpack and your shoes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And if you have to choose between them, choose shoes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You MUST have well-fitting shoes, whether you choose boots or trail runners.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH0BNAB7o42E798BsDzLKDMAdMEu0jU8xMWSONvY02ESH0s0CDzKMDk8D7Sc4a-PJXeR8wAt4uisNetq3-0Fmsqh74nWhtNorbx5amxmmeAIqV3HWdhh_wrHx2HLZJCLj5tqIwtl4CBw3/s1600/blisters-from-hiking.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH0BNAB7o42E798BsDzLKDMAdMEu0jU8xMWSONvY02ESH0s0CDzKMDk8D7Sc4a-PJXeR8wAt4uisNetq3-0Fmsqh74nWhtNorbx5amxmmeAIqV3HWdhh_wrHx2HLZJCLj5tqIwtl4CBw3/s1600/blisters-from-hiking.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;">This guy wore the wrong boots!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I prefer trail runners myself, as I've said.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You should not have to "break in" shoes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They should fit walking out the store.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have to break them in, they are the wrong shoes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I spend about $150 for my shoes each year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A good pack will set you back $100 or more.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are carrying your pack, do NOT buy one online.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You need a well-fitting pack and not all packs are created equal.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are using pack transport, it doesn't matter.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And please,</div><div style="text-align: center;">don't go buying a HUGE pack.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The bigger pack you buy the more you will fill it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mine is a 30L pack and it's plenty big.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I promise, if you carry much more than the </div><div style="text-align: center;">10% of your body weight </div><div style="text-align: center;">suggested by experienced Camino walkers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you will either be dumping gear the 3d day</div><div style="text-align: center;">or paying lots of $$$ to mail it home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSICSkhbwjc7jIXh8d1_9etDRBD0B1HHyLrsbF5NMXjd4_Nf8kE3TDMKfnTvXm-E6mObJtufGRSu9pyiFMA5C0lcqICBYswsBQCv34s7KeZCtHXHrGHk0TJykr43tWndVzwst5aZoEN1tt/s1600/giant-bp1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSICSkhbwjc7jIXh8d1_9etDRBD0B1HHyLrsbF5NMXjd4_Nf8kE3TDMKfnTvXm-E6mObJtufGRSu9pyiFMA5C0lcqICBYswsBQCv34s7KeZCtHXHrGHk0TJykr43tWndVzwst5aZoEN1tt/s320/giant-bp1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whatever you buy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">try it out on the trail BEFORE you go.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Finding out that your pack straps cause a blister</div><div style="text-align: center;">where they rub on your bra strap adjuster,</div><div style="text-align: center;">is just a bummer once you've left home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you can afford it, it's fun to buy new gear.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">But it is absolutely not necessary.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Just wear what you have in your closet and don't break the bank.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Camino isn't a fashion show.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just be comfie!</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">And please,</div><div style="margin: 0px;">if you have ideas for inexpensive gear on the Camino,</div><div style="margin: 0px;">feel free to post a comment below.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Buen Camino!</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Annie</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px;">***</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Need help planning your Camino? </span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Don't want to walk alone? </span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Don't want to race for a bed?</span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Walk with us in a small group or alone.</span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Booked lodging!</span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.anniewalkers.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Anniewalkers Camino</span></a></div></div></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-5221566039544551942022-11-27T08:12:00.009-08:002022-11-27T08:12:52.663-08:00Breakfast on the Camino<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zWy7eUNsL1-E7opJUfN3aJ7mlKJUxbaW1Wp2nNz0gEq7R8be07Isie1q6A1z4oBSo37WfbGsQQ55L2o-wEpLvK9eOVm0zV14HHDjHZUBWamMOwXJn6reznaKLQ7oCfwSlAjan6dxtK88/s1600/desayuno.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zWy7eUNsL1-E7opJUfN3aJ7mlKJUxbaW1Wp2nNz0gEq7R8be07Isie1q6A1z4oBSo37WfbGsQQ55L2o-wEpLvK9eOVm0zV14HHDjHZUBWamMOwXJn6reznaKLQ7oCfwSlAjan6dxtK88/s320/desayuno.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Desayuno, or breakfast, </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">is often the second thing </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">on a pilgrim's mind each day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And unless you are staying at a Parador</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">or have a bottomless pocket,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the breakfast shown above</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">will be something a Pilgrim only dreams about!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are like me, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by morning, you've already scoped out the closest bar </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and know exactly how long you'll have to walk </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">for that first cup of <b>COFFEE</b>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is said the first Spaniard to drink coffee </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">was a Jesuit missionary named Padro Paez. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">His journal about his imprisonment in Ethiopia describes it </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">as a "dark, bitter infusion."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 100 years later, the Borbon dynasty formally introduced coffee </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">to the country.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They've never looked back!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Starbucks can't hold a candle </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">to the coffee in Spain, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">as far as I'm concerned! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following are some of the choices </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">you might find. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">some of the smaller villages </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">may not have such a long list.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Save exploration for the large cities.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Generally, you will have at least 3 or 4 choices.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a good option to carry in your mochila </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">for those mornings where there is a kitchen </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the equipment to boil water. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is called Nescafé and you will find it </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in just about every tienda in Spain. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't believe I ever paid more </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">than 2 Euro for a box,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">much less than I'd pay in the USA, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">so I wait and buy it there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZEBFBvEd6-GxF13doyUj4UQAp-eY3-Q-Vs4R-29pYNTM16jeF1E1lCNLQQxv0XE1SU41JQQinANZnZs-JegvA8G2_wdTxxX_R3iNZbMp9rhGS35yHmA2L9ow3NjbCCmT2eQPVmfxi9r2/s1600/28000-63141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZEBFBvEd6-GxF13doyUj4UQAp-eY3-Q-Vs4R-29pYNTM16jeF1E1lCNLQQxv0XE1SU41JQQinANZnZs-JegvA8G2_wdTxxX_R3iNZbMp9rhGS35yHmA2L9ow3NjbCCmT2eQPVmfxi9r2/s1600/28000-63141.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Open the package and you find </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">these cool little single serving tubes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2q2qX9iA2AB9yUH-S6kUYu3Ocu959gZxqkWfBreaX115WydRTMSlu7g13Yn7RhTFWR0xCfpN_VbdPwm9H9iDrvCJTk8RSUufiwR-bLlKuDPtNlDMhhNRfpV3zokdgsxlxsaOD6jgpZat/s1600/6a0105371ec95f970b0115713d89c8970c-pi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2q2qX9iA2AB9yUH-S6kUYu3Ocu959gZxqkWfBreaX115WydRTMSlu7g13Yn7RhTFWR0xCfpN_VbdPwm9H9iDrvCJTk8RSUufiwR-bLlKuDPtNlDMhhNRfpV3zokdgsxlxsaOD6jgpZat/s1600/6a0105371ec95f970b0115713d89c8970c-pi.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's not the same as a brewed cup of coffee, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but it's pretty danged close. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I discard the box and just </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">carry the tubes in my pack. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They're sturdy </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and I've never had one break open. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pour the contents of one tube into your cup, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">add boiling water, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and voila! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It'll get you down the road to the next bar.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once you locate the bar </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(they almost always are open by 7 am), </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">pull yourself up a seat and order. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your choices are numerous, depending on where you are. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You'll almost always have </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">at least these first three options </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in even the smallest villages </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">along the Camino Frances. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why not try them all!?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CAFÉ SOLO</b>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is ESPRESSO. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You will get one shot of espresso in a small glass or cup.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KTcDConT9Fsybyn7Yn92LV4oHneLRONqTgtgDNR1iRR7VrfX1NQ1Nh3o55reBOm93rFGbHxQD1qyHhztG7slWAqFnHE6twYOsbzXLTBJv671ka31FnHfaTra7IKMi-9KSdS3-SxT6Suf/s1600/brunch4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KTcDConT9Fsybyn7Yn92LV4oHneLRONqTgtgDNR1iRR7VrfX1NQ1Nh3o55reBOm93rFGbHxQD1qyHhztG7slWAqFnHE6twYOsbzXLTBJv671ka31FnHfaTra7IKMi-9KSdS3-SxT6Suf/s320/brunch4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFÉ DOBLE.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b> This is a double shot of expresso </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and may come in a cup or in a glass, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">as may the single.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw10l81fwF1n9OlNw9DziTjTGQSlEDpTe7lDpPXDegM8UTNU6-u5hHU6JxamGSyDmhGwMMaTGcNlInT4tVnyX-yBYGnbcEak3YI47Dp0D88EUY7hKPM9JhWSxdXFFX8e4_ZVylDA9Lm8ZH/s1600/tazo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw10l81fwF1n9OlNw9DziTjTGQSlEDpTe7lDpPXDegM8UTNU6-u5hHU6JxamGSyDmhGwMMaTGcNlInT4tVnyX-yBYGnbcEak3YI47Dp0D88EUY7hKPM9JhWSxdXFFX8e4_ZVylDA9Lm8ZH/s1600/tazo.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFÉ CON LECHE.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b> This is coffee with milk, generally about half and half of each. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The milk is steamed </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">so it's probably what you would call a "latte" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">except the richness is much greater, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in my opinion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrVQtuXE5Gfa0nkC3p4RJ4c8GIKNTADqcCDR4346h9q9yLhIuYx1MSPrUHxQfCgH9T6CDTVmxG4v4lqHhqWkKvR7ooD6YEfa-0qoMnk8T1OihYDeZNbY6rUdahAEJTsOdYmEQcuFeUUa6/s1600/cafe+con+leche.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrVQtuXE5Gfa0nkC3p4RJ4c8GIKNTADqcCDR4346h9q9yLhIuYx1MSPrUHxQfCgH9T6CDTVmxG4v4lqHhqWkKvR7ooD6YEfa-0qoMnk8T1OihYDeZNbY6rUdahAEJTsOdYmEQcuFeUUa6/s320/cafe+con+leche.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You will notice that there are always 2 packets of sugar and a spoon on your saucer. This is standard. If you don't want to use both packets of the sugar, put the packets on the counter and the attendant will pick them up. Or put them in your backpack to use later in those places where you can not find a bar and need to drink your instant Nescafé.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFÉ CORTADO or CAFÉ MANCHADO.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is two shots of expresso with just a tiny bit of milk added. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is NOT the same as a Café Bonbon. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Often, condensed milk is used, so this can be quite sweet.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90fmoYr_NGaSyMJrV96gwg36ovpZgLqEqtjccmPCTyhfBJrpEcXw6sTfcIKL2cvxmWg1jl4d8TwRF9bKsoMnXO6CiMfiDS5ZE_q9AuJUt0VKJDbKX4vrzTo3o91Fltd9fyE1Fz-rYI9SJ/s1600/Cafe+Cortado.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90fmoYr_NGaSyMJrV96gwg36ovpZgLqEqtjccmPCTyhfBJrpEcXw6sTfcIKL2cvxmWg1jl4d8TwRF9bKsoMnXO6CiMfiDS5ZE_q9AuJUt0VKJDbKX4vrzTo3o91Fltd9fyE1Fz-rYI9SJ/s320/Cafe+Cortado.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>LECHE MANCHADA</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(different from Café Manchado) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">is hot foamy MILK with a drop of espresso. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a bit like a Cappicino and is very rich; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">nice on a cold Camino morning!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJhx5SkOomx7OBFH1VXmrT3YtRDj7YxVZkBlTRFZ0tJOf4tTtuMn8I8KcIijMVrwTHTjV4OQ3RldxfBD6VChRKW6NnAKrmUQ0PT45-eDUmOzkl4NKOi-ccv5Quqvp763rQbycw0w7NELz/s1600/leche+manchada.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJhx5SkOomx7OBFH1VXmrT3YtRDj7YxVZkBlTRFZ0tJOf4tTtuMn8I8KcIijMVrwTHTjV4OQ3RldxfBD6VChRKW6NnAKrmUQ0PT45-eDUmOzkl4NKOi-ccv5Quqvp763rQbycw0w7NELz/s320/leche+manchada.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pffCaFhJGCZQ2kpLlbk9q7Fu7LJ9xYwbAMgtHPtOhaQOxqrK0WNpxXtl2Q4QyiwUVGJv5OJqxhqlAAUoFVZNhTJA9OPUJK0zIMLLUDuU4homGygoR1iT6WTpNU0_fJ_FUUN_Yn5smAcN/s1600/leche+manchada.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFÉ DESCAFEINADO</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Decaffeinated Coffee. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can ask for it "de maquina" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(from the machine) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">or "de sobre" (from a packet). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is not generally brewed fresh from beans.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqR11-BVWQoXpYVv-UNk7CdkPkLRWE_qBvBfT08mYKEsziPO9ColDKAUd5p0qHGjDRDwUSMBS-z5Gi6n3iEq421L8HrjSC7Vt6zZmQ2GkYas6EwSZL7MTmOpHBsjvzYGm814flY02aZd4b/s1600/taza_momento_DES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqR11-BVWQoXpYVv-UNk7CdkPkLRWE_qBvBfT08mYKEsziPO9ColDKAUd5p0qHGjDRDwUSMBS-z5Gi6n3iEq421L8HrjSC7Vt6zZmQ2GkYas6EwSZL7MTmOpHBsjvzYGm814flY02aZd4b/s320/taza_momento_DES.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFÉ BONBON</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>Café Bonbon is also called </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Café Cortado Condensada. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is espresso with sweetened condensed milk. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It comes layered </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">with the heavy milk on bottom. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You stir it before drinking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UlUNK2PmBrJoXCxGzIKZeCZ9vSwtYJRdaPa1N18rHPmqKio-pLtfw4_1Oap6TElyrH_TBsdVXL41Kf3ouvSs9fyj_OlhTZnzeXC06ZYCVdHgoW3ersTHQ0fIF-dkVE72ZoGlsz2wGq_6/s1600/Cafe_bombon2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UlUNK2PmBrJoXCxGzIKZeCZ9vSwtYJRdaPa1N18rHPmqKio-pLtfw4_1Oap6TElyrH_TBsdVXL41Kf3ouvSs9fyj_OlhTZnzeXC06ZYCVdHgoW3ersTHQ0fIF-dkVE72ZoGlsz2wGq_6/s320/Cafe_bombon2.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFÉ CON HIELO</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>Café con Hielo is coffee with ice. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It comes separately. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You pour it over yourself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1xmEoqx5XDXBC0P146RQBiqFRe6nnoPlp38UpGhA-J8CIrjs-FH7RYFsZhElj3kspPGJGhkoJ5tkA1zMIq7p5gXk7yLdbjCSbp7l2tWGsLwRaL4Q-T9NJw4VTVr9IA3yfBYG12xqbld5/s1600/cafe_con_hielo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1xmEoqx5XDXBC0P146RQBiqFRe6nnoPlp38UpGhA-J8CIrjs-FH7RYFsZhElj3kspPGJGhkoJ5tkA1zMIq7p5gXk7yLdbjCSbp7l2tWGsLwRaL4Q-T9NJw4VTVr9IA3yfBYG12xqbld5/s320/cafe_con_hielo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">CAFÉ AMERICANO.</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The first time I walked the Camino, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">not every bartender understood this.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The second time I walked, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">they all knew it by heart.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">If you are not adventurous and just want a plain old coffee</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">like you'd have in the USA</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">order this.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It's a shot of espresso</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">covered in hot water.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqj1aTU3LhOSduyELuWZG61lKEjXwCod7AnRrhGo0idpQnQWxovzIztr1ynxNQ2vNdkKFPQwOMsBsKdRFCowwsCLAp70Jm0Tze4rpWpfjDR_N2VJ-42LW4_gVnxZGvGhah3bUrew6Bo0e/s1600/Caff%25C3%25A8+Americano.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqj1aTU3LhOSduyELuWZG61lKEjXwCod7AnRrhGo0idpQnQWxovzIztr1ynxNQ2vNdkKFPQwOMsBsKdRFCowwsCLAp70Jm0Tze4rpWpfjDR_N2VJ-42LW4_gVnxZGvGhah3bUrew6Bo0e/s1600/Caff%25C3%25A8+Americano.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please bear in mind there will be regional variations, and it can be confusing. On the Norte and Camino Frances routes, a cortado is a tiny cup of espresso with just a dab of milk while a café con leche is equal parts of milk and coffee in a modest serving. However, on the Via de la Plata, you may find a cortado more like the café con leche you are used to, while a café con leche is mostly milk with a dab of coffee - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">what you might call a leche manchada.</span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you drink tea, you have options.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can purchase teabags </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in most tiendas and markets.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carry them along if you have a favorite.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Otherwise, plain black tea </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">can almost always be ordered.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you ask for TÉ CON LECHE</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">it may come with or without</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the milk already added.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDgfXiLxy6yflvcKdVLvAU3BuUuyAGhJUgDysErrOP7nziOy-Kr9cb3EyS4VN0cMfpkvsRC8RJpOEFq7kkEyEMSr_O4WMpuPRzO7-G1SVx4vhGGJGhFJYuInKmY-LHPCzvdoZ403GDKIB/s1600/te.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDgfXiLxy6yflvcKdVLvAU3BuUuyAGhJUgDysErrOP7nziOy-Kr9cb3EyS4VN0cMfpkvsRC8RJpOEFq7kkEyEMSr_O4WMpuPRzO7-G1SVx4vhGGJGhFJYuInKmY-LHPCzvdoZ403GDKIB/s320/te.jpg" width="235" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you prefer to use your own teabag, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">simply ask (and often pay for)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">UN VASO DE AGUA CALIENTE POR FAVOR</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">* * *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">DESAYUNO or BREAKFAST</span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buy it or carry it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The choice is yours.</span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Breakfast can be a challenge for the Pilgrim. Often, your choices at a bar are </span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;">a bocadillo, a bocadillo, or a bocadillo! Unbelievable to some, the Spanish do eat sandwiches for breakfast, which often doesn't happen until mid-morning. It reminds me of a hobbit-like "second breakfast."</div></span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">A good start is the <b>ZUMO. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Your heart will sing when you see </div><div style="text-align: center;">the telling zumo machine </div><div style="text-align: center;">on the bar counter top! </div><div style="text-align: center;">It means FRESH ORANGE JUICE </div><div style="text-align: center;">for desayuno!</div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Iy2ZKNrQfphyz1VDNjwEGTuc8NBHGRGHE2gAIOxQoqVhIq5uTL4-tVgVttNQJ3TA8FRNMJJ_uaZOztnNKAwDmITM5KMd7LKw0W4apTQbhCJqrC9o93XRH_3KGNyMWR-HdS9AnyYJmkx_/s1600/6a011169000929970c01310fafd045970c-320wi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Iy2ZKNrQfphyz1VDNjwEGTuc8NBHGRGHE2gAIOxQoqVhIq5uTL4-tVgVttNQJ3TA8FRNMJJ_uaZOztnNKAwDmITM5KMd7LKw0W4apTQbhCJqrC9o93XRH_3KGNyMWR-HdS9AnyYJmkx_/s1600/6a011169000929970c01310fafd045970c-320wi.jpg" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">THE BOCADILLO</b><b> </b>will be offered </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in nearly every bar. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a sandwich, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the breakfast version </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">may or may not offer scrambled eggs. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may get jamon y queso (ham and cheese) or any number of combinations of items </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">on a freshly baked bun. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If it doesn't feel like </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the breakfast you're used to, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suggest you get used to eating it anyway. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It will sometimes be your only choice </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and you need the energy for walking.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMPdVthzjxw-CYrTNC_FLDxanHlhOjUtZUoedd8wZn8wFvM0X1QlkXq9zlvx0BGscNnb0ePrwJS2tFXTTmIj7FxSBKbG6EDW4ZxwXwF6oE4dxQGC2qAno8sT7KutyHeU4dAYkNjm2ICIf/s1600/bocatas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMPdVthzjxw-CYrTNC_FLDxanHlhOjUtZUoedd8wZn8wFvM0X1QlkXq9zlvx0BGscNnb0ePrwJS2tFXTTmIj7FxSBKbG6EDW4ZxwXwF6oE4dxQGC2qAno8sT7KutyHeU4dAYkNjm2ICIf/s320/bocatas.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are in a larger city, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">look for <b>CHURROS y CHOCOLATE.</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wouldn't say this is common </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">along the Camino Frances. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But you can find them if you keep an eye out.<br />Leon is a traditional place to find it.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The chocolate is very thick, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">really like a pudding. The churros are long donuts. The batter is pushed into the hot frying oil with a tube. You eat these with your fingers, dipping them into the thick chocolate. MMMMMmmmmm!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHb4v8lwrI9v6khvPEI8ChARJvbcHHsRWiEUkQUg6ifL-YMIN2kbTPsssp2Tll6s_FYzKSa_N-l_lW-0OfH5zuRhNdGU_WkbAxrALt6Jcp0yazD5CciVcw9RZDeCb37QWh_0-A-m0QYWR/s1600/churros-con-chocolat-avixyz.thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHb4v8lwrI9v6khvPEI8ChARJvbcHHsRWiEUkQUg6ifL-YMIN2kbTPsssp2Tll6s_FYzKSa_N-l_lW-0OfH5zuRhNdGU_WkbAxrALt6Jcp0yazD5CciVcw9RZDeCb37QWh_0-A-m0QYWR/s320/churros-con-chocolat-avixyz.thumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TORTILLA. </b>This is not the tortilla you find in California! This is more like a frittata. It is made most often with potatoes, onions, and maybe garlic and/or peppers. They are cooked until soft and then beaten egg is poured over the top and the entire thing is cooked until firm. Sometimes it is baked. Sometimes it is cooked in a skillet and flipped. However it is done, it is delicious and each one is different. It comes in a wedge or square slice. It keeps well for a full day in your pack if you wrap it up in a napkin. It also makes a great sandwich filling so if they're offering it, you may want to buy two and save one for your picnic lunch later.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxkd3007yjP-D-iIe6FTpk-vR6CvZ7mnri4wLbQbUY9NrcF8C_w6nKhErMO0gRY5qNslFLNrVbLLoqtdNKEquX7KZnFsTmJ2L8ciXcR2Nu8h6CP2nxcvsBzxsM25THntRS0wf4Ap55_EM/s1600/spanishtortilla.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxkd3007yjP-D-iIe6FTpk-vR6CvZ7mnri4wLbQbUY9NrcF8C_w6nKhErMO0gRY5qNslFLNrVbLLoqtdNKEquX7KZnFsTmJ2L8ciXcR2Nu8h6CP2nxcvsBzxsM25THntRS0wf4Ap55_EM/s320/spanishtortilla.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Many villages will have a bakery, and a bakery means pastries! An adventurous pilgrim won't pass up the opportunity to try all the local variations of pastries! Heck, you can walk off those calories in an hour or two! And you're only here for a short time. Enjoy!</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaJAycGzid6uGo_LwOczpn4gaKcj1_sD2ft7cO7R63tbhrvKA4chWpmmQ6SWCBrGk9Hp04yru0yA8hP246Eyrz8GsFWOo6XqkHEi9AufHf_SLYjro7T0Hyz1huDxJlbZ2kH1z1cqooI63/s1600/pastries.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaJAycGzid6uGo_LwOczpn4gaKcj1_sD2ft7cO7R63tbhrvKA4chWpmmQ6SWCBrGk9Hp04yru0yA8hP246Eyrz8GsFWOo6XqkHEi9AufHf_SLYjro7T0Hyz1huDxJlbZ2kH1z1cqooI63/s320/pastries.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another option is to go to a tienda or market and buy something for tomorrow's breakfast. There are fresh fruits everywhere in Spain. Just remember, "No toca la fruta!" Don't prod and squeeze the fruit - it is not appreciated! This is especially true in the small markets where they buy the fruit by the case and don't want it bruised. Just point and the attendant will hand you the fruit. Don't worry. It's sweet and good, unlike the stuff that is picked green and gassed in the good old USA. This is REAL fruit. Trust...</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7GajvfdA6CTFXrEPMFY7Zt7pZe522LEKQLpW2yXm6XuxbkI0kXi2ThGcawaaly3zE7YGat5ZO2v0-sIjbMThJWA-s2ttWtG4f54KJg67_wR5vkg1xzyZZkfs_t6IYEUc96kav0QnzNEN/s1600/Fruit+in+Seville%252C+Spain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7GajvfdA6CTFXrEPMFY7Zt7pZe522LEKQLpW2yXm6XuxbkI0kXi2ThGcawaaly3zE7YGat5ZO2v0-sIjbMThJWA-s2ttWtG4f54KJg67_wR5vkg1xzyZZkfs_t6IYEUc96kav0QnzNEN/s320/Fruit+in+Seville%252C+Spain.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">You can find <b>YOGUR</b> (yogurt) for half a Euro or less. It comes in these nice little cups and travels well. I have kept it for two days in my pack with no problems. It is, after all, curdled milk.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCwdRg30L_Ylt8cRvSBtKB83CBOeUv8rb3b_rGKisRO0yUr37-1VkvqsDn6VqZEtrtYj0X4ybS_qAqRufQqfVp-A7yaPA_ilb4DEnOegWqu_EUWDGoHyhW7Lnu8JViYqcUg6ArHYgTq1C/s1600/yogur__vida.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCwdRg30L_Ylt8cRvSBtKB83CBOeUv8rb3b_rGKisRO0yUr37-1VkvqsDn6VqZEtrtYj0X4ybS_qAqRufQqfVp-A7yaPA_ilb4DEnOegWqu_EUWDGoHyhW7Lnu8JViYqcUg6ArHYgTq1C/s320/yogur__vida.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARROZ CON LECHE</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(rice pudding or rice with milk) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">is another option.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You'll find it in the same little containers as the yogurt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in the same cold case.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's very good and filling.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xg8M2lKquvDAi1XQfFxN8DNjApWxRdcd3xGqAs9u2zSei2y04mZhFhezl-3VQT5nd6XWDWynezY_KGFecocZzT8ix2J7UkCJkq1BSvZOiuiz2lRoLlHHSfcdYJWethHSlNF_0F9yRf5K/s1600/arroz-con-leche-ii.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xg8M2lKquvDAi1XQfFxN8DNjApWxRdcd3xGqAs9u2zSei2y04mZhFhezl-3VQT5nd6XWDWynezY_KGFecocZzT8ix2J7UkCJkq1BSvZOiuiz2lRoLlHHSfcdYJWethHSlNF_0F9yRf5K/s320/arroz-con-leche-ii.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">MARIA'S</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are lovely milk crackers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They have different brands </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but are pretty much the same.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are not too sweet </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and are wonderful for dipping</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">into your coffee.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They make a great snack also.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I always carry them in my pack.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are always under 1 Euro.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0osRrKvlUEuqn_otmRiCUUu_fS4za_qWstHjgaY4bP09IyJd-6JRQMoj0OcCB__5HgY8tvUArqZyq2kUaGTqjaYABu037uN4eCCKwtOvIBzkk0FUumJRRjq5Ki_31FrIikSs0kl1WG4A2/s1600/maria-cookies-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0osRrKvlUEuqn_otmRiCUUu_fS4za_qWstHjgaY4bP09IyJd-6JRQMoj0OcCB__5HgY8tvUArqZyq2kUaGTqjaYABu037uN4eCCKwtOvIBzkk0FUumJRRjq5Ki_31FrIikSs0kl1WG4A2/s320/maria-cookies-small.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">FRESH HUEVOS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fresh farm eggs are everywhere </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in the tiendas along the Camino.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are so much different from the processed eggs you buy in the supermarket, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">you will be surprised. The yolks are dark yellow and sometimes even orange. They stand up rather than run all over the skillet. They are FRESH and full of goodness. Don't pass by the opportunity to eat eggs straight from the farm. You can buy them by the 'each.' You don't have to buy a dozen. I have paid anywhere from 10 to 30 cents each. Take them to the albergue and boil them up. Carry them in your mochila. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peel and slice them, making your own fresh breakfast bocadillo</span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6tP5YTAb5FIw2Gehu2rvNe8s4aRTqdl_o_UcRiQUsEerBH01QM99njL8QpaWCvBGdTg0nef0IJUSHOiQy2K0SBoZC0AmKnC3UmJ6y648MRyLPtPQ0rYMSapOtw8NOOT22ihEottQa-wM/s1600/huevos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6tP5YTAb5FIw2Gehu2rvNe8s4aRTqdl_o_UcRiQUsEerBH01QM99njL8QpaWCvBGdTg0nef0IJUSHOiQy2K0SBoZC0AmKnC3UmJ6y648MRyLPtPQ0rYMSapOtw8NOOT22ihEottQa-wM/s320/huevos.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TOSTADA</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Spain, tostada means "toast."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It comes dry </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">unless you specify "con" something.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may or may not get butter and jam.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may or may not get </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">another type of spread.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My favorite spread </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">was one on the Via de la Plata.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was made of lard mixed with minced meat,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and colored with paprika.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is called manteca colora,</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">and I have a blog on making it at home</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">if you like it.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a photo of tostada con tomate,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">a paste made of tomatos and olive oil.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Delicious for breakfast!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tjGxxu-GSdvVWkFSU9Zy41TqNVkT6bz_IN9Tj2gzF9YeJ6BxYA2GEHbCjA23oQ6CAe_jVy7dpuZCplLNoH2BlNCmvqrCRepxskbAb8oTbU2O7QxLfKeNXhowaZN9F0u7NE_MfugBT54U/s1600/dsc01239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tjGxxu-GSdvVWkFSU9Zy41TqNVkT6bz_IN9Tj2gzF9YeJ6BxYA2GEHbCjA23oQ6CAe_jVy7dpuZCplLNoH2BlNCmvqrCRepxskbAb8oTbU2O7QxLfKeNXhowaZN9F0u7NE_MfugBT54U/s320/dsc01239.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, if you stay in a private albergue, </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">breakfast will be included in the price.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast is continental </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and generally consists of</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">coffee, bread and butter, and jam.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can almost eat all you want.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Local bakeries are often required by law </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">to donate a certain number of </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">fresh loaves of bread daily to the refugios </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">to feed the pilgrims. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So be happy that someone loves you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are probably many more choices, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but these have been the ones </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">that I am most familiar with.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, no matter what you order, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">if your Spanish isn't up to par, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">you may get a surprise!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My advice is to be a good pilgrim and take what is offered with grace. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You will have learned something new, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and after all, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">that is part of the Camino adventure!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buen Camino!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLf23Mc6kpon_IcEZmByWAjP-nfZvVBN41dxjOk2dhqiKvkUSZbt8bZL70pGlvdQX3QwMzLtuix7uaU6alrV_ydcZY1bEB_w7gi-Jpd6IpXFDqYbCgXvNM1f0yCmGHBXoTdAC5inFI4tp/s1600/pauline.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLf23Mc6kpon_IcEZmByWAjP-nfZvVBN41dxjOk2dhqiKvkUSZbt8bZL70pGlvdQX3QwMzLtuix7uaU6alrV_ydcZY1bEB_w7gi-Jpd6IpXFDqYbCgXvNM1f0yCmGHBXoTdAC5inFI4tp/s320/pauline.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-17210439128187872852022-11-26T14:06:00.003-08:002022-11-27T06:47:08.565-08:00Facebook Group<p>I wanted to mention I have a Camino Planning Group on Facebook.</p><p>It is called Santiago Planning 2023 and there will be a ton of great information there to help you plan your Camino. I will probably change the name each year, if FB allows it.</p><p>Here is a link: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/672287091081356">https://www.facebook.com/groups/672287091081356</a></p><p><br />Also, I have a YouTube Channel called Anniesantiago13.</p><p>I hope the information I'm posting will be helpful. If so, please "like" the videos and share. <br /><br />Buen Camino!</p><p>Annie</p>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-52723604778336172012022-11-25T06:00:00.003-08:002022-11-25T06:00:50.545-08:00Pilgrim Lodgings - What Are They Like? 2022<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hola Peregrinos!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This will be a photo-heavy blog about lodgings on the Camino. As I explained in the previous post, there is a wide range when it comes to places to sleep. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">***</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Parochials are run by the Catholic Church. They are almost always "donativo" and you often will sleep on mats on the floor. Please don't let that put you off. The mats are amazingly comfortable; sometimes more comfortable than lumpy beds! And they almost always will feed you dinner and breakfast. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember, "donativo" does NOT mean FREE! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It means donation, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and YOUR donation feeds the pilgrims </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">that sleep here tomorrow, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">so be generous. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If they give me only a bed, I usually leave at least €8-10. If they feed me, I leave €15 to €20. <br />If you think that is a lot, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">tell me where in YOUR country </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">can you get a clean, safe place to sleep </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and a nice dinner for $20?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some parochial albergues, such as the one in Leon, will have separate rooms for men and women. <br />Others will put everyone together.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Municipal albergues are run </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by the local village government. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The hospitaleros who manage them, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">may or may not have walked the Camino. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Prices are generally set and there is a wide range.<br />Men and women are housed together, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but often have separate bathroom/showers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bathrooms CAN be coed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Associated albergues are sponsored by religious institutions (like confraternaties) or by pilgrim groups from different countries around the world (like the American Pilgrims on the Camino). One example of an associated albergue is San Nicolás near Itero de la Vega in Stage 15 (there are two different San Nicolas albergues). It is run by an Italian confraternity and is a WONDERFUL experience! Another example is Guacelmo in Rabanal del Camimo in Stage 23. These can be donativo, but most ask for a nominal fee. They are staffed by volunteers who almost always have walked the Camino themselves. They often have rules other albergues may not have. For example, you are not allowed to stay at Guacelmo if you have booked bag transport. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You MUST carry your own backpack.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some, like San Nicolás will serve dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Others, like Guacelmo, offer a kitchen</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">where you can cook for yourself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In parochial, municipal, and associated albergues, you will almost never get clean sheets each day, although some have gone to using paper bed covers, which are nice. Most will provide a pillow, but no clean pillowcase. Most will provide blankets, though this is being stopped in some albergues due to the bedbug issue.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Private albergues are owned by private parties. They are (in my opinion) often cleaner, but you will also pay more. Most privates give you linens, including a towel. Most change the sheets and pillowcases each day. Every private I've used supplies blankets. Most are very clean and upscale as they are in competition with other privates in the area and depend on good reviews. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These albergues may have one bed or may have 100 beds. The beds may be split up into separate rooms, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or they may all be in one room. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Men and women usually have separate shared bathrooms.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many albergues listed above will have a common space kitchen, or at least a place to boil water (microwave). Most with a kitchen will provide cutlery, cooking pots, refrigerator, etc. Some, especially in Galicia, will have a beautiful kitchen with not one pot or plate or piece of silverware. I asked about this once, and was told that pilgrims stole it all, and they refused to replace it. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hostels exist all along the route. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A hostel might have several beds in one room </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for one price (€10+) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or they may offer a few private rooms </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for singles or dobles (€20+). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hostels often have a common kitchen. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The private rooms almost always include clean linens. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The dorm rooms may not - just ask. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The price may or may not include breakfast next morning. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Casa Rurals are all along the route. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are regular houses. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes the host family lives in them. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes not. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For me, these are a treat that I really enjoy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Prices for a room usually start around €30 for a single </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and go up, depending on how fancy the place is. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You often have use of the kitchen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Apartamentos Touristicos are apartments that are rented for one or more nights. This can really be a value if you're traveling in a group. I usually can expect to pay €100 for an apartment that will sleep up to 8 people, depending on if they need twin beds or not. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hotels are just that - hotels. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">DOBLE vs. MATRIMONIAL. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's important to know, if you are booking lodging ahead for two pilgrims who are not related, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">that a DOBLE is often what we would call </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a single double bed in the USA. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is one bed meant for 2 people to sleep in. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you need TWO beds, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">you must be sure to ask for "dos camas individuales." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A single double bed is also referred to as a "matrimonial." A bunkbed is called a "litera."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Booking ahead. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Parochials and Municipals generally will NOT allow you to book ahead. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First come, first serve is the way they operate. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However, privates, hostels, casa rurals, apartments, and hotels will all allow you to book ahead. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the last year or so, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">more and more albergues are allowing pilgrims</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to book ahead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">PASSPORTS. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do not worry if the hostelier asks you </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to surrender your passport. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spanish law requires them to record your information</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> and it is common, especially if they are busy,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for them to take your passport when you check in. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They will return it either that night or in the morning. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Nobody wants to keep your passport. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you have questions or comments, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">please leave them at the bottom of the blog </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or go to my Facebook page, Camino Santiago Planning. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next, I'll post some photos for you, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">so you can get an idea of what to expect. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These will be in no particular order. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You should be able to click on the photos </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to make them larger. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpbvjrhD_sCdMlWzEVe_N5abOJ2kBT0Zl8BCha3O-R1tGB-C9esh_fT91ADs0pMKVoRoJGtpPQrsr1LGtaPwCn3T3mtE5hUAPfnm_eSzE39wnkhM_SWLB1SaL20sFoBS_FiFko6mSuZs/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+021+8.19+Santiago.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpbvjrhD_sCdMlWzEVe_N5abOJ2kBT0Zl8BCha3O-R1tGB-C9esh_fT91ADs0pMKVoRoJGtpPQrsr1LGtaPwCn3T3mtE5hUAPfnm_eSzE39wnkhM_SWLB1SaL20sFoBS_FiFko6mSuZs/s320/Camino+2009+Part+1+021+8.19+Santiago.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Private - Santiago</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhOuBZIbhCuf-rVLPAoz6PZ6w6kqnBTajiYSa7M5633qNJ-9ZK3Sd1I_H_K7dyujCgXFwMcqzQXxSREtMEeZypXwXxyxM_ztuYo5s74WISWtnn6qM_kPMgnh0fBEpnFjBFwHBioejtp65/s1600/Roncesvalles.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhOuBZIbhCuf-rVLPAoz6PZ6w6kqnBTajiYSa7M5633qNJ-9ZK3Sd1I_H_K7dyujCgXFwMcqzQXxSREtMEeZypXwXxyxM_ztuYo5s74WISWtnn6qM_kPMgnh0fBEpnFjBFwHBioejtp65/s320/Roncesvalles.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Roncesvalles - Old Albergue</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWo5iEKhOB3Y4RBKX0OLcB-LpgKYdrc-M6N_gtYiR7QeXbuQUSVaoLG4lZXNY2QnewU2XrevY8zqXfcPUrF7OYebGdUchGrwzR-aneK7tDOwdumSd_nao1_nGNVmVw8auzfanAkuUV6CT/s1600/Zubiri.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWo5iEKhOB3Y4RBKX0OLcB-LpgKYdrc-M6N_gtYiR7QeXbuQUSVaoLG4lZXNY2QnewU2XrevY8zqXfcPUrF7OYebGdUchGrwzR-aneK7tDOwdumSd_nao1_nGNVmVw8auzfanAkuUV6CT/s320/Zubiri.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Zubiri Municipal<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECKnjBut95QLMucGp8RlM4nLL1xjTrqdlfHcQDvyN0eT5ZpLpoglemzXvzUXojdr4QBN3uvZdb72hLzqhT6BPHtNU5UsnP9RbAiTh3VxZ5aGsNSxk7bHYWykH-0-LvUmC_UjXFxX89r43/s1600/IMG_0580.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECKnjBut95QLMucGp8RlM4nLL1xjTrqdlfHcQDvyN0eT5ZpLpoglemzXvzUXojdr4QBN3uvZdb72hLzqhT6BPHtNU5UsnP9RbAiTh3VxZ5aGsNSxk7bHYWykH-0-LvUmC_UjXFxX89r43/s320/IMG_0580.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Trinidad de Arre<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenglSzcmKZpTs6eZJWavCB1J570aPh0yDaSSdu8856o3blTW8LzL978GW5yitRu8HXW5LYEx0Ev7WdMNJWI5y7A4hYfl9s8hLrPNKBT2_AxvIOh-mmz5UR_RoT9DMq_JaaPvmVvDsqBE8/s1600/IMG_0585.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenglSzcmKZpTs6eZJWavCB1J570aPh0yDaSSdu8856o3blTW8LzL978GW5yitRu8HXW5LYEx0Ev7WdMNJWI5y7A4hYfl9s8hLrPNKBT2_AxvIOh-mmz5UR_RoT9DMq_JaaPvmVvDsqBE8/s320/IMG_0585.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Trinidad de Arre has a nice sala</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhrtB7-p1KCLlYGbvkMPqw759IS6e64T20naE7Uf9IerWTCRqcRiamv8lqVjM8JGQ0sYo9qvQ9KAlBGxjGL2ocOcuySXSY16xWMf4TlA8Z-DQHcVzQqgkqMuPqZl6mYBbDzemQCumbcYR/s1600/Trinidad+de+Arre1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhrtB7-p1KCLlYGbvkMPqw759IS6e64T20naE7Uf9IerWTCRqcRiamv8lqVjM8JGQ0sYo9qvQ9KAlBGxjGL2ocOcuySXSY16xWMf4TlA8Z-DQHcVzQqgkqMuPqZl6mYBbDzemQCumbcYR/s320/Trinidad+de+Arre1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Trinidad de Arre dorm</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXooheFJF0JrewsPh-c4YNM1z47sEQ4uM9v_wVAV9croO1fn1QklTxo3a7xcx_1wl9Ru_q_Imw6OTicZC-YkGcdZvlWQYqqMNoNbtUjvcf7joeMVGFMlUtm-IrMyl780gry6us2L6Niio/s1600/IMG_0677+Free+Bedsmall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXooheFJF0JrewsPh-c4YNM1z47sEQ4uM9v_wVAV9croO1fn1QklTxo3a7xcx_1wl9Ru_q_Imw6OTicZC-YkGcdZvlWQYqqMNoNbtUjvcf7joeMVGFMlUtm-IrMyl780gry6us2L6Niio/s320/IMG_0677+Free+Bedsmall.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Two-bed albergue at Uterga - closed now :(</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gLSI9VQ_GlmRMBRNwh8r7QebM6ahQXeOdgXraGGun74Wf8kPf8Yq8X166NLRf_a-65FFNe_KsfqP8BIm9Y4XcgZgWw6-Otjeg9IPRNRG2yimJpi6Dhz-V4zvKWq2St_Kd4TTFTSll1qF/s1600/IMG_0424.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gLSI9VQ_GlmRMBRNwh8r7QebM6ahQXeOdgXraGGun74Wf8kPf8Yq8X166NLRf_a-65FFNe_KsfqP8BIm9Y4XcgZgWw6-Otjeg9IPRNRG2yimJpi6Dhz-V4zvKWq2St_Kd4TTFTSll1qF/s320/IMG_0424.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gite in SJPP </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i5x06DRjrP9mBPe_0lvMgBEC9Y-YzS-nL156olMSzkSbQgh40oEc3LDyfwpKALVe5j5apH9KZ_orchUY28AClt1UZGKI2paq3ubE_WVjvN5y5OEp6qKtY6qWPHKU-tCKZWA7IqRRi7MZ/s1600/IMG_0842.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i5x06DRjrP9mBPe_0lvMgBEC9Y-YzS-nL156olMSzkSbQgh40oEc3LDyfwpKALVe5j5apH9KZ_orchUY28AClt1UZGKI2paq3ubE_WVjvN5y5OEp6qKtY6qWPHKU-tCKZWA7IqRRi7MZ/s320/IMG_0842.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dinner with Priest at Parochial in Viana</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1IkDl5PNxMnTlHSCFICL4W_dVE3V9lSCIYB0kKD4R1sHAa6G7Jzusl1eSvs1iJFpE5MJop_bWNwHhL_WQc0nHYiMfzUF77qWZcyAgOETrOVVE6ey_lZT35wpIzSOaG6XW8pM4BkLGKM/s1600/0924+1338+Sahagun+where+Rowan+got+sick.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1IkDl5PNxMnTlHSCFICL4W_dVE3V9lSCIYB0kKD4R1sHAa6G7Jzusl1eSvs1iJFpE5MJop_bWNwHhL_WQc0nHYiMfzUF77qWZcyAgOETrOVVE6ey_lZT35wpIzSOaG6XW8pM4BkLGKM/s320/0924+1338+Sahagun+where+Rowan+got+sick.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sahagun Albergue has little cubbies</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmW1KnxOWkB7GOINXHRpH34U6ubdWlvbTiU8Etytehnf3vglR9o1jzmqP7lpkTZhmp0Mk7Fu0i78_C9HBbsdZuIn6InJrHmv1G8xkbFPWDBhsCQROYFSp7ELKAnJigzsb8tZNUjH4cqo/s1600/IMG_1128+Joe+in+Burgos++El+Parral.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmW1KnxOWkB7GOINXHRpH34U6ubdWlvbTiU8Etytehnf3vglR9o1jzmqP7lpkTZhmp0Mk7Fu0i78_C9HBbsdZuIn6InJrHmv1G8xkbFPWDBhsCQROYFSp7ELKAnJigzsb8tZNUjH4cqo/s320/IMG_1128+Joe+in+Burgos++El+Parral.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Old Burgos Albergue</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAr4pl7fgK71m6ar54xmztGoLtUWM2D3cIlZ94sFc_GOJXYTUKRNL5dHIOInqREmSYMTMaYOxCfePvhUiLSOsZ-dJBaJN6eSqpzS0CfsX0M5BIhGI29U48coUNmheM6GkLWUw_739HIsb/s1600/20+Casa+Rural+Doble+con+Bano.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAr4pl7fgK71m6ar54xmztGoLtUWM2D3cIlZ94sFc_GOJXYTUKRNL5dHIOInqREmSYMTMaYOxCfePvhUiLSOsZ-dJBaJN6eSqpzS0CfsX0M5BIhGI29U48coUNmheM6GkLWUw_739HIsb/s320/20+Casa+Rural+Doble+con+Bano.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Casa Morgade Private</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_w8V7V98mFyvIWOPd11F32SxvvrWSqA56PkwAzSw1-cTuNUz3ovLJXHFYxjQh9EYhveozMpDe-goEcw7mUvGu2RtspsZBRpXbADEgPOLF_Lnvn9Q1udhKOCSycNeIwHevDkk5A3w7tCW/s1600/Los+Arcos+Albergue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_w8V7V98mFyvIWOPd11F32SxvvrWSqA56PkwAzSw1-cTuNUz3ovLJXHFYxjQh9EYhveozMpDe-goEcw7mUvGu2RtspsZBRpXbADEgPOLF_Lnvn9Q1udhKOCSycNeIwHevDkk5A3w7tCW/s320/Los+Arcos+Albergue.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not my photo - but this is what it's like! lol!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqipY5za358_WPFGWyFzRSYUXHYVMJU_XcU1STC5YeiBxDxtNv2iX7ZP5FEY9J3uths6CUl4QlrigrWbWm83exDlKQM1zxDOHIv_MpLBuBiKT0Qhkj8RwK15dIbX-SnWxbs3eWHDkM64/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+009+8.19+Santiago.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqipY5za358_WPFGWyFzRSYUXHYVMJU_XcU1STC5YeiBxDxtNv2iX7ZP5FEY9J3uths6CUl4QlrigrWbWm83exDlKQM1zxDOHIv_MpLBuBiKT0Qhkj8RwK15dIbX-SnWxbs3eWHDkM64/s320/Camino+2009+Part+1+009+8.19+Santiago.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Private doble twin</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4oKEpk2oQZIAzWO7IBIqnPjNnid73mKpJtWqAS0fVcJHXX7RSVzKbfOuDExAMKtjNGm5FDtUVl18JPlrV77UflDKUG-1iEAfzw9zl7XVUb-8HciD7TJMFFBo8Ar-iUjbNxFsQ6l7SG8r/s1600/IMG_0985.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4oKEpk2oQZIAzWO7IBIqnPjNnid73mKpJtWqAS0fVcJHXX7RSVzKbfOuDExAMKtjNGm5FDtUVl18JPlrV77UflDKUG-1iEAfzw9zl7XVUb-8HciD7TJMFFBo8Ar-iUjbNxFsQ6l7SG8r/s320/IMG_0985.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My breakfast in bed at the Parador in Sto. Domingo del Calzada!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfFGFxx4AoQmsdWf_m-BXrPL1vbsCunrh8ORck-zMPu0is7f2U9vWln2vBh-Zg0hamb8YZ6pxdv84iOKURxK3ATaGhzJwOmjdqVpEPG5M4LywMQZJERJgTn3Xg7icJEEegqYPCqqi8UU/s1600/IMG_1056+Aulbergue+at+Espinosa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfFGFxx4AoQmsdWf_m-BXrPL1vbsCunrh8ORck-zMPu0is7f2U9vWln2vBh-Zg0hamb8YZ6pxdv84iOKURxK3ATaGhzJwOmjdqVpEPG5M4LywMQZJERJgTn3Xg7icJEEegqYPCqqi8UU/s320/IMG_1056+Aulbergue+at+Espinosa.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Private in Espinoza<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-SDeZveeO9WIV19ctvQ7Do85Fq3Fmz2UG9MyTnP_TaemVLiDSDm6Xtfc3H4M4IqvmHoFKu9ovcdP93P-0ktfKiq8_aWhZcIdjQaJeIDNRfBoDa5eg-9I1FawpJkhib_uA8usm0rrK_4/s1600/0918_1220+Marina+Zotz+Verner+Christina+Esmerelda+Fulgencia+Rowan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-SDeZveeO9WIV19ctvQ7Do85Fq3Fmz2UG9MyTnP_TaemVLiDSDm6Xtfc3H4M4IqvmHoFKu9ovcdP93P-0ktfKiq8_aWhZcIdjQaJeIDNRfBoDa5eg-9I1FawpJkhib_uA8usm0rrK_4/s320/0918_1220+Marina+Zotz+Verner+Christina+Esmerelda+Fulgencia+Rowan.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Family Style Dinner at San Anton</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKB6SR3D0TWT77pRkxjsR6yrsbvyP1jkg_YUZaE2VqhACZSpLOaoR7TGmRFn_nkxImmedGrgjKeHRZOspcd1iyM9T30Lj1TjftFAb3AgCdG1sluEVIgqqjn_u0KhglMas3e0TuVBMCO0/s1600/Day+1+to+Guillena+alburgue2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKB6SR3D0TWT77pRkxjsR6yrsbvyP1jkg_YUZaE2VqhACZSpLOaoR7TGmRFn_nkxImmedGrgjKeHRZOspcd1iyM9T30Lj1TjftFAb3AgCdG1sluEVIgqqjn_u0KhglMas3e0TuVBMCO0/s320/Day+1+to+Guillena+alburgue2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Guillena Albergue - VDLP</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8SdCj4Z8i3oIi-GTnnsHah_NEcRWoQp6Q4O8CVB4QBkZT3RO0GL2sVd4qVVMgdqlEwuSo6gzZxxWeWAxKFBuut9zrHPCwOja84556cSpGkUA91eultldDxi0VnlNZIcwQrwo18RfpRo/s1600/Day+2+11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8SdCj4Z8i3oIi-GTnnsHah_NEcRWoQp6Q4O8CVB4QBkZT3RO0GL2sVd4qVVMgdqlEwuSo6gzZxxWeWAxKFBuut9zrHPCwOja84556cSpGkUA91eultldDxi0VnlNZIcwQrwo18RfpRo/s320/Day+2+11.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Castilblanco - VDLP<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsZNYsQx1Xon2iNJ_uISJwoZoDH5Ev3GUAxP-FZLbqe9Ckm3y1munHEHZveELp_YQopVbrWCKbIxzDJaQGg0nmwTfDE-clrwRU0NH5kKHMQwHUXmz8IJrUX1DcA6TnmPfjeXkwTbRHjY/s1600/Day+3+185.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsZNYsQx1Xon2iNJ_uISJwoZoDH5Ev3GUAxP-FZLbqe9Ckm3y1munHEHZveELp_YQopVbrWCKbIxzDJaQGg0nmwTfDE-clrwRU0NH5kKHMQwHUXmz8IJrUX1DcA6TnmPfjeXkwTbRHjY/s320/Day+3+185.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sleeping out - VDLP<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5kvDuwPk8-Rgag7EznPxkxzda_z4BMggjBcapovPI7SuXT2W_GWCrZtRONRTy7i67oesQvzxj6xTnsDuqKIdfttxkxz6D5UylvX4lbc0h9drqI8RSNVWVhyxYwUUwMIlcuWkXRvkvWY/s1600/Day+6+252.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5kvDuwPk8-Rgag7EznPxkxzda_z4BMggjBcapovPI7SuXT2W_GWCrZtRONRTy7i67oesQvzxj6xTnsDuqKIdfttxkxz6D5UylvX4lbc0h9drqI8RSNVWVhyxYwUUwMIlcuWkXRvkvWY/s320/Day+6+252.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sometimes a wee bathtub makes a Private worth the cash!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D6a7b910VeAcEv9CueNKFISKsKNG1a6z9dft9ItSCB-t3bXtn98xT5lPilk11NjqNTOYJtfPjzP17j36tZQXm5CtHvDx_wWKyNU_7d9bNbEw1lMl3esw859lDVlcmTv_Z20ZTkdEiFY/s1600/Copy+of+Camino+2009+Part+1+323.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D6a7b910VeAcEv9CueNKFISKsKNG1a6z9dft9ItSCB-t3bXtn98xT5lPilk11NjqNTOYJtfPjzP17j36tZQXm5CtHvDx_wWKyNU_7d9bNbEw1lMl3esw859lDVlcmTv_Z20ZTkdEiFY/s320/Copy+of+Camino+2009+Part+1+323.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Albergue Refugio de Jesus - Vilar de Mazariffe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeKfHJhGh0zeuv8vVAwp3HAJcLc4tjEWzwyR26Uze2YxIEBp5H23lO-LWYMZa9aG4F1vjJUmg3qkNmPkM12TZt9tbt67sUH7aU_8UKRU5IXDZjsrH35nvNGZALTcIvNAtZUyDjxu4u7c/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+507.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeKfHJhGh0zeuv8vVAwp3HAJcLc4tjEWzwyR26Uze2YxIEBp5H23lO-LWYMZa9aG4F1vjJUmg3qkNmPkM12TZt9tbt67sUH7aU_8UKRU5IXDZjsrH35nvNGZALTcIvNAtZUyDjxu4u7c/s320/Camino+2009+Part+1+507.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sleeping outside at Municipal in Molinaseca b/c I found bedbugs inside!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrqunbpTdgOlaZFg7_L2IY6MKfkGaXMQ_NVm3YB0bRn0FL0Vw6N_NfhP8KyMxcnbG4pIAx4rtSs-wKR_CYUcuHlclUHXPzlebPgqXui7pvHR1oXQxCc16MjIy5lXL9ukd6rS__Xhe5XQ/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+442.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrqunbpTdgOlaZFg7_L2IY6MKfkGaXMQ_NVm3YB0bRn0FL0Vw6N_NfhP8KyMxcnbG4pIAx4rtSs-wKR_CYUcuHlclUHXPzlebPgqXui7pvHR1oXQxCc16MjIy5lXL9ukd6rS__Xhe5XQ/s320/Camino+2009+Part+1+442.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nice kitchen at Guacelmo in Rabanal del Camino</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU5QbFajOK1sdNUM2yCufIOh62B7DmJ5QAoXTN3ZjK1qMAx8eLHznPSZ-W15gAVqGvO4j2lYCj5zi_WhLoDQyf61QHfbatxkUfkbhyBYBEvsebGsFi838uluu8H6E4q3DrwfIhGXIFFI/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+471.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU5QbFajOK1sdNUM2yCufIOh62B7DmJ5QAoXTN3ZjK1qMAx8eLHznPSZ-W15gAVqGvO4j2lYCj5zi_WhLoDQyf61QHfbatxkUfkbhyBYBEvsebGsFi838uluu8H6E4q3DrwfIhGXIFFI/s320/Camino+2009+Part+1+471.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Manjarin - one of my favorites!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0yIVkgT1DIqOmW72Y6zRDhHo3yFIWsx701UppmCWo9KOq6rrk8rKY1R5zNCHI7EfdjfW5Lg_no9eu-M5IBKRoL82vapcgMXHR4vyJuSRVQ8ciyZKOTasqlFnwZXXBw5nzVyU8EABbdY/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+680.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0yIVkgT1DIqOmW72Y6zRDhHo3yFIWsx701UppmCWo9KOq6rrk8rKY1R5zNCHI7EfdjfW5Lg_no9eu-M5IBKRoL82vapcgMXHR4vyJuSRVQ8ciyZKOTasqlFnwZXXBw5nzVyU8EABbdY/s320/Camino+2009+Part+1+680.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sometimes a private is just what the doctor ordered - I was sick </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAy11LgsSaDITkdWU75g1uOogwjzNVRSzLDaYbEu1fAEreXsKsOUAfELh9SB9aEdGl3UNx4urOs0DXwfalirdSo21_m8kWpZC_vMQbhFgdTI6Ftm8ZRmp1hEmHfYZtsU47jzdljLh_xkw/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+2+071.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAy11LgsSaDITkdWU75g1uOogwjzNVRSzLDaYbEu1fAEreXsKsOUAfELh9SB9aEdGl3UNx4urOs0DXwfalirdSo21_m8kWpZC_vMQbhFgdTI6Ftm8ZRmp1hEmHfYZtsU47jzdljLh_xkw/s320/Camino+2009+Part+2+071.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Quad room at Casa Morgade</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQkbNPev7qSeY7HEG9ekrqAzq1BI-glSOBLFsqL9ETm5kLay-JkvPSBgDQLGQyCn4bLOjpB3yEXs2EMc_U_P3rgGOmaj_6dw2OncB0CteUn5rMXjz6_oiW1ApZdEECM7jYekkGxt-coQ/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+1+530.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQkbNPev7qSeY7HEG9ekrqAzq1BI-glSOBLFsqL9ETm5kLay-JkvPSBgDQLGQyCn4bLOjpB3yEXs2EMc_U_P3rgGOmaj_6dw2OncB0CteUn5rMXjz6_oiW1ApZdEECM7jYekkGxt-coQ/s320/Camino+2009+Part+1+530.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cacabelos Municipal - 2 beds to a room - but check for bedbugs and don't be afraid to ask for a different room if you find them! </span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUeXVMJLkXpaQLxBFR0bGC336jhUohpihMxKlxOVzrdHxBLmwHXDVEo2K_r13g0nbjw8cJEnxEJTcxzCfKUt5tmhLQWoK_91roq0BKFfYeh5jYkc09VQ8pUujs1uFXpH2Dkg-k4-RtJM/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+2+052.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUeXVMJLkXpaQLxBFR0bGC336jhUohpihMxKlxOVzrdHxBLmwHXDVEo2K_r13g0nbjw8cJEnxEJTcxzCfKUt5tmhLQWoK_91roq0BKFfYeh5jYkc09VQ8pUujs1uFXpH2Dkg-k4-RtJM/s320/Camino+2009+Part+2+052.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">VERY crowded Municipal at Sarria - so many other great places to stay there</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ftr-aM7f5K5UKh45wpGnSNbozBF7AXm_E-avE0H2YezeFutzpGFI9v4axohpq6RXI6lpf6bhla5N6Sm5RXKrVO4UoIutOiFlb71MNHzkamJwvRiPaglb6KavEX7KrXoTAog8-QdWoyA/s1600/Camino+2009+Part+2+095.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ftr-aM7f5K5UKh45wpGnSNbozBF7AXm_E-avE0H2YezeFutzpGFI9v4axohpq6RXI6lpf6bhla5N6Sm5RXKrVO4UoIutOiFlb71MNHzkamJwvRiPaglb6KavEX7KrXoTAog8-QdWoyA/s320/Camino+2009+Part+2+095.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nice new kitchen in Portomarin Municipal</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZjYDckv1ZKs8a8Mo07Uzj4HYDBM8c7J-bJHYvRMWnNyYwtqm-5Y6a9XePRi05om2QHw25k4TpHWVz5xMluOxVaEkJv7h93Mhv_NscH3q05fNyn-PkZ8ntpqRUzOaJBydOYP-09G9Zus/s1600/Day+5+228+Real+de+la+Jara.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZjYDckv1ZKs8a8Mo07Uzj4HYDBM8c7J-bJHYvRMWnNyYwtqm-5Y6a9XePRi05om2QHw25k4TpHWVz5xMluOxVaEkJv7h93Mhv_NscH3q05fNyn-PkZ8ntpqRUzOaJBydOYP-09G9Zus/s320/Day+5+228+Real+de+la+Jara.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">El Real de la Jara Municipal - VDLP - cool little hobbit house!</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EOWED1e7byPBT1AcWvMKw-F9sJt2BkYQk2LSUkYh5mYBBQwh5jRUAMe_rl1pNM-pHamQYjnQs-3gjajKI0eiU_8lxDFXVOIyYl4Pu1P3VttvTm8WwhCYMDzXKZwUGrvwgDttzXuOcmQ/s1600/IMG_5011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EOWED1e7byPBT1AcWvMKw-F9sJt2BkYQk2LSUkYh5mYBBQwh5jRUAMe_rl1pNM-pHamQYjnQs-3gjajKI0eiU_8lxDFXVOIyYl4Pu1P3VttvTm8WwhCYMDzXKZwUGrvwgDttzXuOcmQ/w320-h240/IMG_5011.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />Obanos<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">Obanos - never again - this was the rudest damned guy </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some places just leave a bad taste in your mouth, and this place at Obanos was one of them. The hospitalero, a priest, was mean as a snake. The pilgrims came into the place in FREEZING wind, and he refused to issue blankets. He told us we should have a sleeping bag. Well, we DID, but we were frozen to the bone. He finally, after about 20 people begged, gave us blankets, but begrudgingly and with nasty looks. When I tried to use the kitchen to heat water for cocoa, he followed me in and GLARED at me as though I was going to steal something. I believe this was the worst night I've ever spent on the Camino and I will never darken this door again. Perhaps he was just having an off day, but I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this place.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzq08GwWTfekaA6IFn1PB2il47ar4f0RzHDG6S1A41w0faPECdoOXiqTLCwJc7hrGy4OhZUF-Nq7UxcISJa7kn4-NYc96bSc0k2mZnI62SxHx5xOg3dOgjUeEDwWn3WxVdqV0AxkVOMI/s1600/IMG_5014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzq08GwWTfekaA6IFn1PB2il47ar4f0RzHDG6S1A41w0faPECdoOXiqTLCwJc7hrGy4OhZUF-Nq7UxcISJa7kn4-NYc96bSc0k2mZnI62SxHx5xOg3dOgjUeEDwWn3WxVdqV0AxkVOMI/s320/IMG_5014.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Here is a photo of "Mr. Friendly."</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next 3 photos are of an albergue </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I passed after leaving Obanos. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe it is of Albergue Lur Gorri, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a private albergue in Maneru. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I will stay here sometime as it looks wonderful!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7R9SlTXHSOxjQNCu2tr8MVu_jAtC2qxBJI0nMiauUH2QVbD2KGI6CHULZFf1F8SebHLqsXvfEhfHzdjmVdeKFeP1GxE5tliQcM5nSwR5aJEtLy092mNJTnLL2-nao6vBLque_Z0qBEw/s1600/IMG_5020.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7R9SlTXHSOxjQNCu2tr8MVu_jAtC2qxBJI0nMiauUH2QVbD2KGI6CHULZFf1F8SebHLqsXvfEhfHzdjmVdeKFeP1GxE5tliQcM5nSwR5aJEtLy092mNJTnLL2-nao6vBLque_Z0qBEw/s320/IMG_5020.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ-flohNp7YGt3eZSwHIdp57rEFbGKcbGgMfEnIOGAW0WYzEJZGQ0VG-iu1Icm8uFZdyOXsVfMKokHmDf2MxLYeECi_GS4cWGpgfxoFpfXl8R81rRaPgNXJztvzeK8MmKIzsxvA5aaRQ/s1600/IMG_5018.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ-flohNp7YGt3eZSwHIdp57rEFbGKcbGgMfEnIOGAW0WYzEJZGQ0VG-iu1Icm8uFZdyOXsVfMKokHmDf2MxLYeECi_GS4cWGpgfxoFpfXl8R81rRaPgNXJztvzeK8MmKIzsxvA5aaRQ/s320/IMG_5018.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_VAxUEHoLUXC9cAMV3R4BwDPqcM4wTisBAgi0g4DvLZV4lEJXgMpmUTC2fADGTfJTiADe-QaSHiwbTVokS0MX0LYYovPeNeI9XWc4qJfFk40ET9KyToMU6_MU1Ic_kZmWtsscF0L9HM/s1600/IMG_5019.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_VAxUEHoLUXC9cAMV3R4BwDPqcM4wTisBAgi0g4DvLZV4lEJXgMpmUTC2fADGTfJTiADe-QaSHiwbTVokS0MX0LYYovPeNeI9XWc4qJfFk40ET9KyToMU6_MU1Ic_kZmWtsscF0L9HM/s320/IMG_5019.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyEOIA4skDLrMLgcFFdrY1Gm5RTxpAFK6BI_OWSWA9HNowTvwGyeL0wMBAbJ0_MQKEe9geBNF4SPgZbz2ZEafTZM8l7JZyNr6HFLtXHf17XpOAN6XCnBjCMl0xMGeZqIWwCIoKrLyOeI/s1600/IMG_5060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyEOIA4skDLrMLgcFFdrY1Gm5RTxpAFK6BI_OWSWA9HNowTvwGyeL0wMBAbJ0_MQKEe9geBNF4SPgZbz2ZEafTZM8l7JZyNr6HFLtXHf17XpOAN6XCnBjCMl0xMGeZqIWwCIoKrLyOeI/s320/IMG_5060.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Another wonderful family style dinner at Viana Parochial</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwRYD5l6GNY-WJlRjcX4sSa1IP6FcTQ6V10CFLdqp8ANdAI7vzc1IGFg9rAs1p4Bh4JEnGi_B38FpLYjZm-sNOHgL_wUJAjR-QyokO9AM4tbqmVA-LR0-SiE0eEYmpqNQyKcvfYr5lzE/s1600/IMG_5030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwRYD5l6GNY-WJlRjcX4sSa1IP6FcTQ6V10CFLdqp8ANdAI7vzc1IGFg9rAs1p4Bh4JEnGi_B38FpLYjZm-sNOHgL_wUJAjR-QyokO9AM4tbqmVA-LR0-SiE0eEYmpqNQyKcvfYr5lzE/s320/IMG_5030.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Privacy Screen at Casa de la Abuela in Los Arcos</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnaNrHDT7EHxPWohO6X4058TBIwjZhTnv0yNLL3dtqhSRiY6o3K7ouOIcGzYXHV1JgzQr2LsUL2QdZFvnA_ml9QhnfN3W20mvo9HPMiJUVXlWbpZTjgx_7GwHGbS6rEEuVCSFQDSN7-E/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnaNrHDT7EHxPWohO6X4058TBIwjZhTnv0yNLL3dtqhSRiY6o3K7ouOIcGzYXHV1JgzQr2LsUL2QdZFvnA_ml9QhnfN3W20mvo9HPMiJUVXlWbpZTjgx_7GwHGbS6rEEuVCSFQDSN7-E/s320/IMG_5230.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Triple room at Convent in Sto. Domingo del Calzada</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYMqzH1zA7FfRkaKIwVrGaqqJF8lv_JFUPZ1SI-4nA5FzaCvBTEKTqhSjbBqeW1JZgi-8Xa5sEZPy-xMf-9F6spRZLQBcwS2Kcd5hIcsa_8Y76loGPUu5WZi5phqYnsgUPuWKlNzTo24/s1600/IMG_5106.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYMqzH1zA7FfRkaKIwVrGaqqJF8lv_JFUPZ1SI-4nA5FzaCvBTEKTqhSjbBqeW1JZgi-8Xa5sEZPy-xMf-9F6spRZLQBcwS2Kcd5hIcsa_8Y76loGPUu5WZi5phqYnsgUPuWKlNzTo24/s320/IMG_5106.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wonderful Albergue Peregrino in Navarette</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_duztXENpE96oERdR6sg8ciEpE82rL6uEWufGUDqZbxX4KcE7wkBrNMvcj9Yyalt2xB7VvZtzbwrSgmfEs6YUbd5QAPPB3q1PkMXPHXmM2WyuekgueSCMlmM3wkmp16ifzWnfB3g7AIg/s1600/IMG_5550.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_duztXENpE96oERdR6sg8ciEpE82rL6uEWufGUDqZbxX4KcE7wkBrNMvcj9Yyalt2xB7VvZtzbwrSgmfEs6YUbd5QAPPB3q1PkMXPHXmM2WyuekgueSCMlmM3wkmp16ifzWnfB3g7AIg/s320/IMG_5550.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">San Nicholas - I love this place!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsOIEIBQh3AsKAtM2FtkYfg6843Zj25nN3WbhkNqC0wo-NTTyxsUlpr0gh67kDYsIz5wZbebzyHGlBfc2nRrsXfuv5CIUR4qDhCaaSdSkOtvs92897tfyiOW81bR7VQ2czUMsvwRYj8A/s1600/0919_1266+La+Soupa+looks+good.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsOIEIBQh3AsKAtM2FtkYfg6843Zj25nN3WbhkNqC0wo-NTTyxsUlpr0gh67kDYsIz5wZbebzyHGlBfc2nRrsXfuv5CIUR4qDhCaaSdSkOtvs92897tfyiOW81bR7VQ2czUMsvwRYj8A/s320/0919_1266+La+Soupa+looks+good.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">San Nicholas - Confraternity member serving pilgrims</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYihhntXp4hlPt7uszwaSRUO7U39AXQQoxDyJYTu6rTAsQoEi35alhGGzCZwQezjs5_1N_Xha0Eqs-6D7tdzQlEqS_MEEtUGKQiUlrwn1G8g0UR2kVgXkpAVYjPlLpxFkRjZ9d7LUigPQ/s1600/0919_1261+Joe+ready+to+eat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYihhntXp4hlPt7uszwaSRUO7U39AXQQoxDyJYTu6rTAsQoEi35alhGGzCZwQezjs5_1N_Xha0Eqs-6D7tdzQlEqS_MEEtUGKQiUlrwn1G8g0UR2kVgXkpAVYjPlLpxFkRjZ9d7LUigPQ/s320/0919_1261+Joe+ready+to+eat.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">We had a wonderful dinner by candlelight in 2009</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlY9D2OhiPaSl8kAcnkJFhonnir4NmngjBKhnkb3L3-lpuvZHHnbzg709hydFcAZ40vX1tsurrs_waLBRuuAZHB34j9qb7yCbWUZdaOLz9HPZTf9Pw4xl-hAo_lwGWlfe1hfSs6qygSk/s1600/0919_1276+Taking+Turns.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlY9D2OhiPaSl8kAcnkJFhonnir4NmngjBKhnkb3L3-lpuvZHHnbzg709hydFcAZ40vX1tsurrs_waLBRuuAZHB34j9qb7yCbWUZdaOLz9HPZTf9Pw4xl-hAo_lwGWlfe1hfSs6qygSk/s320/0919_1276+Taking+Turns.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">After dinner, entertainment - only 12 beds so you must arrive early</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGwBW7ZglasOaGiR-0k50ZjH-ZOTJexyKTmJLNAcNJSyo1o9kgl0Zr5PdtqVdFpzNNefEhIeqeK8yrvWpRQFqkq5XW3_MuBBo2BzqCtdz9zZ6dNArnOIbVTeVr3Q25ndBWGlHnNVRehI/s1600/IMG_5959+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGwBW7ZglasOaGiR-0k50ZjH-ZOTJexyKTmJLNAcNJSyo1o9kgl0Zr5PdtqVdFpzNNefEhIeqeK8yrvWpRQFqkq5XW3_MuBBo2BzqCtdz9zZ6dNArnOIbVTeVr3Q25ndBWGlHnNVRehI/s320/IMG_5959+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">La Escuela Albergue - Laguna de Castilla</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below is what you can expect in a Parochial Refuge </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">where you sleep on mats on the floor. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This would be like the one in Grañon or Viana. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is not my photo. I nabbed it from the internet.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I suggest you give these places a try. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They can be the sweetest experiences on the Camino:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MoYV0Tu2Iz9CVGC-08QFgmkXwPjXIxPoYVl74SCbeHUKAC5jruunfGg5ONcOZOLoK5Kqcf4MwSWcl5cuOxydDxVuOccL1MOwbdtW5DGbNUFzxLs6xkQeqnKLFf0Zb3HG9AOm2vJgb9k/s1600/Granon_pilgrim_hospital.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MoYV0Tu2Iz9CVGC-08QFgmkXwPjXIxPoYVl74SCbeHUKAC5jruunfGg5ONcOZOLoK5Kqcf4MwSWcl5cuOxydDxVuOccL1MOwbdtW5DGbNUFzxLs6xkQeqnKLFf0Zb3HG9AOm2vJgb9k/s320/Granon_pilgrim_hospital.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Grañon</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below are some photos of the range </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">of what you can expect in a private room:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQhNwLhX9jT8DOcq49PfYMzw_eKKeBgRhooD4OBked_-J3yIDY9Tm8nbPWOIKBjeNhBfQT56d8FhzALpT8KMp0Z8_kPPoe9UlsLXiWOBYn1yPZQrG904dbEhiAsBrdSrJYQN4eP_0JW4/s320/IMG_3851.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pension Sarasate - Pamplona</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgNTMwl6Fqh7mw2l4MWlstR45H69PGtyWlEhh9f8m8U_2i45KkVorQ3kX3pZmuM6CnwSH9FVQO0-VPlUf5QI7TrNEfk6hbYlQJXb-eLMLZJMkBsGTs5rEjw2t1z3ASU0FMSraxaIZ0EE/s1600/Pension+Arcos+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgNTMwl6Fqh7mw2l4MWlstR45H69PGtyWlEhh9f8m8U_2i45KkVorQ3kX3pZmuM6CnwSH9FVQO0-VPlUf5QI7TrNEfk6hbYlQJXb-eLMLZJMkBsGTs5rEjw2t1z3ASU0FMSraxaIZ0EE/s320/Pension+Arcos+copy.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pension Arca Piño - Pedrouzo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xpelnaovcxnGjsN_mEte7lSVns2Hs6596FLYesrX5kCdZz2j6kUoUxNAbuV4eOf331xLx_UX6A6Yv0WvU8NPtt6eBananUzQKXMafXIOZ-ZXUBV87e37MqX0Zk9CmdYY2H1TM5u1kJk/s320/San+Martin+Pinario+Pilgrim+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">San Martin Pinario - Santiago - pilgrim room</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw_JNEzeAfw8U47ccuSFghr71OVWzrtCopVBs4NVLCYGrBC_k668C6K8J34OBzvsHuXu_ts9GqDI8PBkc8XWPEyRZLaSocdGcVNtbJ8Xy9BQEv6Csuhr9F_uJ48VgJsHmq2t10xScCZA/s1600/La+Piedra2+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw_JNEzeAfw8U47ccuSFghr71OVWzrtCopVBs4NVLCYGrBC_k668C6K8J34OBzvsHuXu_ts9GqDI8PBkc8XWPEyRZLaSocdGcVNtbJ8Xy9BQEv6Csuhr9F_uJ48VgJsHmq2t10xScCZA/s320/La+Piedra2+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Albergue Piedra in Villafranca - private room</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr90M92Vx0W78OFrypuBkNj1Ks42vvMYfz1T0wvKHWZvjBoL9g6CX0FtmP2PaooUFUfaziyHbaXzkDyiDBmkMlfrg3eDebpYpHvi5hWZApi-GgiZLQ15K0GR3xEC3dl0LIbX2CYBWUKM/s1600/IMG_3820+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr90M92Vx0W78OFrypuBkNj1Ks42vvMYfz1T0wvKHWZvjBoL9g6CX0FtmP2PaooUFUfaziyHbaXzkDyiDBmkMlfrg3eDebpYpHvi5hWZApi-GgiZLQ15K0GR3xEC3dl0LIbX2CYBWUKM/s320/IMG_3820+copy.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Casa Calleja in Castañeda</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZc2rPCgmuvERvBRm5tFle0L6T6_bRjHAhL9m5aCDQuzO8OAzPnbxIN35ccWPmuq_2ANx7_I9AvNvh-ed_bpYig3BrZ8VE-mUx5kMpyDAzzPaUWpFgifDRV-G5IjMVmlTAxOuY5TEJ5o/s1600/Apartamentos+Guillermo1+Palas+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZc2rPCgmuvERvBRm5tFle0L6T6_bRjHAhL9m5aCDQuzO8OAzPnbxIN35ccWPmuq_2ANx7_I9AvNvh-ed_bpYig3BrZ8VE-mUx5kMpyDAzzPaUWpFgifDRV-G5IjMVmlTAxOuY5TEJ5o/s320/Apartamentos+Guillermo1+Palas+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Apartamentos Touristicos Guillermo - Palas de Rei</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxRsDJ7XG6kXV8s-jk1mLpxRRJ3w_xsHf09LHYXYsHve04pAfmDjUfE_M3wUwT-EkKTrWSW6yJRC-J5dC0xwAm_bjfi-ajAwH6RK7KEPzZRiRGQL78jtk1KwEGRxa80o3Dmmy70fHUFc/s1600/apartamentos-andia+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxRsDJ7XG6kXV8s-jk1mLpxRRJ3w_xsHf09LHYXYsHve04pAfmDjUfE_M3wUwT-EkKTrWSW6yJRC-J5dC0xwAm_bjfi-ajAwH6RK7KEPzZRiRGQL78jtk1KwEGRxa80o3Dmmy70fHUFc/s320/apartamentos-andia+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Apartamentos Andia in Estella -</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Most apartment will have a washing machine.<br />Most will have a kitchen.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So there you go. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now you should have a good idea of what to expect.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Feel free to ask questions.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Buen Camino!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Annie<br /><br />For information on walking with Annie<br />and a small group<br />see my website at :<br /><a href="http://www.anniewalkers.com/">Anniewalkers Camino</a></span></div>Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-6004312182008296532022-11-25T05:31:00.005-08:002022-11-26T13:29:11.712-08:00Donde Dormir? Where Will You Sleep?<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, .SFNSText-Regular, sans-serif" style="color: #050505;"></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPMWoQS8m8rHKxrxLQIl8GuqS0pdPjtIMLwTu4Eahse-CKtq3tfE616u8w5p0Eabc3QnFE3LfS_kq-MOofbSJPs4hF-vd7n3OUkNtDYEu0PfiuWUAVBPiMGGvwj6QoOF1K7X2iJgPrAZWTrv3AwRY_QrMW2hweFjwErrB9KzRZzCCysZ6EsFfQSML/s768/GettyImages-511147877-d31ee4f7a8674525acfd809404ddb1ef.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPMWoQS8m8rHKxrxLQIl8GuqS0pdPjtIMLwTu4Eahse-CKtq3tfE616u8w5p0Eabc3QnFE3LfS_kq-MOofbSJPs4hF-vd7n3OUkNtDYEu0PfiuWUAVBPiMGGvwj6QoOF1K7X2iJgPrAZWTrv3AwRY_QrMW2hweFjwErrB9KzRZzCCysZ6EsFfQSML/s320/GettyImages-511147877-d31ee4f7a8674525acfd809404ddb1ef.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />When planning your budget you need to consider what type of lodging you require. Will you stay in parochials, which are almost always donativo? Will you stay in municipals, which are albergues run by the village? Will you stay in private albergues, which are a bit more upscale but where you'll still be sharing space with other pilgrims? Or will you book private lodging? Here is a link to a blog post telling you a bit about each:<br /><br /><a href="https://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2018/04/donde-dormir-where-will-you-sleep.html"> https://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2018/04/donde-dormir-where-will-you-sleep.html</a> <br /><br />Anniesantiagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605384298382007686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4224409888332061665.post-18915616681751645962022-11-24T06:32:00.006-08:002022-11-24T06:32:59.279-08:00About Gronze.com<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZZOQ7OP4RX_hDVhbAt8T2IoAeA8ZgYRMNNfVJuncADyKwPvu_-YHbNtt-ANgGY7YN38RHwY0sVX17IJDIv1M1kBpxfb9S38UnXIVc2AzDyELKGtXC2Ds-glZCRkyhUrO8V7e5C8Cops9ftPBs6ZzqQ-nDnctXfIgUnASZabLPeoqnFZGhV5e8Zwl/s1902/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.38.54%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZZOQ7OP4RX_hDVhbAt8T2IoAeA8ZgYRMNNfVJuncADyKwPvu_-YHbNtt-ANgGY7YN38RHwY0sVX17IJDIv1M1kBpxfb9S38UnXIVc2AzDyELKGtXC2Ds-glZCRkyhUrO8V7e5C8Cops9ftPBs6ZzqQ-nDnctXfIgUnASZabLPeoqnFZGhV5e8Zwl/w640-h366/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.38.54%20AM.png" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Which Camino route will you walk?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How will you find information on each?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite websites for planning is gronze.com.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Type gronze.com into your computer. On the opening page you will see many of the more popular Camino routes posted. Click on the one you are interested in.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along the top, next to the web address Gronze.com you will see the word "Roads." Click on that and scroll to the bottom and it will take you to the interactive map shown at the top of this blog post. You can also reach that map by clicking "Other Ways" at the bottom right of this screen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YsaB6U4yCUHF1dFkQzv_BI36Srtb6j9ft8--e-0HsgM8XxO3dMHSV4gYvO5Hd4jRuxylco_3w64w3H6EoioqGBfaK96a_dKUxf9dCfUz8NWKIRcYomHYiPFAwehDEsRIEVGONEDyBEL6tBt2rNYybOU5H_DSiWMRX2egsSy5d6r_6myrDYVfiEI9/s1982/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.40.59%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YsaB6U4yCUHF1dFkQzv_BI36Srtb6j9ft8--e-0HsgM8XxO3dMHSV4gYvO5Hd4jRuxylco_3w64w3H6EoioqGBfaK96a_dKUxf9dCfUz8NWKIRcYomHYiPFAwehDEsRIEVGONEDyBEL6tBt2rNYybOU5H_DSiWMRX2egsSy5d6r_6myrDYVfiEI9/w640-h414/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.40.59%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph4rdki9W4DNEgL2WpeI2G_Q9ee5rIluXlOb0lGiliED5tf1362ewz6FkvuqFYrzCAICSwJ6jMrj1xHcX4LoXSPRDBrC7AXq32u0YdQ0HdOHcXtjRlM0XE-rw1CmRMwbMyQpzZ7eS_rMMAyfnHJQMFxge_ax8BDZYDkOTWoT-VOUpNqBchz2w7TkQ/s1936/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.45.53%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph4rdki9W4DNEgL2WpeI2G_Q9ee5rIluXlOb0lGiliED5tf1362ewz6FkvuqFYrzCAICSwJ6jMrj1xHcX4LoXSPRDBrC7AXq32u0YdQ0HdOHcXtjRlM0XE-rw1CmRMwbMyQpzZ7eS_rMMAyfnHJQMFxge_ax8BDZYDkOTWoT-VOUpNqBchz2w7TkQ/w640-h58/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.45.53%20AM.png" /></a> <br /><br />When you open the route that interests you, it will show you a plethora of information. The first thing you will see is a short description of the route and a map of the route. Here, I clicked on the Primitivo:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW5w_i5VfxCILLNMYWSP8xPmEvPoTa36_sNaDE8uL5MqRDCTjEOvEWY4_pFFmJcdQCcNj-7F7e8zbYkpYoaQnQ0pc_GczgV-5Q9EpUTLFrQdjq9SbgHysjw5Yb1JE3t97yV02s8nDPxUPgudV7NnNJNz4ccuhFGGiPFbP205oiy6xH7fp4MdhEIzi/s1934/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.48.19%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW5w_i5VfxCILLNMYWSP8xPmEvPoTa36_sNaDE8uL5MqRDCTjEOvEWY4_pFFmJcdQCcNj-7F7e8zbYkpYoaQnQ0pc_GczgV-5Q9EpUTLFrQdjq9SbgHysjw5Yb1JE3t97yV02s8nDPxUPgudV7NnNJNz4ccuhFGGiPFbP205oiy6xH7fp4MdhEIzi/w640-h240/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.48.19%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below that, you will see a list of the stages, including any variations. Here, you can see you begin the Primitivo in Oviedo, and once you reach Borres, you have two options for walking. You can walk via Hospitals or you can walk via Pola de Aliande.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYsvcKzTlkjeVp2HZHXO6I9F34Sjx12UXH7RCYc2oov3wRS0LqkiHS9uIsIR6cmhETAf5lND4XDgXg77Cma-jDzzB7ADc9tFEW6B0uTUHfCXNTTDlG4M2AXfht4iDvo6r9eYq9sEE3KvQq_tdrHfO8f_FTw38j6YW7ltWUjn08fRqf1sM-jciiBsr/s1950/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.49.39%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYsvcKzTlkjeVp2HZHXO6I9F34Sjx12UXH7RCYc2oov3wRS0LqkiHS9uIsIR6cmhETAf5lND4XDgXg77Cma-jDzzB7ADc9tFEW6B0uTUHfCXNTTDlG4M2AXfht4iDvo6r9eYq9sEE3KvQq_tdrHfO8f_FTw38j6YW7ltWUjn08fRqf1sM-jciiBsr/w640-h418/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.49.39%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Open the link for walking via Hospitals </div><div style="text-align: center;">and you see the map below.</div><div style="text-align: center;">First, a bit about the route which passes by several old pilgrim hospitals. This variant is 4.5 k shorter than the alternative, but harder and without services. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(Red dots indicate possible services)</div><div style="text-align: center;">On the other hand, it is one of the stages with the most scenic beauty of all the Caminos!</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see this stage is 24.1 km.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It will take a person in good shape about 6.5 hours to walk.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is a 4 star difficulty stage and the scenery is 5 stars</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC637_0t44J1D5XRkbUhNVRSACcd_ssknxPYhCGmJCCsUK8VZqdYm1cvkf7nuvn45PomxCtqNyYGFx3VNor7zPvowYLGyqRoiMKd7NRKXinWsh_XK3wYAhwUk8i5FJbElDPV2E6hyLyAPpinyoAhD8Jb48YEm2CPPbnE1-y9AA-423jJ21oOiuuzpb/s1928/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.56.56%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC637_0t44J1D5XRkbUhNVRSACcd_ssknxPYhCGmJCCsUK8VZqdYm1cvkf7nuvn45PomxCtqNyYGFx3VNor7zPvowYLGyqRoiMKd7NRKXinWsh_XK3wYAhwUk8i5FJbElDPV2E6hyLyAPpinyoAhD8Jb48YEm2CPPbnE1-y9AA-423jJ21oOiuuzpb/w640-h140/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.56.56%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPcSBihjkIdyB5y_WTXRoWL-xcIjhYVLDUsygWDeiPEZYCRuLvfly7Bx6ntb804WCkfQDTNdZauXgk84_oGIyMASzHfg2JKXe0prLifpQ2r9JsTwxJUP8ACRXL9Q_Y5BIgB-pioYuXDYlRU0E43wVCVnW4Ha_dlFnbELHSNdk1vYIymH0MhawnyU1/s1928/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.51.46%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPcSBihjkIdyB5y_WTXRoWL-xcIjhYVLDUsygWDeiPEZYCRuLvfly7Bx6ntb804WCkfQDTNdZauXgk84_oGIyMASzHfg2JKXe0prLifpQ2r9JsTwxJUP8ACRXL9Q_Y5BIgB-pioYuXDYlRU0E43wVCVnW4Ha_dlFnbELHSNdk1vYIymH0MhawnyU1/w640-h282/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.51.46%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Your other option is to walk the variation that goes through Polo de Allande. You can see this stage is 28.6 k, and will take 7.45 hours to walk if you are in good shape. It also has a 4 star difficulty and great scenery. The red dots show where there may be services available.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF65T-DG9i1eFHRvH2At8fbX9_0jJaWv_be-c0DzCXnhWz7r4VN-3AAykwIZiaxCa81DO22H0ZNVpQ8Jz99XmKntDFx5KqP_ewbuk0IkQHo95hQKX_tTk6RWow7NV3LZ50ipCcQh2VWXVap97Sa7j0Vz6aYwtZuQuHZYByeuAZ8AirnVBRuRcPJ4t/s1904/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.00.11%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF65T-DG9i1eFHRvH2At8fbX9_0jJaWv_be-c0DzCXnhWz7r4VN-3AAykwIZiaxCa81DO22H0ZNVpQ8Jz99XmKntDFx5KqP_ewbuk0IkQHo95hQKX_tTk6RWow7NV3LZ50ipCcQh2VWXVap97Sa7j0Vz6aYwtZuQuHZYByeuAZ8AirnVBRuRcPJ4t/w640-h120/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.00.11%20AM.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTDw8n2J-DcB386rQk8Wttgb6NLWsJXEx3VmkYMqVqSFB7T34C20uj8MdizECwoIf44zJ0WS_Tre_Mxyn5wKZFhW_x8mgxjP6qndUMOPw1CQdSqZo43GG5-FA6te6mZP63TVMB6U3geEbtf2c1c4iOQtkfr0yfuo6JqtDd7wjgt5IWS6FfD59gmWq/s1894/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.52.02%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTDw8n2J-DcB386rQk8Wttgb6NLWsJXEx3VmkYMqVqSFB7T34C20uj8MdizECwoIf44zJ0WS_Tre_Mxyn5wKZFhW_x8mgxjP6qndUMOPw1CQdSqZo43GG5-FA6te6mZP63TVMB6U3geEbtf2c1c4iOQtkfr0yfuo6JqtDd7wjgt5IWS6FfD59gmWq/w640-h278/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%205.52.02%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you click on the option "See stage profile" you will get a profile map, complete with heights listed in meters along the right edge:</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8EZReheDuNBoLEN-t7RUB9n1XauT2Rr1JGem4u2FvbSP3lOunmh3FVK6fAz6Ra-XKIopTE_bbwr1J42zCIFS6ek1pL74GkEPCOjgLq4Ciyt7cDvLJwcYjxwXrPq8JA_fbn9nRlSZg2XWfE88N7x55zvgd3K-TBz7Qx7uU_39-Bm9SfJG-5M9Z0z-/s1950/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.03.39%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8EZReheDuNBoLEN-t7RUB9n1XauT2Rr1JGem4u2FvbSP3lOunmh3FVK6fAz6Ra-XKIopTE_bbwr1J42zCIFS6ek1pL74GkEPCOjgLq4Ciyt7cDvLJwcYjxwXrPq8JA_fbn9nRlSZg2XWfE88N7x55zvgd3K-TBz7Qx7uU_39-Bm9SfJG-5M9Z0z-/w640-h174/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.03.39%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beneath these maps, you will find a list of the villages and services. If you have a Mac, you can choose to see information in English. But you may want to switch back to Spanish, as it will translate each village name into English and that can be confusing. For instance, the village Borres translates to "Delete" in English.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On my MacBook Air, </div><div style="text-align: center;">this option shows up in the right hand corner...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8_Z5YJMqegpbK1725e_QRLTH3U0f8Dd_e9jULtk0qk8hhgAK_XUntRjDNEZG0BnSwqfi2ffu-6gkRLHYUwwcKoD9w5kSAfHyAOD8ndtta8T8sMOGvoejy81xCLUWqtKvhWyxgL7FYG75SXU3YkdLowokRof0LCT7aN78RFLZC70OGVlGaFyvm49n/s652/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.05.47%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8_Z5YJMqegpbK1725e_QRLTH3U0f8Dd_e9jULtk0qk8hhgAK_XUntRjDNEZG0BnSwqfi2ffu-6gkRLHYUwwcKoD9w5kSAfHyAOD8ndtta8T8sMOGvoejy81xCLUWqtKvhWyxgL7FYG75SXU3YkdLowokRof0LCT7aN78RFLZC70OGVlGaFyvm49n/w400-h178/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.05.47%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At any rate, below the map, </div><div style="text-align: center;">you will see a list of villages and services. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Click on one to find more information about it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The green/red bar shows reviews. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Green are positive. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Red are negative. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The lowest price is listed to the right.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsd6nup1D-g1GthRFn1DEtOwXsua7qQ081NIROsSOAz8HMOtkazdX-5Tg3f9NieDs97bloZfP80JbOp1BP2WcODrD9HsHQ4Z8sCT7EWaLTR9hJ-M8BLJFw3I_oeOl-FbdWZg337GOs_PFbsDSeuvZLT9LVrdXHRc9PbW1R9DUli5P_YWgXbcNNKhl/s2068/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.05.39%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsd6nup1D-g1GthRFn1DEtOwXsua7qQ081NIROsSOAz8HMOtkazdX-5Tg3f9NieDs97bloZfP80JbOp1BP2WcODrD9HsHQ4Z8sCT7EWaLTR9hJ-M8BLJFw3I_oeOl-FbdWZg337GOs_PFbsDSeuvZLT9LVrdXHRc9PbW1R9DUli5P_YWgXbcNNKhl/w640-h184/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.05.39%20AM.png" /></a>Here I have clicked on the </div><div style="text-align: center;">Albergue de peregrinos Santa Maria.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It shows you the address, gives you a telephone number, gives you a little map. The basic data section says this IS exclusively for pilgrims. They will NOT take reservations so you must just show up. It is open all year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below that you can see the beds are in a shared dorm and are 5 euros each. There are 20 beds in one big room. There is a photo of the facility. Sometimes, you can click on the photos to see more that pilgrims have posted. Often you can see photos of the inside as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijD6FkyQ5hwyKSzD0nPaVZ6cdJmslXdDP2IVvRW6qaLmeXgijJ0kiTBZM7vX6kW4hmcfxuyBTxTXVYDWRFX-VaPwXU1IQ7XsuFdzIXipCWxVQZ5Bw2TSPX-Ym3Q_FhB5cjg4CBZ8oiK-_2A7JeBh4FtHhBH6-ek4fRgB4_Xhr7W4PXNzSvYoMLyb1/s2034/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.12.23%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijD6FkyQ5hwyKSzD0nPaVZ6cdJmslXdDP2IVvRW6qaLmeXgijJ0kiTBZM7vX6kW4hmcfxuyBTxTXVYDWRFX-VaPwXU1IQ7XsuFdzIXipCWxVQZ5Bw2TSPX-Ym3Q_FhB5cjg4CBZ8oiK-_2A7JeBh4FtHhBH6-ek4fRgB4_Xhr7W4PXNzSvYoMLyb1/w640-h312/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.12.23%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLuTtEo_c-iGnQHjPMZ_n4siBE4U1e9Qh-qH0siXeEvsfgn6dUb7scObGt8p88c3QnwCTEa2_nSu5A24rryr63wPw5ROdjTu2JQuG0A7OtmNGEJik4Ivhq91s-1dZsouJbfBA-CD7zMPELBxgy82lG_aX8cCSmbYG792ch78PZJCskX7VNoxUxOZj/s1919/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.12.43%20AM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLuTtEo_c-iGnQHjPMZ_n4siBE4U1e9Qh-qH0siXeEvsfgn6dUb7scObGt8p88c3QnwCTEa2_nSu5A24rryr63wPw5ROdjTu2JQuG0A7OtmNGEJik4Ivhq91s-1dZsouJbfBA-CD7zMPELBxgy82lG_aX8cCSmbYG792ch78PZJCskX7VNoxUxOZj/w640-h278/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-24%20at%206.12.43%20AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are also feedback comments from people who have stayed. You will need to create an account and log in to see those. They are worth reading, but just remember,</div><div style="text-align: center;">some people are never pleased, and unless the place is REALLY bad, you may not have other options.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Also remember, many of these lodgings are remote,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and quite inexpensive. In many cases the PILGRIMS are the ones who should be picking up a broom/mop or rag and cleaning up after themselves,</div><div style="text-align: center;">leaving the place nice for the next pilgrims.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That is part of the responsibility of being a pilgrim.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A pilgrim is grateful for a roof over his/her head,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a place out of the weather.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A tourist demands and in my opinion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">should pay for a hotel instead of taking up space.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope this little tutorial has made your planning easier.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please feel free to ask questions if you have them.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can find me on Facebook as AnnieSantiago.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a Facebook Camino Planning page at this address: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1790533477968666">https://www.facebook.com/groups/1790533477968666</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This blogspot account often fails to notify me of comments so I apologize if I do not respond here in a timely manner..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Good luck planning and</div><div style="text-align: center;">Buen Camino!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Annie</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
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