Walk With Us from Leon or Sarria

June 1 - June 12

Leon to Santiago - 12 nights - 850 euros

Meet our group in LEON.

See the famous Cathedral and spend the evening eating tapas!

Next morning, we catch a bus to Astorga where you can see the famous Bishop's Palace by Gaudi, visit the Museum of Chocolate and see Roman ruins.

Next morning, begin walking with us. 

This trip will make you eligible for the coveted Compostela!

The itinerary:

Leon: 1 night

Leon to Astorga by bus

Walk: Astorga to Rabanal del Camino

Walk: Rabanal to Acebo

Walk: Acebo to Ponferrada

Walk: Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo

In Villafranca, we take a taxi to have breakfast in the hilltop village of O Cebreiro

The taxi then delivers us to Triacastela and we walk to Sarria

Walk: Sarria - Portomarin

Walk: Portomarin - Palace de Rei

Walk: Palace de Rei - Arzua

Walk: Arzua - Arca do Pino

Walk: Arca do Pino - Santiago

Price includes:

Pilgrim Credential

Bus transfer from Leon to Astorga

Double Private Lodging in each village 

A buffet breakfast in Santiago

Luggage Transfer on every stage

A Holiday Package which includes all the information you need to make your trip successful

***

June 7 to June 13

Sarria to Santiago - 7 nights - 580 Euros 

4 spots left!

Meet our group in Sarria and walk the last 100 kilometers with us!

This will make you eligible for the coveted Compostela!

The itinerary:

Sarria:  1 night

Walk: Sarria - Portomarin

Walk: Portomarin - Palace de Rei

Walk: Palace de Rei - Arzua

Walk: Arzua - Arca do Pino

Walk: Arca do Pino - Santiago

Santiago - 2nd night!

Price includes:

Double Private Lodging in each village 

2 nights in Santiago

2 buffet breakfasts in Santiago

Luggage Transfer on every stage

A Holiday Package which includes all the information you need to make your trip successful

For more information 
go to:
www.anniecarvalho.weebly.com

Walk the Camino 2014/2015

Have you dreamed of walking the Camino Santiago but don't know where to begin?

Could you use help planning?

Would you be more comfortable walking with a small group?

Anniewalkers is now planning our Spring 2014 trips.

May 20 - June 12, 2014 

(this trip is still open)

May 26 - June 18, 2014 

(Full - taking names for waiting list)

Price:  1100 Euros

Price includes 24 nights accommodation, 

 including one night lodging in Pamplona at the beginning of the trip,

and one night in Santiago at the end of the trip, 

a facilitator for the duration of the walk ,

and land transfers from Logrono to Burgos, Burgos to Leon, 

Leon to Astorga,

and Villafranca to Triacastela via O Cebreiro.  

NOTICE!  We will be doing a Women's Camino in 2015.
We are calling it CRONE'S CAMINO!

If you are interested, 

please read the information on our website at Anniewalkers Camino

Buen Camino!

May Your Days Be Sweet - and Edible!

Today I spent the crisp fall morning 

picking chanterelles in the nearby coastal forest.

I took my daughter-in-law to my "secret conching grounds."

She was thrilled and we had a wonderful time in the woods!

It's good to take time to live and breathe.

It reminds me of being on the Camino - not rushing to be anywhere - 

just living. 

Isn't that what life is all about?

Living?

Not rush hour.

Not shopping.

Not new clothes or the latest toy.

But living,

spending time with family and friends,

 and loving.

This week,

I am reading a little book by Waverly Fitzgerald 

called "Slow Time."

In it, I found this gem today.

I thought I'd share it:

"We have forgotten that our only goal is to live 

and that we live each day 

and that at every hour of the day 

we are reaching our true goal if we are living ... 

The days are fruits and our role is to eat them."

                                                                                                     -Jean Giono, Fullness of Days

                          

Updating the Via de la Plata posts

I finally unpacked the box that held my camera!
Then, I uploaded over 1700 photos of my recent Via de la Plata walk.
So, I'm going to go back through the posts and update all the photos and information.
If I skip a day, I'll just add it to the end - out of order, but at least covered.
I'm sure this will be a several week event.

You'll need to go to this link to see the new photos, and then move forward in time:

http://www.caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2013/05/zafra-finally.html

Stay tuned...

Meeting Up With Camino Friends

Tonight, I'm meeting up with Linda and Patty from one of our AnnieWalkers 2012 Camino groups!

Linda in her Altus Poncho

Patty makes a friend

Since their Camino, both ladies have been busy!

Linda quit smoking and is running in Portland this weekend.
Patty has been volunteering on the new Walking the Camino documentary.

Walking the Camino is playing in Portland, Oregon right now at the Hollywood Theater.
Click here to see the latest trailer:
Walking the Camino

I'll learn more tonight and post any updates and news!

Our 2014 trip is shaping up for May/June.
We have 4 open spots if anyone is interesting in walking with our group.
Joe Walsh will be leading the group.

Walking with a group is not only a way to experience the Camino with the support of others, it is a way to make lasting friendships like the one between Patty and Linda and I.

I hope you will consider walking with us in 2014!

Almost home!

I'm in California this week gathering  all that is left of my belongings. My son and I bought a house together in Portland. I return home Tuesday and should be settled in and back online within the week. This little town has no Internet. I had to run around the yard to get enough ticks to post this. Thanks for your patience!  Almost home!  Annie

Santiago Seafood

The seafood you see along the main restaurant street in Santiago is enticing. Displayed so all you have to do is point and choose, it's quite a tourist attraction. 

But the truth is, you can take a train to Muxia or a bus to Finisterre and eat seafood while you watch the waves breaking on the shore for about the same  price you will pay in Santiago for your dinner!

Inside Santiago Cathedral

This is another post for Vonda, my cousin.  

When pilgrims arrive in Santiago, they have certain rituals they perform at the Cathedral. 

One is to simply stand out in the giant square and look up at the Cathedral, thankful you have arrived alive after your six week journey. Some pilgrims fall to their knees. Some lie on their backs and just look up. Some sit in a circle of friends. There is back slapping and joyous laughter and often, tears. 

Next, in the past, the pilgrim would enter the Cathedral and beneath the Portico de la Gloria (Google it) they would place their fingers in the depressions on the Tree of Jesse pillar. The Portico was created over a twenty year period by the master sculptor, Mateo, who finished it in 1188. 

The depressions have been worn into the stone pillar by thousands of pilgrims over the years. 

As they touched the pillar, they repeated the prayer or petition that brought them on the pilgrimage to begin with. 

Next, they would walk around to the other side of the pillar and would touch their forehead or 'knock heads' with the statue of Mateo three times. This was supposed to give them some of the Master's wisdom!

I have been lucky enough to have done these rituals before the area was roped off to protect it. Pilgrims are no longer allowed to touch the pillar or knock heads with Mateo. They can only stand behind a rope, look and take photos. 

After this, the pilgrim gets in line to walk up some ancient stone steps that lead behind the altar to the gilded statue of St James. More New World gold and silver! 

Once there, they give him a hug, thanking him for a safe journey. When you are up there hugging the huge statue, you can see the people down on the floor of the cathedral. It's the strangest feeling!

A green light indicates when the entrance is open and a red light marks the exit. 

Next, you visit the saint's casket under the floor of the cathedral. Supposedly, the remains of the Apostle James are there. But again, if you Google the history, it's doubtful. Even so, everyone goes to the crypt where his (or someones) relics (bones) are kept in a beautiful silver casket. 

Last, you attend a pilgrim mass. If you  are lucky you will see the huge botafumeiro (incense burner) swing. I think I have an entire blog post on this a year ago. 

You can see Martin Sheen performing these traditions in the movie, The Way, which is worth watching if you haven't seen it. 

The statue of St James Matamoros (the Moor Killer) is purposefully covered with flowers on the bottom these days so you can't see the dead Moslems. I've added a photo of what the statue looks like without the flowers. That statue is in a church near the coast. I wonder why they feel they must cover it up?  It's a part of their history and everyone knows what's down there?

Photos of Santiago Cathedral

Following are photos I took this morning for my cousin, Vonda. She wondered why I hadn't been posting. I was surprised and pleased to know she was following my blog!

So here you go, outside first. Once I'm home I can caption them, but my iPhone won't allow it.

You also would be shocked at the beggars sitting outside every door if the Cathedral!  

Do a Google search on the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral for interesting history. Or it might be in an earlier blog from a few years back.   I will add it once I'm home and don't have to type with one thumb.  :)

Hospederia San Martin Pinario

I decided to spend my last night in Santiago at San Martin Pinario, the monastery which has become a favorite of mine. 

Built for Benedictine monks, construction began in the late 1500's and took over 200 years to conclude. 

Elegantly simple, I've attached photos beginning with the entrance. Notice the yellow arrow?  That is the first thing to catch a pilgrim's eye, we are so used to looking for them to guide our way along the Camino. 

Next, I took photos of walking down the hall, and included are photos of my monk cell room. Each room has a tiny but sufficient bathroom with toilet (complete with pull-chain flush, sink, and shower). 

Price for a pilgrim room is 24 euros and that includes a large buffet breakfast making this the best deal in town. Wifi is free in the comedor and you can purchase computer time if you didn't bring electronics. 

Regular rooms run 45 for a single and 60 for a double. They are larger and more luxurious.