Just 4 Spots Left for Our 2016 Accompanied Walks

This year, we are offering several options for people to walk with us to Santiago:

Option 1:  St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago (group of 8)

Option 2:  Pamplona to Santiago (same group of 8, but meet us in Pamplona)

Option 3:  Sarria to Santiago (meet up with our group in Sarria)

Option 4: Sarria to Santiago (self guided but we book your lodging)

Option 5: Kick Start - consulting

Option 6: Kick Start Plus - consulting plus walk with us for 3 days up front

For Option 1 there are 4 spots left.

For Option 3, there are only 2 spots left,.

For more information, see my website at Anniewalkers Camino

Come Walk our SLOW CAMINO!

SLOW CAMINO 

Sarria to Santiago

Would you like to walk shorter stages?

Join us on our SLOW CAMINO.

SLOW CAMINO

June 3 - 13, 2016

Sarria to Santiago

With Annie

12 days/11 nights

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On this trip, we will walk short 1/2 stages,

averaging from 8 to 13 kilometers per day.

This will be a very small group of 4 pilgrims plus Annie.

Only 4 spots are available for the Slow Camino

For more information, go to this link:

SLOW CAMINO

To San Antón

2006

September

In 2006, San Antón was one of the highlights of my Camino. We arrived in the late afternoon and were greeted by Marina, our hospitalera. The regular hospitalero had been killed in a train accident the day before, and Marina was an emergency substitute, and what a sweetheart she was!

San Antón is beautiful. Built into the ruins of the ancient convento de San Antón, 16th century, it is only open in summer because the rooms are not enclosed. You sleep in a 3 walled room, with a heavy plastic wall that is dropped at night after everyone is in bed.

There are 12 places and Marina cooked a wonderful communal meal from things she found in the kitchen. As it grew dark, candles were lit all around the ruins, and we drank wine and shared stories. It was a very special experience.

Joe washing his clothes

San Anton was the monastery and hospice of the Antonine order founded in France in the 11th century. San Antón Abad is the patron saint of animals and he is often shown with a pig at his feet. If you look close, you will find the pig built into the ruins.  The Order's sacred symbol was the Tau, a T-shaped cross. Brierley says the Order was known for its ability to cure St. Anthony's fire, a fungal skin disease that could be fatal. The disease could often be cured or at least helped by a change of diet, increasing wine, and vigorous exercise. A pilgrimage was just what the doctor ordered!

The bathrooms are even beautiful here. 

Dinner with our fellow pilgrims

People often ask if you can camp along the Camino. The gentleman with the white hair and red vest and his wife were camping. They set up their tent in the yard and were welcomed.

Drop down plastic wall

2013

June

Leaving San Bol in the early morning, the walking was quiet and perfect:

Next, I would pass through Hontanas, tucked down in a dip in the meseta. A quick breakfast there, and a stop for some groceries, and I was on my way again.

I had to have a photo of the peeing man statue!

Soon I was at San Anton, passing under St. Anthony's archway with its alcoves where bread used to be left for pilgrims. Today, people leave messages and prayers here instead.

To Hornillos and San Bol

2006

Hornillos

In 2006, we stayed in the Hornillos Municipal Albergue. 

It was tiny, cramped, and dirty.

The attendant was a kind old man.

This was my first experience with bedbugs.

The albergue filled up quickly,

and people were then given mats to sleep on the floor

in a nearby building.

Many of them came out the next morning 

covered in bites.

I had never seen anything like it before,

lumps as large as apricots on people,

red an inflamed.

I felt lucky I didn't get bitten,

and have never again tempted fate by staying there,

as I have met bug-bitten pilgrims over and over,

who got their case of bedbugs at Hornillos.

The church was very pretty,

and if they clean the place up and get rid of the bugs,

I think it will be a nice place to sleep,

but I went by there in 2013,

and found bedbugs again.

Inside the Church

Drying laundry

2013

San Bol

In 2013, I stayed in San Bol. This was a beautiful albergue with a sweet spirit.

The floors were warmed and there was only electricity for 1 hour in the evening so people could charge their phones. The rest of the time, it was blessedly quiet.

To Burgos 2006v through 2015 - Various trips

2006

In 2006, once we reached the outskirts of the city, 

the walk into Burgos was through 

a heavy industrial area where they were doing a lot

of earthmoving and dumping.

The first night we stayed in 
Casa de Peregrinos Emaus.

It was clean and comfortable

and the people there were very kind.

There were hours of silence,

shared meal, and Christian prayer.

The second night, we walked to the municipal 

which was in a park, Albergue El Parral.

It had 96 places and 15 tables outside.

There was no kitchen

and it was really not a very good experience.

The beds were crammed close together 

and it was very noisy.
(This albergue no longer exists in 2019)

We spent almost 8 hours 
visiting the Cathedral that year.

As you can see, it wasn't very busy.

I think there were may 10 people inside.

Outside, they were cleaning up the facade.

The beautiful ceiling

El Cid and his wife Jimena

Some say this is Mary Magdalene with HER child

Chairs in the choir

Lots of vegetative motifs in these Cathedrals. 

Peregrino

2012 Spring

In 2012, we took our Spring group of pilgrims 
to Burgos via Autobus.

We had to leave quite early in the morning 
to make the connection.

Waiting for the bus. Teresa looks sleepy.

Once we arrived and got everyone 

checked into their rooms,

I took a walk for about a kilometer

to a park, right on the outskirts of town,

where a huge fiesta was in full swing.

The people were packed in tight

and the cottonwood trees were dropping so much fuzz

it was difficult to breathe.

But it was fun,

walking around and trying the food.

Yes, they are orejas, pig's ears. 
No, I didn't like them!

Just a note, the choo-choo train ride is worth the cost.

The wee train takes you all around the city

to see things you might otherwise miss.

Joe and I had a quiet dinner in a local bar.

2012 AUTUMN

The Autumn trip was nice,

but as you can see, it was much drier.

Between Logroño and Burgos

Beautiful Burgos

The statues in Burgos are so cool!  
Here's Joe between a fife and drum!

More statues.

The Museum of Evolution here 
is a World Class Museum and worth seeing.

Joe drinking at the Lion Fountain

This is a typical hotel bathroom. Love the tiny tubs!

2013 - Summer

In 2013, I walked alone and I spent 2 days in Burgos. 

I have so many photos of the Cathedral,

I will make separate blogs with those photos.

But here are a few of the museum and of Burgos.

Once again, I was there during a fiesta

and los gigantes were out and about.

It was fun watching the children watch the gigantes!

Looking at Burgos from the Museum steps

2014 Spring/Summer

In 2014, I decided to visit the Museu de Burgos,

which is worth seeing, 

and pretty much unknown

in the Camino community.

Hours are: 

Winter (October to June) : 

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 to 14 and from 16 to 19 hours 

Sunday / Holiday: 10 to 14 hours 

Summer (July to September) : 

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 to 14 and from 17 to 20 hours 

Sunday / Holiday: 10 to 14 hours 

Closed: Mondays, Sunday afternoons and holidays

The museu is on Calle Miranda 13, 

near the bus station.

Admission with my Credential was 
between €2 and €3. 

Here are a few photos.

Statue of Chestnut Woman

In the back you can see the mosaic floor from a Roman Villa

That year we stayed in the very frilly hotel,

Fernan Gonzales.

It was clean, and fun,

and the location was excellent.

It was a little run down, 

and I doubt we'll stay there again,

but I'm glad we tried it.

Policeman statue

2015 - Joe's Group

Joe and his group enjoyed Burgos, 
but took no photos.

Nothing really had changed.

They stayed in the Londres y Norte Hotel

Los Gigantios

2018 - Spring

Well I’m still sick as hell, but the girls are having a great time. We had a long bus ride into Burgos today. Are usually get an express bus but didn’t want to leave at five in the morning, and that was a big mistake. The ride took much longer than expected. But we’re here now and I’m in bed again and everybody is gone their separate ways.

Following are some of the fantastic photos that Theresa, Diana, and Jennifer have taken. I don’t think I have any from Karin and Jo but if I do let me know and I’ll mention you.

I actually took this one.
There was a wedding or some festival happening, not sure which,
but it was beautiful!

Take your time in Burgos. 

Take two or three days if you can.

Spend all day in the Cathedral.

Spend another day seeing Atapuerca and the Museum of Evolution.

Spend a third day seeing the Burgos Museum

and just walking around looking at the street sculpture.

It's a wonderful city!

Buen Camino!

Annie