I’m Done

No more Camino trips. 

Im pretty sure this one broke me for good  

I need to take care of my mother’s estate, heal from cancer and a double mastectomy, make peace with my mother’s passing, go home and clean out her things, then treat myself kindly for a while. 

In retrospect, I probably should have canceled the trip. But we had canceled the year before due to Covid and I just didn’t want to disappoint people. 

What I learned, too late, was that I was exhausted from the illness, the surgery, the big move, the caretaking, my mother and my strained relationship, and her death. I was and am also overwhelmed with the job ahead of settling her accounts and cleaning out the house.

I certainly am in no shape to take care of other people, and though I tried my best  to make it clear that this was not that type of trip, I ended up with a few out of the group that needed more attention than I was able to give  

I have nothing left to give anyone but myself if I’m to survive… and I refuse to be a victim  

My grandpa used to say, “If you’re standing at the edge of the well, hanging on to a rope and the fella at the other end isn’t helping himself, there comes a point where you either get pulled in with him, or you let go of the rope and save yourself!”

I’m letting go of the rope because I choose to save myself!

The Camino will be there when and if I decide to return  

Love,

Annie

Sarria

 We are in Sarria today where we picked up two new members to our group, Nancy and Susan. I am in a food coma right now because I just had the best Italian dinner I’ve had in years.  It is at the top of the main street in the village and it’s worth every penny.

Villafranca del Bierzo

 Tonight we sleep in Villafranca del Bierzo. This is a beautiful hilltop Village along deep River. The scenery is just stunning. I walked 10 km today and took a taxi the rest of the way so I could get here in time to get through this sorted out for my group. They should be dragging in soon. It was a flat walk today but long. Here are some photos of the scenery

San Isidro

 Many of the villages are celebrating San Isidro this week. San Isidro is the patron saint of agriculture. Yesterday in Molinaseca they had a little parade with two oxen pulling a cart, some donkeys, some gaitas and a little oompah band. It was a lot of fun to see. When I passed the church in Camponayara I noticed they were getting ready for the festival there, and my hostess just told me there will be a fiesta in the Square tonight here. Here are some photos from yesterday’s walk, food, and Festival.

Our wonderful waiter, Domingo. He kept us in stitches!

I had a Langostinos la Plancha

This was the best dessert I think I’ve ever eaten

Another sorrowful mother

Sweet Reunion in Molinaseca

 This is a really nice video. Please come back and see it. It will not load so I will upload it when I get home

Rabanal del Camino

 The walk from Murias to Rabanal this morning was beautiful. The trail is flat and easy. I left just before the sun came up, against my own advice, and ended up having to use the light on my phone to see the trail. But I was concerned it was going to be hot. I left about six and arrived here about 11 so it took four hours.  I stopped in Santa Catalina for breakfast and at the cowboy bar for a coffee

I also stopped at the stump of my old friend, the Pilgrim Tree, to pay it a visit. It was sad to see it with toilet paper on one side, and toilet paper inside. It felt like a disrespectful violation. I don’t know why women can’t pick up their damn toilet paper. It’s such a disgusting habit! These are women who would throw a fit if I squatted in their front yard and left my toilet paper. For crying out loud, pick up after yourselves. Have a little class!.

Anyway I stayed there on the benches for about 45 minutes with my eyes closed, listening to the birds, the cuckoos, the finches, the robins. It was quite a chorus and I imagined the tree was still there and the birds were all sitting in it.

There are quite a few pilgrims here. There also are several places open, including  La Posada which is a bar/restaurant I like in particular.

We are staying at El Refugio, where I always stay - and it is wonderful as usual. There’s no longer a bar here. We booked a reservation for dinner for eight of us and the food was just spectacular. 

I’m full now, lying in my bed, and trying to stay awake. One of my Pilgrims has a sore knee and cannot walk and so we are taking a taxi in the morning to Molinaseca. 

As always, the photos are not in order. I will re-order them once I am home.

Life is good!

Love, Annie

A Pilgrim is Grateful

 I feel a great need to repost this, mostly for myself  

I am not always grateful or in a good mood  

This is a good reminder

https://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-pilgrim-is-grateful.html?m=1

Leon

 The taxi ride from Burgos to Leon was an hour and a half. We ended up at Hospederia Monadtica Pax. We are actually at a different hotel than I thought I booked.  However it is a wonderful mistake because this place is just incredible. It is right next door to the Pilgrim’s Albergue run by the Benedictine Nuns. I’m just in love with this hotel.

For those of you staying at Hospederia Monastica Pax with Joe, or for anyone staying in Leon, I highly recommend the restaurant here. I had the biggest most luscious 2” thick steak and salad for 20 Euros. It’s less than you’d pay at home and sooooo good!  Marcia’s salad was as big as the moon!  Tomorrow I will pay for the buffet breakfast. 15 Euro for all you can eat.  The best meal I have had on the Camino!

We ran into a fellow pilgrim from the forum whose name was Curt. He is walking the entire Camino and has decided to stay two nights here because it is so nice. If I ever walk on my own I will definitely stay here again.

I visited the Leon cathedral this morning but I got kind of chilly so I think I’m going to go back this afternoon for another visit. Here are a few photos